News

Dr. Iyad Abu Doush, professor of computer science and information systems at AUK, published an article in the International Journal of Universal Access in the Information Society.  
 
Dr. Abu Doush worked with Ahmad Al-Jarrah, Nancy Alajarmeh, and Mrim Alnfiai on the article, titled, “Learning features and accessibility limitations of video conferencing applications: are people with visual impairment left behind.”  
 
The article abstract reads as follows, “The COVID-19 pandemic increases the reliance on video conferencing applications for learning. Accessible video conferencing applications with good learning features can help people with visual impairment when they participate in online classes. This paper investigates the accessibility limitations and the available learning features of the top two current video conferencing applications, namely Zoom and MS Teams. A task-based expert review and a blind user evaluation are conducted using Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1. In addition, the study identifies the application with the better learning features based on Universal Design for Learning guidelines. A set of recommendations are outlined for developing better inclusive video conferencing applications for people with visual impairment. The presented ideas can be applied to enhance the learning experience of people with visual impairment.”  
 
Dr. Iyad Abu Doush received his PhD from New Mexico State University in 2009.  He joined AUK in 2016. In 2018, he joined the Dartmouth-AUK Fellowship Program; his research focused on optimizing algorithms for real world problems. He also serves as the founding director of the Office of Research and Grants at AUK.    
 
This accomplishment is a testament to AUK’s faculty and the standard of education that the University offers. Through publishing research articles in journals of this caliber, AUK’s faculty continue to promote academic excellence, instilling values of professionalism and lifelong learning in students.  
 

Dr. Iyad Abu Doush, professor of computer science and information systems at AUK

AUK began the 2022/2023 academic year by welcoming new students and faculty to its campus and held a series of orientations and activities to acclimate them to university life.   
 
During the general university faculty and staff meeting, HR director, Paul Bassil, welcomed everyone and credited the staff and faculty’s hard work as the foundation for the University’s achievements. To familiarize the new members with the University, Paul introduced the various departments and outlined their roles.  
 
AUK continued with the series of orientations with sessions for newly admitted students who were welcomed by the University president, Dr. Rawda Awwad, whereby she detailed the ways in which the University continues to prosper, “While normalizing a transitional plan back to campus with all its related challenges, we have also been successful in following up with and implementing a range of institutional initiatives that are scalable and sustainable. Over the past two years, I have shared with our community what these were and continue to be: they range from technology-related infrastructure developments, upgrades and acquisitions to campus expansion, enhancement and development of student and alumni-related services, outreach projects, collaborations and cooperations with public and private entities locally and internationally, on-going and successfully-completed accreditation initiatives, ongoing and successfully-completed program reviews and implementation, focus on innovative teaching and production of research with impact, that is only to mention a few.”  
 
The dean of student affairs, Hala Al Abdulrazzaq, also introduced students to the dynamic environment on campus that involves both academic and recreational events.  
 
Addressing the newcomers, Dean Hala said, “We are honored to welcome the class of 2026. The Division of Student Affairs extends a warm welcome to all our students, and we wish them the best of luck at AUK.”  
 
A virtual campus tour was played, followed by presentations by the Office of Scholarship & Financial Aid, Division of Student Affairs, and the Student Council. Students were informed about the services available, clubs and organizations, and upcoming events.  
 
Students were then divided into groups for ice breaker activities to encourage communication with one other, and a group picture was taken towards the end.  
 
During the first week of the fall semester, a series of events and activities took place during Welcome Week. Everything from sports games to an involvement fair took place where students got the chance to familiarize themselves with all the clubs and organizations that they could join on campus.  
 
AUK is keen on providing students with the intellectual and academic support that encourages students to be self-sufficient. Through these orientations and activities, AUK continues to foster a community of students who are tight-knit and united in their scholastic and professional goals.  

 

Dean of student affairs, Ms. Hala Al Abdulrazzaq
 

AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad
  

HR director, Mr. Paul Bassil
 

AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad


General photos of orientations and welcome week activities (below)
 

The American University of Kuwait (AUK) continues to solidify its partnership with LOYAC through partaking in multiple youth initiatives that include LAPA’s Al Jawhar program and “KON.” 

AUK signed a memorandum of understanding with LOYAC Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA) which permits AUK communication and media students to enroll in LAPA’s Al Jawhar program and earn up to 9 credit hours towards their degree.  
 
The Al Jawhar program is divided into 3 levels—level 1 consists of 5 media workshops; level 2 consists of practical training such as vocal coaching and the development of Arabic skills in which the student will be supervised by a well-known media figure for evaluation; and level 3 is a special topics course for selected students who passed the preceding levels, consisting of a field training program in CNN Arabic headquarters in Dubai for 30 days, a 2-month podcast workshop in LOYAC/LAPA, and reporter trainee work in LOYAC/LAPA for a minimum of 3 months. It is through completing the third level that students earn an official certificate from LAPA stating the completion of a total of 9 credit hours.

Dr. Ali Charara, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, highlighted the importance of this collaboration for students’ experience at AUK, “Communication and media students can now expand their knowledge beyond the parameters of their course material. Through this memorandum, students will have the invaluable opportunity of learning from industry professionals and exploring different branches within their field.” 

Of equal importance, AUK hosted LOYAC’s “KON” Social Entrepreneurship Program, providing the program’s young participants with the resources and facilities required to learn and apply entrepreneurial concepts. 

Over the period of approximately 4 weeks, interactive workshops and mentoring sessions took place within AUK’s campus, providing LOYAC with a platform to teach their applicants business and marketing-related skills. The AUK auditorium, lounge, and classes were used for presentations and meetings with teams and community leaders. 

Mayce ElMostafa, AUK Director of Campus Services, expressed her enthusiasm in a speech directed to the program’s participants, “AUK is thrilled to partner with LOYAC on this initiative, as we continuously strive to provide a supportive space and environment to future generations to become the best version of themselves. It's youngsters like you that prove that our future is very bright and hopeful.” 

AUK continues to support youth initiatives that encourage young learners to pursue knowledge and gain the necessary skillsets to promote change within their community. LAPA’s Al Jawhar program and “KON” are a testament to AUK’s commitment to enriching society by fostering an environment that inspires the younger generation to learn, think and become.  
 

LOYAC's KON participants in AUK's campus
 

LOYAC's KON participants in AUK's campus

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Headquarters (NATO HQ) hosted 11 American University of Kuwait (AUK) students in Brussels, Belgium, making them the first students in Kuwait to visit the organization. They were recommended to go at the suggestion of the NATO Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Regional Center (NIRC) in Kuwait.  Dr. Shareefa Al-Adwani, Assistant Professor of Political Science at AUK, accompanied them during their trip, along with two NIRC members.  

The students got the invaluable opportunity of engaging in discourse with high-ranking officials and diplomats, alternating between briefings and Q&A sessions. Students interacted with NATO representatives and ambassadors from Canada, Romania, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom. 

Discussions about climate change, energy security, and NATO-Kuwait relations took place. Briefings were given on NATO’s counter-terrorism work and defence policies. A variety of sociopolitical concepts and frameworks were reflected upon throughout the visit. 

To prepare for this trip, AUK students received an orientation from NIRC officials and a briefing from Ambassador Nasser Al-Sabeeh, Director General of Saud Nasser Al-Sabah Kuwait Diplomatic Institute, to explain NATO HQ’s protocols and procedures. Amb. Al-Sabeeh drew upon his expertise within the political field to offer students strategies of negotiation in alignment with Kuwait foreign policy.  He also emphasized the importance of staying well-informed and communicating in an effective manner. 

AUK is highly committed to providing students with enriching experiences that prepare them for the contemporary world. A trip of this caliber illustrates AUK’s continued efforts to offer students a high-quality education that fulfills their professional and personal aspirations.  
 

AUK team with NATO and NIRC members

Dr. Mounib Khanafer, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the American University of Kuwait (AUK), completed his fellowship at Dartmouth College this summer.

Dr. Mounib joined a project led by Professor David Kotz, Dartmouth provost and Professor in the Department of Computer Science, along with Dr. Tim Pierson, a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science. His research focused on the growing field of the Internet of Things (IoT) which describes how objects like cars, phones, TVs, cameras, homes, etc. can come to be smart and get linked to the internet to exchange information. The primary focus of the project was studying and developing security algorithms and secure communication technologies for IoT-based smart homes.

Dr. Mounib collaborated with representatives from a project known as SPLICE: Security and Privacy in the Lifecycle of IoT for Consumer Environments. This project is funded by the National Science Foundation and involves seven institutions.

Sharing insights with SPLICE colleagues in his talk at Dartmouth opened new dimensions for Dr. Mounib, enabling him to further his research and hone his professional skills. He discussed some of his publications on teaching an introductory course on IoT and stimulating research projects through teaching a course on IoT. 

Reflecting upon his experience there, Dr. Mounib stated, “At Dartmouth I joined Prof. David Kotz’s team that is actively researching privacy aspects in smart home environments. Through extensive meetings and discussions, I collaborated with Prof. Kotz and his team of researchers with an aim to develop platforms and technologies that make the home environment benefit from the innovations of the Internet of Things (IoT) without breaching the privacy of home occupants. Since 2018, I have been active in researching IoT technologies and joining Prof. Kotz this last summer came as a golden opportunity to keep myself up to date in such a very dynamic area of research. Prof. Kotz is the Pat and John Rosenwald Professor in the Department of Computer Science and the Provost of Dartmouth College; a renowned researcher in the fields of security and privacy in smart homes as well as wireless networks. Through the knowledge and skills I acquired by working with him I’m currently preparing the drafts for two research papers that focus on the problems of device discovery and privacy platforms in smart homes.”  

This fellowship program is an extension of the AUK and Dartmouth partnership that has been running since 2004 and it is granted to an AUK faculty member on an annual basis. This allows professors to grow and expand their research by using the latest equipment in laboratories, collaborate with highly regarded professionals, and utilize resources needed to publish their research in top journals and international conferences.
 

Dr. Mounib Khanafer
 

AUK International Relations students were invited by Ambassador Nasser Al-Sabeeh, Director General of Saud Nasser Al-Sabah Kuwait Diplomatic Institute, to attend a talk by President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Abdulla Shahid. 

President Shahid, who also serves as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Maldives, talked about the importance of youth and their role in politics. The topics discussed centered on national safety and security, current social issues, and international policies. Climate change was also emphasized during his talk, whereby he called the community to action and urged the youth to be proactive and raise environmental awareness. 

Dr. Shareefa Al-Adwani, Assistant Professor of Political Science at AUK, reflected upon the experience, “It is important for our AUK students of International Relations to learn about their major both inside and outside the classroom, obtaining knowledge of the experience and  wisdom of both academics and practitioners in their field.  His Excellency Mr. Abdulla Shahid addressed issues related to our youth and future challenges, such as multilateralism in a time of geostrategic uncertainty, the need for continued evolution of international organizations, and climate change, all topics taught in our classes and practiced in the diplomatic arena.  Attending these talks allows our students to make stronger connections between the academic and the practical dimensions of their scholarly interests, and fosters their personal and professional growth.  We thank Ambassador Nasser Al-Sabeeh and the Saud Nasser Al-Sabah Kuwait Diplomatic Institute for their generous invitation to UNGA President Shahid’s talk.”

The audience, which included young diplomats, ambassadors, and embassy officials, directed thought-provoking questions to President Shahid in the concluding Q&A session. 

Through providing students with opportunities to attend talks of this caliber, AUK continues to cultivate knowledge, instill leadership qualities, and promote academic excellence inside and outside the classroom setting.
 
 

 
President Abdulla Shahid and Ambassador Nasser Al-Sabeeh
 

 
AUK students at Kuwait Diplomatic Institute

AUK students interned at Floward, an alum-owned business, to fulfill their graduation requirements. A total of 6 students received training in fields such as finance, accounting, category, and HR. 
 
Students learned about data analytics, market research, financial planning, and competitor analysis. Floward also offered the interns workshops in the art of floristry and photography, giving students the opportunity to get hands-on experience in various fields.  
 
Commenting on her time at Floward, Maryam Burhmah, a student intern majoring in Management, highlights how AUK contributed to her success during the internship, “AUK helped me become a creative thinker and think outside of the box. The University encourages its students to develop their self-confidence through classroom discussions and teamwork participation. Working in teams with university colleagues from various backgrounds pushed me to be more open to working with people who have different perspectives.”
 
Expressing his enthusiasm towards AUK’s students, Floward Kuwait Country Manager, Mr. Hamad Al Oufan, stated, “We were thrilled to have students from AUK participate in our internship program at Floward. We hope that the real-life work experience they gained will help them in their future endeavors. Giving back to our communities is at the core of what we do at Floward. We wish all of them good luck and wish to see them at our offices again.”  
 
AUK is keen on providing internships for students to excel within their fields through receiving first-hand experiences. As a liberal arts institution, AUK is dedicated to preparing its students by providing them with environments that encourage critical thinking, effective communication, personal growth, service, and leadership. 

 

The American University of Kuwait (AUK) international relations students visited the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (NATO-ICI) Regional Center in Kuwait. This is in preparation for the opportunity that was offered to AUK students to visit NATO headquarters (HQ) in Belgium.  

The NATO-ICI Regional Center provided students with an orientation to prepare them for the trip. Presentations were given on various trip logistics, visiting policies, NATO’s historical establishment, and the type of work the center does. Readings were also recommended to better understand NATO operations along with its briefings and guidelines.  

This is NATO HQ’s first student delegation from Kuwait, welcoming AUK students who completed their senior capstone projects in September.
  
  

General photo of AUK students during the presentation in NATO center
  

NATO’s representative during the presentation