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News

23, Jun 2024
AUK Unlocks Opportunities: Hosts The London School of Economics
The Office of Research and Grants (ORG) at AUK hosted a workshop titled “The London School of Economics (LSE): The Kuwait Programme Opportunities” at the AUK theater. During the event, representatives from the LSE Kuwait Programme highlighted the various opportunities available to PhD students and early career researchers. Funded by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), this year's program is dedicated to advancing excellence in healthcare. 

The workshop delved into academic collaborations and fellowships between LSE and Kuwait, healthcare policy workshops, and research publications. The session was led by Mercedes Masters, the program coordinator at the Kuwait Programme, and Amira Djuric, the communications coordinator at the Kuwait Programme. 

At the beginning of the presentation, Masters was welcomed on stage by Dr. Iyad Abu Doush, ORG director and professor of computer science. Masters provided important information about the application process, including key dates and eligibility criteria for candidates.  

She also discussed papers and blogs related to the Kuwait Programme as well as details pertaining to the publication process. Djuric later informed the audience about the annual conference of the program and policy workshops.  

By hosting such workshops, AUK positions itself at the forefront of research initiatives in Kuwait, reaffirming its reputation as a dynamic hub for academic exchange and innovation in the region. 
 
  
 

Group photo of the workshop’s organizers
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AUK Unlocks Opportunities: Hosts The London School of Economics
23, Jun 2024
Celebrating Academic Excellence: AUK IEP Graduation
AUK marked a significant milestone in the academic journey of its students with IEP’s recent graduation. This special occasion celebrated the achievements of students who successfully completed their Intensive English Program (IEP) courses during the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters.

A total of 120 students were honored with certificates acknowledging their dedication and hard work, with ten students receiving awards for their outstanding achievement in their IEP courses. These students were selected by the faculty based on their exceptional performance, commitment, and academic excellence.

Dr. Ali Charara, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); and Dr. Georges Chedid, representing the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, attended the graduation. 

The IEP program plays a crucial role in AUK's academic framework, underscoring the university's dedication to fostering and enhancing the academic growth of its students.
  
  
  

Dr. Georges Chedid
  
  
Group photo of the graduates

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Celebrating Academic Excellence: AUK IEP Graduation
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23, Jun 2024
Enhancing Cross-Cultural Communication: AUK's Faculty Speaker Series Explores English as Soft Power
AUK recently concluded its Spring 2024 Faculty Speaker Series (FSS) with an insightful session titled "English as a Soft Power - Ukrainian Perspective.” The virtual event, held via Zoom, featured Dr. Serhii Petrenko from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv as the esteemed speaker. 
 
Dr. Petrenko, an associate professor at the Department of Foreign Languages, brought his expertise in linguistics and international relations to the forefront, shedding light on the pivotal role of English language proficiency in fostering cross-cultural understanding and promoting public diplomacy. 
 
The session commenced with a warm welcome from Dr. Salime Smadi, professor of organizational behavior, who expressed gratitude to Dr. Petrenko, as well as Dr. Olha Seheda from the Embassy of Ukraine, for their participation.  
 
Dr. Petrenko's presentation delved into the multifaceted aspects of English as a soft power tool, emphasizing its significance in cultural exchange and public diplomacy. Drawing on his extensive experience in teaching English for Academic Purpose (EAP) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP), Dr. Petrenko explored practical implications for Kuwaiti students amidst the prevalent presence of English in Kuwait. 
 
Attendees were actively engaged throughout the session, which included interactive elements such as discussions on the associations with AI-generated images and the examination of various dimensions of soft power in diplomacy. Dr. Petrenko elucidated on the pillars of soft power, highlighting culture, values, and foreign policy as key components. 
 
The presentation underscored the vital roles of language in diplomacy, ranging from negotiation to fostering cross-cultural understanding. Dr. Petrenko advocated for innovative English language teaching approaches, including backward planning, project-based learning, and the Dogme approach, to enhance students' language skills effectively. 
 
FSS serves as a platform for intellectual discourse and knowledge exchange, reaffirming AUK's commitment to academic excellence and global engagement. 
  
  
  

Screenshot of zoom lecture
Enhancing Cross-Cultural Communication: AUK's Faculty Speaker Series Explores English as Soft Power
23, Jun 2024
Writing & Tutoring Center Celebrate Student Workers
The Writing and Tutoring Centers celebrated Peer Tutors, Writing Consultants, and Study Area Assistants as they completed a successful academic year assisting AUK students and faculty in various disciplines. Staff recognized the attendees’ efforts throughout the academic year by presenting the Centers’ data which included the hours completed by Study Area Assistants, besides sharing the total number of students served and visits held by Peer Tutors and Writing Consultants. In addition, Peer Tutors who completed the required training modules and tutoring experience hours were awarded their CRLA (College Reading and Learning Association) certification. 
  
   
General photos of the celebration
   

Writing & Tutoring Center Celebrate Student Workers
10, Jun 2024
AUK Honors Long-Serving Employees
AUK hosted its annual dinner at Crown Plaza to celebrate the institution’s administrative achievements and accomplishments. The event—organized by the University’s Human Resources Department—was attended by staff, faculty, and members of the president’s cabinet.     

The event recognized and awarded employees who completed 5, 10, 15, and 20 years of service at AUK. These awards celebrated their enduring commitment and significant contributions to the University's growth and success. 

AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad, who was one of the honorees for serving 20 years at the University, conveyed her gratitude towards AUK employees in her opening statement, “This year has shown again our strength, resilience, and unity within our university community, despite the challenges. Together, we have embraced new opportunities, made every attempt at trying to support one another, and achieved extraordinary results. Thank you for everything that you do day-in, and day-out. Thank you for your patience and for your shared success, thank you for your dedication, and thank you for your belief in that we can always be better and do better.”  

HR senior director, Paul Bassil, highlighted the importance of these annual dinners, “The annual employee dinner holds great significance for us as it provides a valuable opportunity to foster employee engagement, strengthen team spirit, and show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the employees. It also serves as a platform to communicate company values, recognize achievements, and build morale within the organization.”   

The annual dinner also offered attendees enjoyable entertainment, including musical performances, entertainment shows, and a raffle draw to conclude the festivities.   

AUK consistently demonstrates its strong culture of employee recognition through events like the annual dinner, which spotlight the valuable contributions of faculty and staff.  
   
  
   

Dr. Rawda Awwad giving her speech
  

Paul Bassil giving his speech
  

Group photo of 20 years of service awardees
    

Group photo of 15 years of service awardees
    

Group photo of 5 years of service awardees
AUK Honors Long-Serving Employees
09, Jun 2024
AUK Art & Graphic Design Department Launches 18th Biannual Capstone Exhibition
The Art & Graphic Design Department at AUK launched its Spring 2024 Capstone Design Exhibition which took place at the University’s exhibition center. The exhibition offered senior students an opportunity to display their creative work, which covered a range of themes, including social and cultural awareness, corporate identity, and entrepreneurship. 

The exhibition ran for one week and participating students were evaluated by industry experts based on their creativity and presentation, their ability to conduct and use graphic design research strategy effectively, and their ability to plan and implement a compelling graphic design display. 

Acting Chair of the Art & Graphic Design Department, Dr. Fahad A. Dhawi, commented on the exhibition and what it represents, “This year was exceptional as we hosted our Spring 2024 Capstone Exhibition Event in-house, providing a wonderful opportunity for students, faculty, and visitors to see students’ work and experience our campus and the new exhibition center in the G-Building. It's inspiring to see AUK's commitment to student potential. This year's capstone proved that we are stronger and bolder as a community when we collaborate. On behalf of the department, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to the president and the dean of the College for their continued support.”

Held biannually, the Capstone Design Exhibition brings together visitors from graphic design studios, publishing houses, film and video production companies, advertising, and multimedia firms. 

Commenting on the success of this year’s exhibition, capstone professor, Rita Merheb, stated, "In today's rapidly evolving graphic design field, our students have embraced these advancements, ensuring they are well-prepared for industry demands. Their projects highlight the importance of staying current with technological trends. The Capstone Exhibition provides a unique opportunity for the public, including industry professionals and potential employers, to witness the future of graphic design through our talented graduates' eyes.”

Sharing the same sentiment was capstone professor Nadim Matta, “This year’s capstone event was a successful collaboration based on the feedback of all faculty members of the Art and Graphic Design Department. Students explored in their design journey across different projects multiple themes and creative outputs that tackled real-life problems and aimed at providing creative, original and compelling visual solutions. The student’s work reflected their creative, cultural and visual maturity as they progressed in their mode of study to reach their capstone project”.

AUK’s Graphic Design Capstone Exhibition presents an opportunity for senior students to fully incorporate their design strengths and learning into a focused and extended process of research and visual expression.    
  
  
  

 
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AUK Art & Graphic Design Department Launches 18th Biannual Capstone Exhibition
09, Jun 2024
AUK CEAS Holds Annual Capstone Exhibition
AUK College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) held its third capstone exhibition that included students presenting their graduation projects, incorporating novel prototypes that combined their hardware and software skills. The event was open to students, alumni, parents, and industry representatives.   
  
A total of 16 groups showcased their projects through informative posters, research papers, leaflets, and video displays. Supervised by faculty members of the College, students presented a wide range of prototypes such as the Virtual Telepresence Robot, Smart Recycling Bin, Sign Language Translator, Intelligent Load Management, and Smart Irrigation System.  
 
The event concluded with an award ceremony in the AUK auditorium where CEAS dean, Dr. Mohammed El Abd, congratulated the students, “I am immensely proud of our graduating students this academic year. They have truly set a new standard with their exceptional projects, which span a diverse array of cutting-edge topics, including robotics, autonomous driving, the Internet of Things (IoT), security, energy optimization, and assistive technologies. The creativity, innovation, and dedication demonstrated by our students have been nothing short of inspiring."
 
A total of three winners were announced for the engineering category—the first-place winner was for project MSZ Prosthetic Arms, by Mariam AlQalsh, Shaikha AlHumoud, and Zeyad Hannawi, and supervised by Dr. Khalid Sultan, with Dr. Ali Bostani acting as co-supervisor.   
 
The second-place winner for the engineering project award was NU- Marine Life Monitoring and Exploration Submarine, by Tarek Dafar, Ahmed Hassan, Faisal Hassan, Abdalla ElGohary, and supervised by Dr. Mounib Khanafer with Eng. Ali Rady acting as co-supervisor.
   
The third-place winner was SkyPhoenix: The Anti-Drone Defense System by Naser Mahdi, Dana Alnobani, Mohammad Omar, Ahmed AboElhiba, and supervised by Dr. Mohammed El Abd with Eng. Abeer Imdoukh acting as co-supervisor.
 
AI-Based Intelligent System for Reliable Detection of Driver Drowsiness was the winning project award for the Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS) category. The project was implemented by Fares Mohammad, Bader Al-Haran, Bader Al-Otaibi, Mohammad Ashkanani, and supervised by Dr. Aaron Rasheed Rababaah. 
 
Sign Language Translator was the winning project for the student choice award. The project was implemented by Nada Al Othaina, Shaha Al Shammari, Hana Ghonim, Mariam Shehadeh, and supervised by Dr. Seyed Esmaeili with Eng. Amal AlAteyah acting as co-supervisor. 

The success of this exhibition not only celebrates the hard work of the students but also sets a high benchmark for future cohorts. It reinforces AUK CEAS's commitment to excellence in education, research, and the continuous pursuit of innovation.  
  
   
  

 
Click on the Image to view the Photo Gallery
AUK CEAS Holds Annual Capstone Exhibition
06, Jun 2024
Engineering Excellence: AUK’s Award-Winning Innovations at ZURC2024
The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) at AUK showcased exceptional talent and innovation at the Zayed University Undergraduate Research Conference 2024 (ZURC2024). Students and recent graduates contributed eight capstone poster presentations. The conference, a gathering of young researchers from across the region, provided a vibrant platform for students to exhibit their academic prowess through poster presentations. Led by Dr. Ali Bostani, associate professor of electrical engineering, AUK’s presentations included three teams of current students and five teams of recent graduates.  

Two AUK teams won the Best Student Paper Award. The team “Skyphoenix” comprised of Naser Mahdi, Ahmed AboElhiba, Dana Alnobani, Mohammad Omar, and supervised by Dr. Mohammed El-Abd, impressed the judges with their innovative approach and thorough research methodology. The “SpeakSign” team, consisting of Shaha Al-Shammari, Hana Ghonim, Maryam Shehadeh, and Nada AlOthaina, under the guidance of Dr. Seyed Esmaeili, also received praise for their project’s creativity and potential impact.  
 
These achievements at ZURC2024 not only highlight the high caliber of AUK’s students and the exceptional mentorship of its faculty but also underscore the University’s commitment to advancing academic and research excellence. As AUK continues to foster and support scholarly pursuits within its community, the success at ZURC2024 serves as a testament to the potential and promising future of research at AUK. 

CEAS presentations  
 
Names Presentation
Mariam Shehadeh, Hana Ghonim, Nada AlOthaina, Shaha Al-Shammari, and Seyed Esmaeili. SpeakSign
Naser Mahdi, Mohammad Omar, Ahmed AboElhiba, Dana Alnobani, Abeer Imdoukh, and Mohammed El-Abd SkyPhoenix: The Anti-Drone Defense System
Ibrahim Alabdulsalam, Saif El-Dahshan, and Ali Bostani Rescue Robot for the Aftermath of Earthquakes
Mawaheb Alotaibi, Sarah Alsarahid, Dalal Hussein, Ghaneemah Jamsheer, Bshaier Alenezi, and Ali Bostani IoT-Based Health Monitoring System for Solar Panels
Sara Al Ajmi, Yasmeen Al-Saad, and Marwa Sharawi AUK Admission Enquiry Chatbot
Ghalia AlMutairi, Abrar AlHerz, Asaiel Al-Rashidi, Nour NoorAlDeen, and Mounib Khanafer Automated Medication Dispenser System (AMD)
Sarah Alenezi, Noura Al-Sultan, Bodour Al-Reshidi, Hanan Al-Shemmari, and Mounib Khanafer Road Accident Investigation Dispatch System
Zahraa Abbas, Tala Bin Hussain, and Dima Aburshaid H.A.L.A.
 
 
General photos from the conference
  

Engineering Excellence: AUK’s Award-Winning Innovations at ZURC2024
04, Jun 2024
AUK Men’s Basketball Team Excels at EuroMilano Tournament
AUK marked its fourth consecutive participation in the prestigious EuroMilano tournament, held recently in the vibrant city of Milan, Italy. This global sports event brought together 14 international colleges in spirited competition. 

The AUK men’s basketball team secured an impressive fifth place in the tournament. Their journey through the competition was marked by resilience, skill, and determination, reflecting the rigorous training and commitment of the team. 

Invited by the esteemed InterUniversities Sport Federation (IUSF), AUK athletes seized the opportunity to demonstrate their prowess in a two-day tournament. Playing a total of six games, the AUK team showcased remarkable consistency, engaging in a total of six games and emerging victorious in four of them. 

Mohammad Al-Saleh, senior sports coordinator at AUK’s Office of Student Life, emphasized the significance of such tournaments, “EuroMilano serves as a valuable platform for our students to showcase their talents on an international scale. These competitions play a crucial role in fostering growth and unity, promoting cultural exchange among participants from diverse backgrounds." 

As AUK continues to uphold its commitment to excellence in academics and extracurricular activities, the men’s basketball team’s success at EuroMilano stands as a testament to the University's unwavering pursuit of athletic prowess and global engagement.  
Group photo of AUK’s team
  

   
General photos of the tournament
  

AUK Men’s Basketball Team Excels at EuroMilano Tournament
30, May 2024
Dr. Layla AlAmmar Explores Arab Literature and Identity at Qesati Event
Assistant professor of English literature at the AUK, Dr. Layla AlAmmar, was invited by Qesati, a renowned storytelling platform based in Kuwait, to lead a compelling discussion on Arab Literature and Identity. 

The session delved deeply into themes of identity, trauma, language, and literature, offering attendees a unique opportunity to engage with these critical issues.
Dr. AlAmmar shared valuable insights from her extensive journey in the literary world. Her dual perspective as a researcher and novelist provided a rich, multifaceted view of the subjects. 

She also provided new perspectives on cultural influences and the complex relationship between trauma and identity, particularly in the Arab world.

Her insightful contributions to the discussion, informed by both scholarly research and creative expression, reaffirm AUK's position as a hub for intellectual engagement and interdisciplinary dialogue.
 
 
 

Dr. Layla AlAmmar
  

Dr. Layla AlAmmar
Dr. Layla AlAmmar Explores Arab Literature and Identity at Qesati Event
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