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The role of student affairs in a student’s university experience is integral to establishing a career of extracurricular activities outside the classroom. This engagement is centered around creating a holistic experience for students where different facets of a student’s life on campus are explored and developed in order to provide them with a well-rounded educational experience. AUK President, Dr. Rawda Awwad elaborated on this point during her speech at the conference, “Student affairs of today is being reimagined and restructured, particularly in light of the changing needs of our students, ever-evolving learning profiles, shifting cultures, and global economic, social and political challenges that are affecting our students in more ways than we can count.”
The conference saw many professionals in the field of education who have presented their research and hosted workshops in topics ranging from using creative arts as an outlet, raising awareness of anxiety and stress management, to discussing different initiatives to increase student engagement on campus.
NASPA President Dr. Kevin Kruger attended the conference as a keynote speaker, in addition to AUK alumna Fatmah Al-Qadfan who earned her Master’s in Theatre and Drama Therapy. Both speakers stressed the importance of student engagement and wellbeing to promote their skills in teamwork and leadership, as Dr. Kruger explains, “What students do during college counts more for what they learn and whether they persist in college than who they are or even where they go to college.”
AUK Dean of Student Affairs, 2019 MENASA NASPA Annual Conference Chair and Country Representative at NASPA, Dr. Hanan Muzaffar commented on the significance of this conference, “We are proud to host and organize the 13th Annual MENASA NASPA Conference at AUK. The importance of collaborating with fellow student affairs professionals locally and internationally is crucial to the continuous development of our students, and a conference of this magnitude sets the platform for various positive plans for us. The theme of the conference, “Creating a Holistic Student Experience: Cross Campus Collaborations towards Student Wellbeing and Development”, reflects our ongoing commitment to providing our students with a wholesome experience, and invites other practitioners to share their input and best practice.”
ABOUT MENASA NASPA
Established in 2015, the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) area encompasses over 30 countries and a very diverse range of higher education institutions, languages and cultures. MENASA serves as the key entity to promote the NASPA mission “of leadership, scholarship, professional development, and advocacy for student affairs” in the region. In addition to promoting the NASPA mission, MENASA facilitates the development of indigenous student affairs practice, research and professional advancement including the generation of regionally based models of student affairs aligned with regional cultural norms and understandings.
Through the MENASA area, NASPA is able to bring its full array of resources, connections, research and insights to the region, and afford both professionals and aspiring professionals the ability to connect.
NASPA President, Dr. Kevin Kruger giving his keynote speech
AUK Dean of Student Affairs, 2019 MENASA NASPA Annual Conference Chair and Country Representative at NASPA, Dr. Hanan Muzaffar during her speech
AUK alumna and MENASA NASPA Keynote Speaker, Fatmah Al-Qadfan conducting a workshop at the conference
AUK President, Dr. Rawda Awwad giving a speech at the conference
General photo of the conference attendees
Organized by the Alumni Affairs and Career Development Department, Division of Student Affairs, the annually anticipated reunion brings together returning alumni and reconnects them with the University community in a reminiscent evening filled with entertainment and socializing. This year, AUK witnessed the return of almost 500 alumni, ranging from graduates from the class of 2006 to fall 2018.
The evening was held in the open air recreational area and was organized by events management company, EMiNDS which is owned by alumni Eslam Moussa (Class of 2’15) and Aliaa Jamal (Class of ‘17). EMiNDS has been dedicatedly managing the reunion for two years. Catering was managed by Abdalla Al-Muzaini (Class of ‘08), who offered a variety of international dishes from his newly established Scape Café. Al-Muzaini expressed his pride in being AUK alumni, noting that, “If it wasn’t for the great education which was given by AUK, we wouldn’t have been successful in our lives and careers.” Similarly, Salman Hamada (Class of ’18) provided his high-tech coffee vending machine; while alumna Nada Al-Muzaini (Class of ‘12) offered giveaways to the guests from her newly established cosmetics company, Ayn Noon. Fully managed by alumni businesses, the reunion reflects AUK’s commitment to work closely with its graduates and leveraging alumni relations and businesses.
The night began with a welcome speech by President Rawda Awwad, followed by the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Hanan Muzaffar. The evening continued with a live musical performance by Rita Malek, and concluded with a raffle draw for a wide array of gifts.
Each year, returning alumni recognize the outstanding opportunity this annual event provides. Alumnus Kassem Makki (Class of ‘18) said, “The alumni reunion was a great opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni.” Similarly, alumna Noura AlMufarreh (Class of ‘12) highlighted another aspect, “They spread inspiration and constant motivation to all of us. I am blessed to be part of the AUK alumni family, and I wish everyone a future filled with success and prosperity.”
AUK President, Dr. Rawda Awwad during her speech
Raffle draw during the event
Live musical performance at the reunion
General photo of the AUK alumni reunion
The lecture discussed the evolving roles of Kuwaiti women in modern society with guest speakers Ekbal Behbehani, a member of the Kuwait Handicap Society where she is active in charity and volunteer work; as well as Balsam Al-Ayoub, who is an internationally acclaimed athlete, businesswoman, and philanthropist.
They spoke about their volunteering and athletic success stories and challenges in relation to female empowerment. They highlighted the significance of believing in oneself and in the ability and willingness to contribute to positive change in the community and the world. Al-Ayoub also discussed the role of culture by saying, “It’s important to respect culture and traditions, and work in a way that allows people to accept the things you do. You can’t do things by force if you want long-term results.”
In noting the significance of recognising this day with the AUK community, the event’s organizer Lama Abdo noted, “We care about educating our students about what’s happening around us. When women feel that they are empowered, it can have a great impact on families, society, and countries in all their life aspect from education, economy, growth, and development.”
Guest speakers Ekbal Behbehani and Balsam Al-Ayoub being honored after their lectures at AUK
The week started with the cooking competition that featured traditional cuisines from Kuwait, India, Egypt, Pakistan, Mexico, South Korea, and Lebanon. The Best Main Dish Award went to Pakistan and the Best Main Dessert Award went to India. Some of these dishes were also later displayed at the Global Village, where a line of booths promoting their nation’s culture, displaying traditional clothing, books, music and foods, were exhibited across the campus’ main hallway. The booths were rated by judges for the Best Country Representation Award, which was awarded to Pakistan, South Korea, and the Levantine countries, coming in first, second and third place, respectively. Urooj Mudassar, President of the Desi Club said, “Representing Pakistan at AUK’s International Week was a great experience, we not only displayed our culture but also gave the AUK community a walk through our history.”
The following day, the AUK community participated in a parade of nations, where a parade of flags representing AUK’s diverse community marched across the main hallway. Their trail lead to the auditorium where the cultural showcase was held, featuring a range of cultural performances. Towards the end of the show, the Best Cultural Showcase title was awarded to Armenia, Kuwait, and Pakistan, coming in first, second, and third place, respectively.
Laila Dallol, a freshman electrical engineering student at AUK and event participant, recognized the importance of this opportunity in learning about the various nationalities of the AUK community. On her participation, she commented, “I was honored to represent my country and share my traditions and history with the AUK community.”
This year’s celebration also marked the inauguration of the AUK World Cup where student teams could compete as representatives of their chosen country. The winning team was representing Mexico.
The Office of Student Life noted that organizing this series of activities annually aligns with AUK’s liberal arts mission. Such events helps in supporting and encouraging cultural diversity and understanding on campus, as well as inspiring students to work in groups and be creative.
Students representing Kuwait in the cooking competition
Students representing Bilad AlSham in the global village
Students representing Pakistan in the global village
Students representing Jordan in the global village
Pakistani cultural performance during the cultural showcase
Kuwaiti performance during the cultural showcase
The celebration saw the campus decorated with traditional elements, including a display of a traditional Bedouin tent, where traditional treats and henna were offered. This was set up next to the “Dukkan Bu SBSA”, which sold local snacks. Across the main hallway, AUK’s student entrepreneurs were empowered to display their businesses that ranged from food to technology.
Festivities continued across campus through live performances such as, ‘The Kind Ones Left’, where students portrayed old Kuwaiti theatrical shows and issues. The play was organized by the Alpha Psi Omega and AUKause clubs. In attending the play, Abdullah Al-Enezi, a senior Engineering student at AUK, said, “Personally, it made me feel nostalgic for a simpler time.” The weeks also included live performance from Sheyaab and the Bu Awadh Traditional Band; as well as the movie screening of ‘Sirb Al Hamam’, a film based on a Kuwaiti resistance group during the invasion of 1990. The film’s director, Ramadhan Khasrouh, was in attendance to reflect on his personal experience during the Iraqi invasion.
In an effort to raise awareness related to cultural phenomenon, events such as the “Cultural Tolerance Dialogue” by Fikir Club were held, in which International Relations Associate Professors George Irani and Rounwah Bseiso reflected upon modern Kuwait’s sociocultural fabric by discussing themes of multiculturalism, coexistence and celebrating other cultures. Later, the National Day Debate was held by the Debate Club to dispute the governmental enforcement of national day celebrations across Kuwait’s public and private institutions.
To conclude the week, AUKMUN held “Kuwait & the UNESCO Lecture”, in which the preservation and promotion of Kuwait’s cultural heritage was examined in an effort to strengthen the national identity. On the sideline, the IRC also explored Kuwait’s growth since its independence by reflecting on the Kuwait National Football Team’s debut in the 1982 World Cup edition. Similarly, they reviewed the role of Kuwait’s army in the 1980s during the turbulent political and economic dynamic of the region, as discussed by retired Major General Saber Al Suwaidan.
In commenting on the reception of the celebration, Shirley Sullivan, Director of Student Life, commented, “The clubs and organization worked harmoniously to put together a week-long festive occasion at AUK. It was great to see the community cherish old memories and celebrate the culture of diversity in Kuwait through music, games, and dialogues.”
Former Major General Saber Al-Suwaidan during his talk
Film director, Ramadhan Khasrouh discussing his film after the screening
SBSA Club’s Dukkan
A team of students from the American University of Kuwait (AUK) triumphed as the first-place winners at Kuwait’s Global Management Challenge (GMC)—the world’s largest strategy and management simulation competition. They will be representing Kuwait in the international GMC competition in Yekaterinburg, Russia in July, 2019.
AUK has been participating in the competition since its inception in 2013. This year, AUK was represented by three teams of student who were selected from the College of Business & Economics (CBE). Members of the teams were selected to participate based on their performances in business-related courses. The teams were mentored by four faculty members from CBE: Dr. Ali Aljamal, Dr. Ahmed Kholeif, Dr. Mark Speece, and Dr. Aly Mansour. All three AUK teams qualified for the final round based on their performances in the earlier national qualifying rounds.
At the finals, the three groups of AUK students competed with three other teams representing universities and companies in an intense 8-hour market simulation. The winners were determined based on the performance of their assigned virtual companies with respect to the values of their market shares and investments. The two other AUK teams ranked fourth and fifth.
The Dean of the College of Business and Economics, Dr. Ralph Palliam, praised the AUK teams on their efforts in this year’s challenge for reaching the finals and winning first place, “The participation in the finals had great meaning to all students only because the competition was dominated by highly experienced teams from business organizations.”
AUK’s winning team included the following students:
Ismail O Al-Tahan (Team Leader)
Omar Matar
Fatema Abdulsaheb
Eman Eldin
Amer Khosla
Team’s leader, Ismail Al-Tahan, noted, "Understanding how various business departments interact, and how it all links back to investment performance was key to our success at the Global Management Challenge."
ADNAR Group, a leading vocational training service provider kicked-off the activities of the Global Management Challenge in Kuwait in 2013 with the participation of leading organizations in the private, educational and public sectors, among them ZAIN Telecom, Gulf Bank, Kuwait Maastricht Business School (KMBS), the American University of Kuwait (AUK), the Kuwait Stock Exchange, GulfCryo and Dot Space.
AUK’s Winning Team
The guest speakers explained the current government revenue structure as one that heavily depends on oil and foreign investments. However, this cannot be sustained as the oil can be depleted or replaced by another energy source. As such, oil markets have become volatile, causing a drop in oil prices and caused a budget deficit. A similar volatility exists in the world financial markets as well.
The speakers introduced taxation as an alternative and sustainable source of government revenue to enable the State to finance its public expenditures and social services, all whilst improving the level of services. Among its other functions, taxes can help in redistributing income and wealth on the basis of justice and the principles of equality; as well as encourage the national product through applying taxes on imported products. The speakers affirmed that any such taxation law would have to be aligned with the related taxation articles in the constitution which ensure social justice in its application.
Due to the drop in oil prices, GCC countries had agreed to apply VAT of 5% in 2018 in order to cover their budget deficit. Despite Kuwait’s commitment to this agreement, this has not yet been implemented as Kuwait’s Finance Minister Nayef Al-Hajraf has stated that implementation is not possible without the parliament’s ratification.
Ministry of Finance information booth
Ministry of Finance employee during the lecture
Senior Graphic Design students Marah Al-Kazak and Salma Mohammad were chosen as one of the winners of a typography competition hosted by the IDC School of Design (IDC), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Bombay) Mumbai, India.
The competition entitled, "Dance of Typography" called for international students and professionals alike to design a poster using one letter, one word, many words, or even a paragraph composed of words.
Out of 1000 entries, their poster was chosen by a blind jury, and is one of 40 winners printed and displayed in an exhibition during the Typography Workshop and Conference at the IDC School of Design (IDC) in Mumbai, India.
This marks the sixth year that students in the GDES 421-Typography III class have participated in this poster competition and have made it onto the winners list.
The Art and Graphic Design Department degree program offers a balance of theory and practice in the art and science of visual communication. The program cultivates cultural and aesthetic sensibilities while emphasizing critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving through the teaching of design history, methodology and technologies in order to produce designers capable of meaningful design in a diverse global community.
Dance of Typography by Marah Al-Kazak
Lines in Arabic by Salma Mohammad
AUK students, Mohammed Abdulsalem, Hassan Hajiyah, Elie Yazigi, Jumana AlNahham, and Nora Al-Sabah, were invited to attend the festival. The three acting students, Mohammed Abdulsalem, Hassan Hajiyah, and Elie Yazigi, attended workshops covering various aspects of acting, from performing Shakespeare to developing inner monologue. They were each cast in the student-written plays and performed in front of all the festival attendees. The playwriting student, Jomana Al-Nahham, worked intensively over 4 days with playwriting professors from Texas Tech to create a brand new 10-minute play that was read by actors as part of the festival. She received constructive feedback from professors and from professional theatre critic, Chris Jones from the Chicago Tribune. The design student, Nora Al-Sabah, worked intensively over 3 days with design professors from Clemson to produce an original set design. She presented the design in front of the festival attendees and received feedback from multiple professors. Additionally, all students attended workshops in other areas of theater, such as stage management and directing.
In addition to student participation, Dr. Yasmine Jahanmir, Assistant Professor of Drama at AUK, was invited to the festival as a guest artist. She taught two acting workshops, one on Commedia Dell’Arte and another on Meisner technique, as well as responding to the original play Phases, devised and performed by Michigan State students.
Group photo of AUK students in Sharjah
Mohammed Workshop: AUK student participating in an acting workshop
Jo: AUK student presenting a play at the festival
Students from the American University of Kuwait (AUK) participated in the Maker Faire 2019 Exhibition that was organized by Kuwait Investment Company at Kuwait International Fairgrounds. AUK’s students participated in the exhibition where they showcased their interests and works in engineering and technology.
The exhibition—a counterpart of one that is hosted in the United States—was held in Kuwait under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah where the projects ranged from a variety of fields from science to engineering to crafting and artistry; it also offered a space for workshops and exhibits from many inventors and artists.
Participants of the exhibition hailed from the GCC, Egypt, Sudan, Tunis, Jordan, Italy, and USA; each displayed their projects that centered in the fields of engineering, technology, calligraphy etc. in an interactive manner with the visitors.
150 projects were displayed, 7 of which were by AUK students majoring in computer engineering and electrical engineering and were supervised by Dr. Seyed Esmaeili, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at AUK.
Two projects created by AUK students won the Blue Ribbon Editor’s Choice Award—The PaintBot and Solar Car. This award is given to makers that demonstrate great creativity, ingenuity, and innovation. The PaintBot project, which won second place with a prize of $2000 in the tech category, is a wall-painting robot that delivers speed and consistency. PainBot follows its track keeping a constant distance from the wall throughout the paint job. The robot provides a cost-effective and time efficient automated system that performs accurate and smooth wall painting. Meanwhile, the Solar Car project was designed to work only using solar power. The energy generated from the photovoltaic panels is stored in a 96 V lithium-Ion battery. A screen placed at the front displays important information to the drivers which include the speed and the total charge of the battery.
The winning team projects consisted of the following AUK students:
Project: PaintBot (2nd Place Winner and Blue Ribbon Editor’s Choice Award):
Team Members:
Jamayel Al Ayoub
Fatma Marafie
Dana Al Hasan
Kaltham Al Ansari
Project: Solar Car (Blue Ribbon Editor’s Choice Award):
Team Members:
Musaed Al-Khaldi
Sarah Al-Shammari
Farah Darweesh
Taibah Al-Mannaei
AUK students’ project ‘PaintBot’ that won 2nd place in the fair
AUK students’ project ‘Solar Car’ that won the Blue Ribbon Editor’s Choice Award
