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Dr. Rawda warmly welcomed everyone in the event through her opening statement, “I’m delighted to be here today on the breaking of fast in observance of Ramadan, one of the holiest months in the Muslim faith. The American University of Kuwait is honored to have been given this opportunity, especially considering its long-standing association with the American Business Council of Kuwait.”
The chairman of ABCK also gave a welcoming speech and shed light on ABCK’s role as an association. Activities such as raffle draws also took place during this event. Through this sponsorship, AUK continues to sustain and develop its relationship with ABCK.
Sharing expertise and insights through such forums will inform PUB’s publishing philosophies and priorities. The focus of the board will be on academic resources and collections; the board will discuss a variety of strategic and operational topics of PUP. The role of the board involves active participation in the discussion and responding to questions that would help PUP shape up or improve certain services/collections.
Commenting on her new role in the Board, Asma stated, “Libraries are always referred to as the heart of academic institutions. So being at the heart of the academic conversation here at AUK for so many years has been a learning experience, which would definitely enable effective engagement with the outer communities—whether publishers or other strategic partners.”
Princeton University Press was founded in 1905 as a non-profit publisher that is associated with Princeton University. It commits to equitable, inclusive, and sustainable publishing. Publishers usually look for librarians that are active in the profession in various parts of the world, those who engage actively in different communication channels or with other publishers too along with members that represent a broad spectrum of library types.
400 Years of Kuwait, which was published in 2019, comprises hundreds of pictures, documents, and visual sources spanning the reigns of Kuwaiti rulers from HH Sabah I in the 1700s to the late Amir HH Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Sheikha Intisar affirmed Dr. Al-Awadi's observation that the book focused on popular and social history instead of an exclusive look at official political or military history, highlighting how this focus makes the book a unique entry in the ever-growing collection of national history publications. Brief chronological snippets fill the book, marking items like the first general budget as well as early cinema tickets—capturing the wide spectrum of significant national events and cultural milestones that collectively make up a history of the people and a nation.
This particular focus grew out of Sheikha Intisar’s desire to engage young people, including her own daughters, with their history in a more dynamic way than traditional approaches. With 5 years of research in various archives and private collections around the country, and with a preference for the power of stories over dates, the authors stressed how national pride is bolstered by an improved knowledge of history. In the case of Kuwait’s past, the authors found their research revealed an enduring perseverance over adversity and a recurring commitment to progress, which they hoped would inspire future readers.
Sheikha Intisar also shared personal anecdotes on her own upbringing and perception of the changing social climate, drawing on her interest in positive psychology to share advice with university students, inviting them to pursue their passions and strengths as best as they can, no matter the circumstances. This emphasis on positive experiences, she suggested, could lead to lasting contributions to national heritage. Dr. Al-Awadi also pointed out that the AUK library is an ideal place for anyone looking to acquaint themselves with history or any other subjects, thanks to the excellent resources and repositories of knowledge available to students and scholars alike.
The speakers closed the discussion by fielding several questions from the engaged attendees. In addition, the authors related their pride in presenting the book to the late Amir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the present Amir Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and other notable dignitaries. Members of the AUK community then gathered for a book signing and discussions of the event.
Attended by AUK faculty, staff, and president, Dr. Rawda Awwad, alumni had the opportunity to reconnect with the campus community and reminisce. AACD director, Abir Tannir gave a speech during the event where she expressed, “Let’s tread down memory lane to when you joined AUK and made amazing connections, relationships, and unforgettable memories. This was the place which helped shape your character and career. You can carry on with the memories and make new ones tonight.”
The entertainment for the evening featured live music by Rita Malek and Mario Helmy along with various activities rounded out with a raffle draw for a wide array of gifts. Enjoying the vibrant atmosphere, alumnus Nawaf Najia (Class of ‘07) said, “Thank you for the amazing event. What a great setup and management, and such a good turnout. I was very happy to be back after several years. And hopefully I will be attending many more alumni events.”
The reunion was fully organized and catered by alumni-owned businesses—organized by Eslam Mousa (Class of ’15) and Aliaa Jamal (Class of ’17) through their event-planning business EMiNDS; Ameen Al-Ahmad (Class of ‘07) catered the event’s beverages with Frullato Juice; and Kareem Abu Ghareeb (Class of ’10) provided complimentary giveaways.
The AACD organizes the alumni reunion on an annual basis and continuously recruits alumni-owned businesses to service the event—a testament to AUK’s ongoing support of its graduates and their endeavors.
General photos from the event
Dean of the College of Business and Economics (CBE), Dr. Ralph Palliam, and assistant dean, Dr. Shihanah Al-Mutairi attended several of the conference’s online sessions. Additionally, Dr. Shihanah serves as the secretary general of the PRME MENA chapter that worked and planned for the 9th Annual Forum and Conference. She currently serves as CBE’s PRME director and liaison for PRME initiatives and Sharing of Progress (SIP) report.
AUK is a signatory of the PRME United Nations Program for Responsible Business Education which seeks to bring together the UN and business schools worldwide to inspire and support responsible management education, research, and thought leadership globally. AUK’s participation in this conference is a testament to its dedication towards sustainability, ethics, and social governance.
The Board of Trustees of the American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE) voted to renew the international program accreditation for the American University of Kuwait (AUK) College of Arts and Sciences for a full term of five years, ending on February 28, 2027. The accreditation affirms the high standards and quality of education offered by the College that stands with the best universities globally.
Dr. Ali Charara, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, recognized the significance of this achievement and thorough efforts of the campus community whose hard work led to the renewal, stating, it is extremely gratifying to receive the 5-year accreditation renewal from the American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE). This international accreditation affirms our commitment to liberal arts education and adds critical value to the various liberal arts programs offered in the College where quality of education is of the utmost importance. The successful outcome is a testimony to the hard work and dedication of the AUK faculty, administrators, and staff since the process is a collaborative initiative, including many CAS students who were part of the site visit process. I believe it is a sense of personal accomplishment for everyone involved as it is an accreditation shared by the AUK community.”
The process was led by the University’s AALE Steering Committee with the support of administrative units. The renewal complements the University’s mission of offering modern and comprehensive curricula that put its students at the top of their chosen fields. AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad praised the campus community’s dedication to this mission, “Our external and independent review processes are consistent with standards of excellence. Accreditation for AUK is operationally critical and, therefore, strategically important. We continue to take pride in our faculty and staff in striving for excellence in education and in accomplishing yet another institutional milestone,” she said.
The American University of Kuwait (AUK) currently offers 16 distinct degree programs in various academic disciplines. AUK is accredited institutionally by the Private Universities Council (PUC) in Kuwait. The College of Business and Economics is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB); the Intensive English program is accredited by the Commission for Intensive English Program Accreditation (CEA); the computer engineering and electrical engineering programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET; the computer science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET; and the Bachelor of Arts in Design (concentration in graphic design) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Mr. Bassil shared AUK’s experience in the creation, development, and implementation of the Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) that has been utilized in AUK for the past year. ELDP is a virtual platform that offers AUK staff online courses that facilitate their professional development in various fields.
Guest speakers from different organizations participated in the event, sharing their experiences in professional learning and development with the audience. There were over 10 sessions that included keynotes, featured talks, case studies, and discussions all of which covered a wide variety of industries and topics.
Mr. Bassil described his time at the event, stating, “The experience was great, the organization’s welcoming was up to high standards of hospitality and professionalism, participants were from all the Arab countries and several sectors, including banking, construction, consultancy, and education.”
Some of HealthCon’s objectives include enhancing cooperation within the Gulf region, creating engagements with younger people, and raising awareness on health solutions for several illnesses, all of which contribute to building students’ knowledge and interpersonal skills.
Al-Ghanim was a member of a team who were assigned to campaign against drug addiction among teenagers and young adults. They created a Virtual Reality (VR) simulator which could be utilized in high schools and universities to educate and inform the youth about the severity of drug addiction and its negative consequences on one’s health.
As a credit to their hard work, communication, and dedication the team was chosen to be in the final round of the competition. Moreover, the team also won the “Best Team Spirit” award. AlGhanim shared that the experience allowed him to connect with individuals from around the region, share different ideas, and make meaningful memories in addition to improving his skills as a marketeer in his field of study, preparing him for post-graduate life in the professional arena. This is the first time an AUK student participated in this initiative with the encouragement and guidance of the University faculty.
AUK recognized its top student achievers who were included in the president & deans’ honor roll for the fall 2020 semester. Totaling 214, 42 students were awarded a place on the president's honor roll—a high distinction exclusively awarded to those who maintained a 4.0 GPA for the semester, while 172 students were recognized for being on the deans’ honor list—a distinction awarded to students who maintained a minimum GPA of 3.7.
AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad remarked on the academic achievements of the honor roll students, “Our honor roll students have shown dedication, persistence, and love for knowledge. We acknowledge their achievements with the greatest pleasure and look forward to witnessing the differences that they will make in their lives and the lives of others in the future.”
The honor roll ceremony takes place twice a year to celebrate the students who have exemplified the University’s mission to instill in students the passion for lifelong learning, and promote academic excellence.
President's Honor Roll
| Noura Allahow | Amal Kahwaji |
| Rayane Bouhali | Nouran Elbeyaly |
| Dawood Boland | Deema Alsumait |
| Hala Abou Harb | Amer Nathar |
| Mustafa Karkour | Jinan Taqi |
| Dana Buresli | Chloe Ramey |
| Fatima Matook | David Muharib |
| Majed AlDhafeeri | Zaina AlFadalah |
| Ali Darwiche | Nora AlAati |
| Faisal Hassan | Nourhan Nour |
| Ahmad Al-Dulaie | Malak Hussein |
| Nagham Kheder | Habiba Anwar |
| Ali Raies | Danah AlGhadouri |
| Hana Ghonim | Fadheelah AlSabah |
| Tarek Nabaa | Susanna Al Mufti |
| Dhuha Al-Behairi | Nagam AbuGhaush |
| Sayed Ali Altabtabai | Farida Mohamed |
| Fatmah AlSarhan | Zahraa Ali |
| Nour Harb | Abdullah AlKhuraibet |
| Yousef Al-Khashem | Basma Khedr |
| Abdullah Jiffry Ghouse | Fatemah Ashkanani |
Dean’s Honor List, College of Business & Economics
| Abdullah Al-Anssari | Danah BoKubar |
| Mohammad AlIdan | Rawan Nabaa |
| Lulwa AlKhatrash | Amnah Derdab |
| Nashrah Quraishi | Marah Khalil |
| Engy Abaza | Shahad Almelhem |
| Nour Nassar | Salma Al-Sharbaji |
| Amer Padpood | Yaraa AlWheeb |
| Raya Hashem | Dana Yousef |
| Farhanaz Padpood | Ibraheem Al-Qallaf |
| Anas Hassan | Khushal Zafar |
| Mohamad Kohel | Joseph Francis |
| Huzaifa Musamuddin | Farah Saad |
| Shogh Farhanian | Nouran Ahmed |
| Maram AlTurki | Yara Abdulmajeed |
| Joury AlMehri | Maen Almutairi |
| Nadin Jamal Eddine | Wasmeyah Buhadidah |
| Sara ElBab | Hamza Abdulaziz Al-Fahad |
| Lavena Jacob | Mohammad Ahmed |
| Latefa Alnassar | Izza Ahmed |
| Nadime Bitar | Ahmad Marouf |
| Abdollah Sayadi |
Dean’s Honor List, College of Engineering & Applied Sciences
| Ajwan Albahar | Haya Al-Korki |
| Abdullatif AlQallaf | David Liang |
| Jasem AlMeer | Laila Dallol |
| ALHnouf AlMutairy | Mohammad AlBayya |
| Habib Badran | Mariam Shehadeh |
| Fager ElNoueiri | Ahmed AboElhiba |
| Ahlam Ali | Adnan Kazi |
| Turki AlAjmi | Khawthar Buhamad |
| Ibrahim Al-Azmi | Ahmad Abdo |
| Joanna Haddad | Abdalla Elgohary |
| Reem Qasem | Shorowq Bukhamsin |
| Yacoub AlJwaied | Moustafa Awadalla |
| Aqeel AlSarraf | Jude AlMoosa |
| Shejon Al-Ebrahim | Fahad Kalloush |
| Mohanned Odeh | Abdullah AL-Dallah |
| Lobna ElGayar | Yousef AlHamad |
| Ali Alsarraf | Mohammed AlSharaf |
| Ali Abouzeid | Khalil Salwout |
| Malak Ahmed |
Dean’s Honor List, College of Arts & Sciences
| Sarah Al-Ibrahim | Aliya Al-Mutairi |
| Reve Charif | Rashid AlBader |
| Faisal Behbehani | Latifah AlKandari |
| Tesneem AlRashed | Leen Mahmoud |
| Jannah AlGhanem | Nadeen Al-Sadek |
| Maisaa Chib AlDin | Fahad AlFahad |
| Sara AlArbash | Malak Hussain |
| Shahed AlToorah | AlZain Al-Sabah |
| Dalal AlFailakawi | Leina Bou Fakhereddine |
| Khaled AlAnsary | Fatemah Al-Qattan |
| Rawan Chalhoub | Sarah Raza |
| Eva Makki | Sarah Taterly |
| Fai AlMutairi | Saja Brejia |
| Danah AlSabah | Omar Hedeya |
| Vironika Faragalla | Husaam AlDoesari |
| Shareefah Bo-Taiban | Hessah AlRuwayeh |
| Moustafa Hassan | Lana Rashed |
| Yousef Al-Otaibi | Joanna ElChanti |
| Noura Bou Nassif | Ahmad Al-Tukhaim |
| Stephen Sapp | Baya Amy Thompson |
| May AlQenaei | Sabah Al-Sabah |
| Aisha Al-Nassar | Janna Al Roomi |
| Ali Albader | Abeer Kablaoui |
| Marah AlTatawy | Laura Elnaggar |
| Johar Ali | Reema Atieh |
| Reem Al-Sabah | Maram Elsayed |
| Nour AlAli | Viola English |
| Roaa Alawneh | Nour Almajed |
| Kawthar AlHamar | Fajer AlSabah |
| Fawaz Almajed | Reyouf Al-Anezi |
| Danah Awada | Khaled AlMadani |
| Hasan Hajiyah | Noora AlSabah |
| Rawan Boutaiban | Salma AlSalem |
| Farah Abueed | Amanda Elnaggar |
| Naser AlHajeri | Sarah Qasem |
| Ahmad AlSarraf | Tameem Altamimi |
| Deemah AlDawoud | Abdulrazaq Al-Khaled |
| Aya Abdrabou | Janiyen Alsaleh |
| Fatema Al-Mutawa | Saleh Jamshir |
| Modi AlAdwani | Adam Cruz |
| Sara Zayed | Batool AlBousabih |
| Farah Issa | Sara Alrodan |
| Maya Lawand | Mohammad Al-Khashti |
| Maryam AlKhadhr | Rawan Behbehani |
| Shams Zahran | Dana Ben Salamah |
| Sarah AlAwwad | Raghad Al-Mustafa |
| Jana Al-Dawoud | Shareedah AlMajdeli |
Conducted by Dr. Maitham Safar, the program manager for KFAS Research, the workshop outlined the process of submitting a research grant application and delved deeper into the kind of research data that should be collected and how to manage it during and after the research project.
Dr. Maitham explained the ethical practices behind data collection and shared some resources that are exclusive for data collection and organization. The workshop concluded with a Q&A session and discussion of the importance of having a data management plan that contributes to the success of the research.