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The Office of Student Life at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) recently kicked-off its first sports event for the fall semester with ‘More than Sports’. The event series features interviews with AUK athletes live on Instagram and is hosted by Mohammad Al-Saleh, senior sports coordinator and Anas Abdullah, AUK sports coordinator. The first interview was with AUK alumni, Mohammad AlMosawi and Salman AlMosawi, also known as the Karate Twins.
During the event, Mohammad and Salman shed light on the importance of athletics and how pursuing a sport while in university shapes and develops individuals, even after graduating—motivating current students to pursue their interests in sports. Mohammad and Salman went on to praise the University for supporting their athletic journey, “Getting to the level we have reached now was not an easy task, but with the support we had from our AUK family, it was achievable,” they said.
Commenting on the interview, the vice president for student affairs, Dr. Hanan Muzaffar said, “We are ever so proud of our very own Wolf Pack and famous professional athletes, Mohammad AlMosawi and Salman AlMosawi. Our students and alumni continue to make us proud, and we are honored to host them as speakers in our events and activities. We at AUK wish Mohammad and Salman all the best.”
Continuing to commend the Karate Twins on their commitment to sports and academics, Shirley Sullivan, director of the Office of Student Life said, “It was fascinating watching Mohammad and Salman AlMosawi inspire the youth of AUK and push them to achieve their dreams and to take up every opportunity as possible as a student at AUK.”
The online event was attended by 84 participants who interacted with Mohammad and Salman by asking questions on the live chat.
Welcoming the faculty back to campus, AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad began by praising the university community resilience since the beginning of the pandemic. She mentioned the hardships that were endured during the past 18 months and offered words of encouragement to persevere. The president then acknowledged the recent passing of AUK’s founding president, Dr. Shafeeq Al-Ghabra. During her eulogy, Dr. Rawda said, “He was charismatic, quite the communicator, and a person with many ideas, and was not shy to share them, test them, and implement them as we went along. Inclusive by nature, he involved everyone which created an institutional “buzz” that became infectious. For him and others who worked with him, AUK had to be different, and it became different. So, rather than follow, we would lead. And I believe that by in large that is what we continue to do.”
The president moved on to discuss the various developments that were implemented to the University’s technological infrastructure, campus grounds, and strategic plans to further the institution’s mission towards providing an exceptional learning environment for students. Among those plans were the faculty training sessions that were hosted by the University’s Center for Teaching Excellence. The Center provided multiple workshops to enhance faculty’s teaching practices to incorporate the most effective pedagogical methods to foster a mutual beneficial learning experience between faculty and students.
Furthermore, Dr. Rawda spoke of AUK’s readiness to host a hybrid model of education that will take place during the upcoming fall 2021 semester, “Over the course of the last two semesters, we have completed “smart” classrooms, installed cameras and sound tiles and have prepared for broadcasting into different classrooms to ensure social distancing requirements. We made sure that all staff and faculty offices are fully equipped with the technology necessary for faculty members to teach, and faculty and staff to conduct meetings from the safety of their offices.” These measures come in addition to comprehensive safety and security plans that will be applied in compliance with instructions provided by the Ministry of Health.
The fall 2021 semester at AUK is set to begin its first week of online studies, after which students will be shifting to a hybrid schedule—dividing their time equally between online and on campus studies. AUK is committed and prepared to host its students in a safe and responsible manner to ensure the wellbeing of its campus community.
Guided by a University staff member, the students visited some of the campus facilities including the newly opened building that houses classrooms, theater, media studio, and restaurant, followed by a visit to the offices of admissions and registrar where respective staff talked to the students about their services. The students then visited the AUK Library where a librarian similarly guided them through the facility.
The groups were also taken to see the liberal arts and sciences buildings that house more classrooms and laboratories, in addition to the campus diner and auditorium. Concluding the tour with the University’s recreational facilities, the groups were shown the Student Center Building where they could enjoy the campus gyms and student lounge.
AUK is set to begin the fall semester on the 26th of September, whereby the students will begin with online studies, then transition to on-site study in October.
In collaboration with the Sciences Po Kuwait Program and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), the Departments of International Relations and Social and Behavioral Sciences at AUK held an informative multi-speaker event titled, Transnational Issues in International Relations which aimed to shed light on different topics that have affected the Middle East recently. The event was moderated by Dr. Roman Kulchitsky, chair of the International Relations and Social and Behavioral Sciences Departments at AUK and was attended by the University’s students and faculty members.
The first speaker was Dr. Dawn Chatty, anthropology professor at the University of Oxford. Dr. Chatty’s presentation entitled, Forced Migration: Changing Concepts of Belonging and Identity, Citizenship, and Denationalization. Her presentation began with the history of forced migration after World War Ⅱ. Dr. Chatty described that period as a “Modern Humanitarian Era” when the U.N. agency for refugees was founded to aid displaced people and migrants through various international covenants, laws, and treaties. Supported by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Refugee Convention and other supporting treaties contain articles that ensure that everyone can leave and return back to their own country as well as obtain asylum in other countries. Dr. Chatty also emphasized the powerful role of activists in supporting refugees and promoting their human rights. “In many countries of Europe and throughout the world, individuals and solidarity networks have begun to emerge to help forced migrants and people who have lost protection of their own country,” Dr. Chatty affirmed.
The next speaker, Dr. Pete Moore, visiting professor at Paris School of International Affairs started off his presentation on international relations by first explaining conflictual events in the Middle East. In his presentation, Dr. Moore discussed the conflicts of the Middle East that had foreign intervention, and noted that the duration of these conflicts were the result of many variables. “The Middle East in some way is unique because of what is considered the permeability of borders in the Middle East,” Dr. Moore said. He then discussed how the militarization of Western foreign powers in Middle East conflicts also had impacts in the west, suggesting an increased use of domestic force within Western nations. He cited some of the recent national responses to the Black Lives Matter movement as an example of increased domestic militarization.
The final speaker, Dr. Tamirace Fakhoury, associate professor of political science and global migration and refugee studies at Aalborg University introduced her topic, Pandemic Borderscapes and Governance: Mobility and Rights, and demonstrated how governments draw on the pandemic to implement strict rules and policies by limiting people’s mobility and rights. She supported her argument with the worsening conditions in Lebanon due to the pandemic. “Covid-19, in fact, became one of the pivotal factors that enabled the Lebanese government to further escape its responsibilities and obscure accountabilities and cascading crises, whether we are talking about the financial collapse or Beirut blast,” Dr. Fakhoury said.
The event concluded with a Q&A session where students and faculty presented their questions and engaged in intellectual discussions with the speakers.
Science Po is a renowned research university specialized in the field of humanities and social sciences based in Paris, and KFAS is a Kuwaiti private non-profit organization that aims to support progress and advancing sciences and technology. Working together, the two institutions—through the Sciences Po’s Kuwait Program—support a range of initiatives in the fields of research, teaching, and academic events, with special emphasis on studying the Middle East and Gulf region. The AUK Department of International Relations continues to support student learning inside and outside the classroom by offering discussions of regional and local issues.
Dr. Roman Kulchitsky, chair of the International Relations and Social and Behavioral Sciences Departments at AUK, Dr. Dawn Chatty, anthropology professor at the University of Oxford, Dr. Pete Moore, visiting professor at Paris School of International Affairs, Dr. Tamirace Fakhoury, associate professor of political science and global migration and refugee studies at Aalborg University
All campus buildings and hallways contain signs regarding health and safety and distancing measurements, and shields have been constructed around all staff and faculty desks in addition to a supply of face shields as an added layer of protection during daily interactions. AUK also has a trained team to disinfect frequently-touched surfaces on a daily basis and the whole campus on a weekly basis.
To ensure that the University always stay up-to-date with the latest health and hygiene practices, AUK introduced NanoSeptic stickers all over campus. Using a new technology powered by light, NanoSeptic products turn high traffic touchpoints into self-cleaning surfaces by utilizing mineral nano-crystals which create a powerful oxidation reaction. Working around the clock, the surface continually oxidizes organic contaminants. Unlike traditional disinfectants and cleaners, the NanoSeptic stickers do not contain any poisons, heavy metals, or chemicals.
The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) at AUK embarked on a collaborative initiative with Dartmouth College to conduct a workshop presented by Professor Emeritus Jon Anderson on the ways in which research papers can gain visibility in the academic community.
The workshop, titled “Getting Your Research Noticed: From Keeping Track to Keeping Score in Academic Publishing,” had Professor Emeritus Jon Anderson as its main speaker. Dr. Anderson’s areas of expertise include social and cultural anthropology, contemporary Middle East, information technology cultures and globalization and civil society.
Attended by AUK faculty members, multiple topics were discussed throughout Dr. Anderson’s presentation, such as the various databases available in which research papers can be published and their exclusive differences, the circulation of findings, the importance of reference librarians, and the planning of publication strategies. Emphasis was also put on how different disciplines have different sequences of publication and a comprehensive review on directories and indexes was also provided.
Of equal importance, conversations revolving around open access publishing, copyright laws, institutional repositories, conferences and journal articles were exchanged in this workshop.
The presentation provided by Dr. Anderson combined with thought-provoking discussions from AUK faculty members and professors from different parts of the world provided valuable and fresh perspectives for audience members seeking to increase their research’s noticeability in the future.
Among the topics that Dr. Awwad discussed was the current state of institutions under the unique circumstances that the pandemic posed and the extent in which the demand for online learning will increase or decrease upon returning to normal conditions.
Another topic of discussion was a review of the significance of AUK’s migration to cloud and how it has made the University more agile and efficient that in turn contributed to the changing role of the IT Department over the last year. The speech encompassed the Department’s importance in institutional strategic planning and decision-making.
Concluding her talk, Dr. Awwad touched on the impact of the political, economic, and health-related concerns that international students are currently facing.
Commenting on the exchange of ideas during the event, Dr. Awwad stated, “Peer discussions such as these are always useful in identifying common institutional issues and concerns, and in developing solutions that are sustainable and promote growth and development. No matter where we are and who we are, post-secondary institutions are accountable in shaping the future. As such, we have a shared responsibility that requires continued transnational dialog that promotes an exchange of ideas and knowledge,” she states.
The roundtable for AUK included participants sharing personal accounts of the transformative process objects go through: a concept known as metamorphosis. Chloe Ramey, president of Sigma Tau Delta’s AUK chapter, discussed her liminal identity and her migration to Kuwait in her presentation titled, “Natural Pearls and My Constructed Identity”.
Another member of the honor society is recent graduate Stephen Sapp, who mapped out his metamorphosis into fatherhood and the way masculinity is constructed in “The Car: An Influenced Identity”. Alumnus Abdulaziz Redha explored the complex personal and societal relationship he and Kuwait have with American popular culture in “Start of an Age: Transitioning into a Global Kuwaiti”.
AUK chapter faculty advisor, Professor Angelica DeAngelis, reflected upon the honor society and the students who participated in the conference, “It is always an exhilarating moment when you get to see all the hard work you and your students have put in over the last four years come to fruition, when you see them transition from student to young scholar, confident and prepared to take the next step on their personal and academic journey. That is what I saw as the faculty advisor of Sigma Tau Delta during the AUK chapter’s roundtable presentations and discussion,” she states.
The presentation was well-received by the audience and concluded with a Q&A session whereby discussions on the topic and papers took place.
The talk shed light on the pivotal influence of the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979. Dr. Vatandoust began his talk by revealing that the Islamic revolution of Iran was a remarkable event in global history; in other words, the revolution preceded some significant global events such as the rise of Al-Qaa’eda—an Islamic fundamentalist group, the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, and the emergence of the internet and mass media before the new millennium. “Iran was the first country in recent times that embraced Islam as a political ideology and putting in motion a series of shock waves never seen before,” said Dr. Vatandoust.
One of the emerging trends in Iran during that time was the concept of white marriage that led to the widespread of questions and debates on whether it is legal and whether people should opt for it. According to Dr. Vatandoust, white marriage happens when, “...men and women will entirely choose to live together in partnership without fear of social and religious stigma or prosecution.” In this case, the marriage is not registered in governmental public offices which holds no legal ties for both spouses.
Both qualitative and quantitative methods of research were conducted to come up with findings that revealed Iranians’ perspectives pertaining to white marriage. In terms of the qualitative research, a group of Iranian women who came from different backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses were interviewed. Their thoughts varied between supporting white marriage and opposing it due to their conventional and religious perspectives that prevented them from having a relationship outside of marriage.
On the other hand, the quantitative research involved 172 young Iranians living in both Iran and Canada who offered their opinions on white marriage. The conclusion illustrated that Iranians’ views about white marriage differed between agreement, conditional agreement, and disagreement.
The talk wrapped up with a Q&A session with the attendees, and concluded with Dr. Vatandoust announcing that he would be working on a follow-up study for further information and updates on white marriage in Iran.
The Faculty Speaker Series is a platform that enables faculty members to showcase their research and scholarly accomplishments. The event also allows AUK to make a difference in the community both in Kuwait and beyond by spreading knowledge and awareness about various topics while offering an opportunity to the general public to take part in the AUK experience.
In his new book, Dr. Hesham Al-Awadhi, professor of history and international relations at the American University of Kuwait (AUK), discusses the role slaves played in the Kuwaiti community in terms of society, culture, civilization, language, art, customs, food, and clothes.
“Slaves were the most influential labor force from the pearl diving period to the petroleum production period and it’s not shameful to shed light on this type of history. In fact, it is necessary to highlight this particular era in order to reconcile with it,” states Dr. Hesham.
The book acknowledges the contribution and influence slaves had in the Arab Gulf. It’s also an all-encompassing and inclusive publication that seeks to include all groups of people, especially those marginalized and eradicated by traditional history, instead of solely focusing on the elites.
Upon being asked about the reasoning behind choosing what is considered a delicate subject matter, Dr. Hesham explained that he chose this topic precisely because it is sensitive, and this is what motivates him to research and write in the field of history. He stated that the goal behind any research is to reveal stories, add new insights and new analysis.
Tim Niblock, an emeritus professor of Middle East politics, praised the book, “It's a topic that has always been hidden behind the scenes, and it is an important and necessary part of the history of the Arabian Gulf.” Additionally, Jerzy Zdanowski, a professor at the Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures, also expressed his appreciation towards Dr. Hesham’s research, “I am happy that a Kuwaiti is continuing research on the issue of slaves in the Gulf.”
Using over 50 sources and exclusive British documentations, The History of Slaves in the Arab Gulf addresses a part of the past that is seldom talked about.
Dr. Hesham Al-Awadhi, Professor of History and International Relations
