News
20, Oct 2018
RISE Center at AUK Hosts Innovation Fair
In collaboration with the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity (SACGC), the Center for Research in Informatics Sciences and Engineering (RISE) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) inaugurated its annual Innovation Fair. The event included a showcase of 15 state-of-the-art technological innovations at the University auditorium, followed by presentations from their respective innovators. The fair was open to members of the AUK community and the public.
In launching RISE Center’s first event of the semester, the Director of RISE, Dr. Amir Zeid reflected on the Center’s role in research and development, as well as being a platform for community engagement fostered through collaborations such as this event. He explained the importance of the event in informing the audience on the indispensability of today’s fast-evolving technology and the significance of innovation in solving societal problems. Dr. Zeid added that organizing such events creates opportunities for AUK students to know more about the process of getting a patent in Kuwait.
Commencing with an introduction of the SACGC, Engineer Mahmoud Zaman spoke of the Center’s mission, “To contribute to building a Kuwaiti society that fosters giftedness and creativity." One way to facilitate this is through its Inventors Support Program, which supports talented individuals with innovative and creative ideas. He then explained the process of application to the program to convert ideas from a concept to a reality, starting from the registration of ideas, creating a prototype and conducting a feasibility evaluation, to transferring it to the market and commercialization. Since then, the Center has fostered an environment of more than 400 inventors and 424 patent certificates that resulted from a sum of 1116 applications.
The first presentation was by Engineer Asma Al-Ateeq who introduced E-Farz, the smart container that automatically sorts waste into plastic, metal, or glass. Her idea was inspired after attending a seminar that showed the disaster of landfills in Kuwait, and further finding out that Kuwait’s waste was sorted only through inefficient traditional and manual methods. Since then, her invention has won her a silver medal at the 10th International Invention Fair in the Middle East 2018, as well as the Semi-Grand Prize in the Korea International Women’s Invention Exposition 2018.
The next speaker was Engineer Mohammad Al-Rifai, who introduced his steam-ironing robot, Kwili. A product of his student years, the invention has since won him 3rd place in the 3rd season of the Stars of Science TV show, the title of the GCC Medal of Honour in the Field of Sciences for the Youth, as well as inspired him to establish IdeaLink in 2015, which transfers inventions to the market. In his talk, he also highlighted the key components of any invention: novelty, usefulness, and applicability. He stressed that ideas can be generated simply by “seeing problems and creating solutions for them”, citing his invention as one such example inspired by personal observation. Similar to his idea, he maintained that inventions can be simple, citing samples like duct tape, zippers, and pens. In echoing the previous speakers’ messages, he encouraged students to innovate and persevere through the long innovation process.
In commenting on the event’s success, Dr. Zeid expressed his satisfaction with the event’s turnout as the auditorium was packed. He added that this event can lead to long-term collaborations with the SACGC.
The AUK Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences, and Engineering (RISE) serves as AUK's primary source for research and development activities, a bridge to industry, and an important venue for community outreach. RISE adapts an integrative model by forging connections between academic disciplines, local & international innovators, academia & industry, as well as technology & society.
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In launching RISE Center’s first event of the semester, the Director of RISE, Dr. Amir Zeid reflected on the Center’s role in research and development, as well as being a platform for community engagement fostered through collaborations such as this event. He explained the importance of the event in informing the audience on the indispensability of today’s fast-evolving technology and the significance of innovation in solving societal problems. Dr. Zeid added that organizing such events creates opportunities for AUK students to know more about the process of getting a patent in Kuwait.
Commencing with an introduction of the SACGC, Engineer Mahmoud Zaman spoke of the Center’s mission, “To contribute to building a Kuwaiti society that fosters giftedness and creativity." One way to facilitate this is through its Inventors Support Program, which supports talented individuals with innovative and creative ideas. He then explained the process of application to the program to convert ideas from a concept to a reality, starting from the registration of ideas, creating a prototype and conducting a feasibility evaluation, to transferring it to the market and commercialization. Since then, the Center has fostered an environment of more than 400 inventors and 424 patent certificates that resulted from a sum of 1116 applications.
The first presentation was by Engineer Asma Al-Ateeq who introduced E-Farz, the smart container that automatically sorts waste into plastic, metal, or glass. Her idea was inspired after attending a seminar that showed the disaster of landfills in Kuwait, and further finding out that Kuwait’s waste was sorted only through inefficient traditional and manual methods. Since then, her invention has won her a silver medal at the 10th International Invention Fair in the Middle East 2018, as well as the Semi-Grand Prize in the Korea International Women’s Invention Exposition 2018.
The next speaker was Engineer Mohammad Al-Rifai, who introduced his steam-ironing robot, Kwili. A product of his student years, the invention has since won him 3rd place in the 3rd season of the Stars of Science TV show, the title of the GCC Medal of Honour in the Field of Sciences for the Youth, as well as inspired him to establish IdeaLink in 2015, which transfers inventions to the market. In his talk, he also highlighted the key components of any invention: novelty, usefulness, and applicability. He stressed that ideas can be generated simply by “seeing problems and creating solutions for them”, citing his invention as one such example inspired by personal observation. Similar to his idea, he maintained that inventions can be simple, citing samples like duct tape, zippers, and pens. In echoing the previous speakers’ messages, he encouraged students to innovate and persevere through the long innovation process.
In commenting on the event’s success, Dr. Zeid expressed his satisfaction with the event’s turnout as the auditorium was packed. He added that this event can lead to long-term collaborations with the SACGC.
The AUK Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences, and Engineering (RISE) serves as AUK's primary source for research and development activities, a bridge to industry, and an important venue for community outreach. RISE adapts an integrative model by forging connections between academic disciplines, local & international innovators, academia & industry, as well as technology & society.
Dr. Amir Zeid, Director of RISE Center
Engineer Asma Al-Ateeq presenting her invention, E-Farz
Engineer Mohammad Al-Rifae presenting his invention, Kwili
Mr. Abdullah Al-Judan presenting AUK Vice Present for Admission and Public Affairs, Amal Al-Binali with a gift of appreciation
16, Oct 2018
AUK Celebrates Sports Season Kick-off 2018-2019
AUK’s athletics program celebrated the new sports season in the indoor court of the Student Center Building. The season kick-off was attended by Provost, Rawda Awwad; Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Hanan Muzaffar; the Student Life team, student athletes, and part-time athletics staff.
The evening began with a presentation of all the teams, coaches, part-time athletics staff, new uniform, and the newly inaugurated wall of fame. The Provost presented AUK alumni Nouf Al-Bahar and Sara Qenaei with framed jerseys as they were inducted into the wall of fame. The rest of the evening was enjoyed by the student athletes and their coaches over a sit-down dinner.
The Wolf Pack teams will play their first match of the season on the 22nd of October against Arab Open University in the indoor court of the student center building.
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The evening began with a presentation of all the teams, coaches, part-time athletics staff, new uniform, and the newly inaugurated wall of fame. The Provost presented AUK alumni Nouf Al-Bahar and Sara Qenaei with framed jerseys as they were inducted into the wall of fame. The rest of the evening was enjoyed by the student athletes and their coaches over a sit-down dinner.
The Wolf Pack teams will play their first match of the season on the 22nd of October against Arab Open University in the indoor court of the student center building.
AUK alumna Sara Qenaei being presented her athletic jersey by Provost Rawda Awwad to be inducted into the wall of fame
AUK alumna Nouf Al-Bahar being presented her athletic jersey by Provost Rawda Awwad to be inducted into the wall of fame
Members of AUK's athletic team (from left): Zainah Ben Salama, Women's Soccer; Joseph El-Neaman, Men's Basketball; Rima Taftaf, Women's Basketball; Duaij Al-Duaij, Men's Soccer; Ruba El-Amine, Women's Volleyball; Abdalla Barqawi, Men's Volleyball
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15, Oct 2018
Counseling Center Hosts Program for First-Year Students
The Counseling Center at AUK hosted its second event as part of the Learn. Think. Become. Program initiative for first-year students. The discussion titled, ‘We Will Fix You’ was led by Jason Sullivan, Director of the Counseling Center. Twenty-five first-year students attended the lecture which focused on the Counseling Center’s unique approach to the therapy process.
‘We Will Fix You’ was an intentional misnomer since the Counseling Center aims to look at the whole person and work with them to achieve their goals. In addressing the misnomer Jason said, “It’s not that we fix them, it’s that we really challenge them to stop running to extremes and find a healthy balance.” He explained to students that therapy at AUK begins with finding an individual’s strengths so that therapists can figure out the best way to help them. He emphasized the fact that each student is unique, so the amount or type of therapy they need differs. By treating each student individually, AUK is able to really help students address their problems.
For Jason, the most important part of the talk was having the opportunity to engage with first-year students and educate them about the Counseling Center so that they feel comfortable visiting. Addressing the taboo that the Center faces Jason said, “Therapy is one of those areas where we’ve been really working to reduce the taboo. It’s sad, because as a team we have a lot of fun, we get along well, and we run more like a family than a department. And taboos, the rumors, come from people who are afraid. But it’s sad, because they miss out on the family side of it.”
The Learn. Think. Become. Program exposes students to resources at AUK. The Learn portion is led by the Office of Student Life and teaches students their rights and responsibilities, the AUK Code of Conduct, and gives an overview of the student clubs and organizations. The Think program is led by the Counseling Center staff and covers a variety of topics from counseling resources, to eating disorders, to depression. The Become program is led by the Office of Alumni Affairs & Career Development where students will learn how to create a resume and how to apply for campus jobs.
‘We Will Fix You’ was an intentional misnomer since the Counseling Center aims to look at the whole person and work with them to achieve their goals. In addressing the misnomer Jason said, “It’s not that we fix them, it’s that we really challenge them to stop running to extremes and find a healthy balance.” He explained to students that therapy at AUK begins with finding an individual’s strengths so that therapists can figure out the best way to help them. He emphasized the fact that each student is unique, so the amount or type of therapy they need differs. By treating each student individually, AUK is able to really help students address their problems.
For Jason, the most important part of the talk was having the opportunity to engage with first-year students and educate them about the Counseling Center so that they feel comfortable visiting. Addressing the taboo that the Center faces Jason said, “Therapy is one of those areas where we’ve been really working to reduce the taboo. It’s sad, because as a team we have a lot of fun, we get along well, and we run more like a family than a department. And taboos, the rumors, come from people who are afraid. But it’s sad, because they miss out on the family side of it.”
The Learn. Think. Become. Program exposes students to resources at AUK. The Learn portion is led by the Office of Student Life and teaches students their rights and responsibilities, the AUK Code of Conduct, and gives an overview of the student clubs and organizations. The Think program is led by the Counseling Center staff and covers a variety of topics from counseling resources, to eating disorders, to depression. The Become program is led by the Office of Alumni Affairs & Career Development where students will learn how to create a resume and how to apply for campus jobs.
Counseling Center Director, Jason Sullivan during his talk with the students
11, Oct 2018
AUKReview 12th Volume Launch Event
The Department of English and the Department of Art and Graphic Design at AUK hosted a launch event for the 2017-2018 edition of the AUKReview. The journal is AUK’s annual student-run arts publication. Composed of works from across the AUK community, it features poetry and prose in English and Arabic, as well as photographs and designs. The 2017-2018 edition marks the 12th volume of the publication.
The event gave audience members an idea of the successes and struggles that went into creating the Review. Dr. David Hadbawnik, Faculty Supervisor and Chair of the Department of English, began the launch by acknowledging the immense amount of work that went into producing the publication. He emphasized the students’ role in producing the publication, as all materials are student-produced and edited. Reflecting on the Review’s distinctive qualities, Dr. Hadbawnik said, “The AUKReview is unique in that it’s a completely student-generated, full-color, high-quality publication that the University produces every year to showcase student writing, art, and images. I don’t know of another quite like it in all the institutions I’ve worked with. In recent years we have attempted to raise the profile of the writing portion of the journal by featuring contests in poetry and fiction, both in English and Arabic, with prizes for the student winners.”
The goal of continuing to improve the Review was clear throughout the event. Associate Professor William Andersen, Art Advisor and Chair of the Department of Art and Graphic Design, discussed possible collaborations with the Art and Graphic Design Student Club while working on the next edition. The club will help publicize the Review, and members will also serve on the jury board to select the work that will be published in the next edition.
This year’s 131-page edition of the Review is a beautiful tribute to the creative abilities of the AUK community. Publication of the AUKReview was supervised by Dr. Hadbawnik, Prof. Andersen, and Assistant Professor Joon Won Lee. The cover and design were created by AUK student Amal Shaher, and the student editors were Abdulrahman Al-Azmi, Nawaf Al-Mahdi, Amal Singer, Ghadeer Ghafour, and Aisha Al-Meshawet. The journal included winners of the second annual English language poetry and fiction contest, as well as a collaborative translation project (English to Arabic) by student Abdullah al-Qouz under the direction of Assistant Professor Inas Mahfouz, with an introduction by Assistant Professor Katherine Hennessey.
To read the 12th volume of the AUKuwait Review, click here.
The event gave audience members an idea of the successes and struggles that went into creating the Review. Dr. David Hadbawnik, Faculty Supervisor and Chair of the Department of English, began the launch by acknowledging the immense amount of work that went into producing the publication. He emphasized the students’ role in producing the publication, as all materials are student-produced and edited. Reflecting on the Review’s distinctive qualities, Dr. Hadbawnik said, “The AUKReview is unique in that it’s a completely student-generated, full-color, high-quality publication that the University produces every year to showcase student writing, art, and images. I don’t know of another quite like it in all the institutions I’ve worked with. In recent years we have attempted to raise the profile of the writing portion of the journal by featuring contests in poetry and fiction, both in English and Arabic, with prizes for the student winners.”
The goal of continuing to improve the Review was clear throughout the event. Associate Professor William Andersen, Art Advisor and Chair of the Department of Art and Graphic Design, discussed possible collaborations with the Art and Graphic Design Student Club while working on the next edition. The club will help publicize the Review, and members will also serve on the jury board to select the work that will be published in the next edition.
This year’s 131-page edition of the Review is a beautiful tribute to the creative abilities of the AUK community. Publication of the AUKReview was supervised by Dr. Hadbawnik, Prof. Andersen, and Assistant Professor Joon Won Lee. The cover and design were created by AUK student Amal Shaher, and the student editors were Abdulrahman Al-Azmi, Nawaf Al-Mahdi, Amal Singer, Ghadeer Ghafour, and Aisha Al-Meshawet. The journal included winners of the second annual English language poetry and fiction contest, as well as a collaborative translation project (English to Arabic) by student Abdullah al-Qouz under the direction of Assistant Professor Inas Mahfouz, with an introduction by Assistant Professor Katherine Hennessey.
To read the 12th volume of the AUKuwait Review, click here.
12th Volume of the AUKReview
08, Oct 2018
Center for Gulf Studies Hosts Lecture on Mental Illness Awareness
The Center for Gulf Studies hosted a public lecture by Dr. Abeer Hamadah, founder of the MIND me (Mental Illness is Not Disabling me) Campaign. The campaign is an effort to end the stigma surrounding mental illness in Kuwait, to raise awareness about mental illnesses, and to support people who are struggling with mental illness.
Dr. Hamadah began by explaining the mission of the campaign and then talked about specific issues facing mentally ill people in Kuwait. One problem is that Kuwait has no mental health laws, so people may lose their jobs or stop receiving support from their families because of their illness. Another problem is the existing social stigma against mentally ill people which is the most significant barrier that prevents people from seeking help. One of the campaign’s main goals is to try and educate people about mental illness to help reduce the stigma.
After reviewing the broad issues that Kuwait faces, Dr. Hamadah spoke about what individuals should do to support those with mental illness. She cautioned audience members against using labels such as “panicky” or “depressed” to define themselves, since studies have shown that people tend to manifest the behaviors that their label dictates over time. Before ending her talk, she educated audience members on the four most common mental illnesses: anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar affective disorder, and highlighted the importance of seeking help when you think you need it.
After the lecture, Dr. Abdullah Alkhulifah from the Fawzia Sultan Healthcare Network came onstage to tell people about the various services available for people with mental illnesses. He explained the importance of finding a therapist that is right for your needs and emphasized the fact that all services are confidential.
Following Dr. Alkhulifah’s presentation, there was a brief Q&A session with Dr. Hamadah. Students were excited about getting involved with the campaign and asked about how they could become volunteers.
Reflecting on the value of the event, Dr. Shareefa Al-Adwani, Director of the Center for Gulf Studies at AUK said, “The Center for Gulf Studies strives to spread awareness of and engage with local and regional NGOs, campaigns, and other civil society actors and groups. The founder of MIND me, Dr. Abeer Hamadah, in coordination with the Fawzia Sultan Healthcare Network and with the fantastic support of doctors, administrators, volunteers, patients, and students, encourages and provides several avenues for the de-stigmatization of mental illness in our community. The free and open academic discussion of this important issue may promote greater understanding in our families, our neighborhoods, and our communities.”
Dr. Hamadah began by explaining the mission of the campaign and then talked about specific issues facing mentally ill people in Kuwait. One problem is that Kuwait has no mental health laws, so people may lose their jobs or stop receiving support from their families because of their illness. Another problem is the existing social stigma against mentally ill people which is the most significant barrier that prevents people from seeking help. One of the campaign’s main goals is to try and educate people about mental illness to help reduce the stigma.
After reviewing the broad issues that Kuwait faces, Dr. Hamadah spoke about what individuals should do to support those with mental illness. She cautioned audience members against using labels such as “panicky” or “depressed” to define themselves, since studies have shown that people tend to manifest the behaviors that their label dictates over time. Before ending her talk, she educated audience members on the four most common mental illnesses: anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar affective disorder, and highlighted the importance of seeking help when you think you need it.
After the lecture, Dr. Abdullah Alkhulifah from the Fawzia Sultan Healthcare Network came onstage to tell people about the various services available for people with mental illnesses. He explained the importance of finding a therapist that is right for your needs and emphasized the fact that all services are confidential.
Following Dr. Alkhulifah’s presentation, there was a brief Q&A session with Dr. Hamadah. Students were excited about getting involved with the campaign and asked about how they could become volunteers.
Reflecting on the value of the event, Dr. Shareefa Al-Adwani, Director of the Center for Gulf Studies at AUK said, “The Center for Gulf Studies strives to spread awareness of and engage with local and regional NGOs, campaigns, and other civil society actors and groups. The founder of MIND me, Dr. Abeer Hamadah, in coordination with the Fawzia Sultan Healthcare Network and with the fantastic support of doctors, administrators, volunteers, patients, and students, encourages and provides several avenues for the de-stigmatization of mental illness in our community. The free and open academic discussion of this important issue may promote greater understanding in our families, our neighborhoods, and our communities.”
MIND me Campaign Founder and speaker, Dr. Abeer Hamadah
General photo of the audience members at the lecture
Dr. Abdullah AlKhulifah from Fawzia Sultan Healthcare Network
Audience member participating in the Q&A session
30, Sep 2018
AUK Students Participate in George Washington University Study Abroad Program
Two AUK students were awarded scholarships to participate in a six-week summer program at George Washington University (GWU). This summer program provides AUK students with the opportunity to take two three-credit undergraduate classes at GWU, along with fully paid tuition, health insurance, and accommodations. Batool Hasan and Omar Khalil were the recipients of this year’s scholarship in the summer of 2018.
Their experiences are summed by the following categories:
Academic:
Batool was exposed to different schools of thinking as this experience pushed her to take classes she would not normally gravitate towards. She registered for two courses, a philosophy course titled Ethics in Business and the Professions, and a Comparative Politics course. Batool greatly enjoyed the ethics class as it tackled moral issues in engineering and encouraged class discussion. The Comparative Politics course offered a nice change from her usual engineering classes through analysis of different political regimes and why they succeed in certain conditions and fail to progress the livelihood of citizens in other circumstances.
Omar was enrolled in two courses—World History and Media Arabic. World History was an intensive yet fascinating course that dealt with many important historical events throughout the world since the 15th century, culminating in how these events have shaped the world as we know it today. Media Arabic was an advanced Arabic course that Omar had initially started with great trepidation but quickly grew to enjoy as he spent classes exchanging cultural ideas with his American classmates. He has learned a great deal about the techniques English speakers utilize in learning Arabic and has imparted knowledge to his classmates on the linguistic dichotomies between Classical Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic.
One of the ways Omar sought to make the most of his stay in Washington DC was by improving his professional skillsets. As a student deeply engaged in app and game development, Omar took part in a couple of developer meet ups where he was able to network with many other game developers, try their projects and receive valuable feedback on an app he is currently working on.
Cultural:
Batool aimed to engage in as many activities as her short time in D.C. would allow. She will forever remember the hustle of the Fourth of July parades and mesmerizing fireworks. Being a fan of museums, she visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Renwick Gallery, the Museum of Natural History, and other lesser known museums such as the International Spy Museum. In addition to that, she had the opportunity to see the White House, visit George Town, the Mount Vernon estate and the old city Alexandria.
Living in the heart of a metropolitan city was a striking change as it was always hustling with movement. Everything from restaurants to supermarkets to university buildings was within walking distance from the dormitory Shenkman Hall. “Staying in a dormitory allowed me to make friends easily as I was always meeting people,” Batool remarks about her experience at Shenkman Hall.
Not only did Omar enjoy his time in Washington DC as a tourist as he visited many of the Smithsonian’s museums as well as the city’s most important monuments throughout his stay, but he also endeavored to experience the city in a way that better integrated him into the environment, helped him cope with culture shock and even made him feel like he was closer to the heart of city life: by living as a local. He cooked for himself as often as he could, revisited several tucked-away yet beautiful bookshops and cafes, befriended locals through meet-ups, discovered obscure reading spots by the Potomac River and even changed up his jogging routes constantly to remain active and spontaneously discover new areas he would never have encountered before.
Personal Growth:
Batool accomplished two goals before her experience at GWU even started: Travelling alone for a long journey, and visiting a country she had not been to before. As soon as she reached the dormitory, she quickly got acquainted with her dorm mates, who later on became a family to her, and joined together to visit the monuments and surrounding area in an effort to make the most out of her experience. Batool also crossed off another item on her bucket list with a visit to New York city, in which she visited the Empire State building and Statue of Liberty.
From developing a sturdier work-ethic from his intensive classes to broadening his cultural awareness, Omar has gone through a lot of personal growth that he attributes to the George Washington Summer Program. There were ups and downs throughout the experience, but everything Omar has gained will benefit him tremendously in his academic, professional and personal life, and he would recommend everyone to take part during the next program.
Their experiences are summed by the following categories:
Academic:
Batool was exposed to different schools of thinking as this experience pushed her to take classes she would not normally gravitate towards. She registered for two courses, a philosophy course titled Ethics in Business and the Professions, and a Comparative Politics course. Batool greatly enjoyed the ethics class as it tackled moral issues in engineering and encouraged class discussion. The Comparative Politics course offered a nice change from her usual engineering classes through analysis of different political regimes and why they succeed in certain conditions and fail to progress the livelihood of citizens in other circumstances.
Omar was enrolled in two courses—World History and Media Arabic. World History was an intensive yet fascinating course that dealt with many important historical events throughout the world since the 15th century, culminating in how these events have shaped the world as we know it today. Media Arabic was an advanced Arabic course that Omar had initially started with great trepidation but quickly grew to enjoy as he spent classes exchanging cultural ideas with his American classmates. He has learned a great deal about the techniques English speakers utilize in learning Arabic and has imparted knowledge to his classmates on the linguistic dichotomies between Classical Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic.
One of the ways Omar sought to make the most of his stay in Washington DC was by improving his professional skillsets. As a student deeply engaged in app and game development, Omar took part in a couple of developer meet ups where he was able to network with many other game developers, try their projects and receive valuable feedback on an app he is currently working on.
Cultural:
Batool aimed to engage in as many activities as her short time in D.C. would allow. She will forever remember the hustle of the Fourth of July parades and mesmerizing fireworks. Being a fan of museums, she visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Renwick Gallery, the Museum of Natural History, and other lesser known museums such as the International Spy Museum. In addition to that, she had the opportunity to see the White House, visit George Town, the Mount Vernon estate and the old city Alexandria.
Living in the heart of a metropolitan city was a striking change as it was always hustling with movement. Everything from restaurants to supermarkets to university buildings was within walking distance from the dormitory Shenkman Hall. “Staying in a dormitory allowed me to make friends easily as I was always meeting people,” Batool remarks about her experience at Shenkman Hall.
Not only did Omar enjoy his time in Washington DC as a tourist as he visited many of the Smithsonian’s museums as well as the city’s most important monuments throughout his stay, but he also endeavored to experience the city in a way that better integrated him into the environment, helped him cope with culture shock and even made him feel like he was closer to the heart of city life: by living as a local. He cooked for himself as often as he could, revisited several tucked-away yet beautiful bookshops and cafes, befriended locals through meet-ups, discovered obscure reading spots by the Potomac River and even changed up his jogging routes constantly to remain active and spontaneously discover new areas he would never have encountered before.
Personal Growth:
Batool accomplished two goals before her experience at GWU even started: Travelling alone for a long journey, and visiting a country she had not been to before. As soon as she reached the dormitory, she quickly got acquainted with her dorm mates, who later on became a family to her, and joined together to visit the monuments and surrounding area in an effort to make the most out of her experience. Batool also crossed off another item on her bucket list with a visit to New York city, in which she visited the Empire State building and Statue of Liberty.
From developing a sturdier work-ethic from his intensive classes to broadening his cultural awareness, Omar has gone through a lot of personal growth that he attributes to the George Washington Summer Program. There were ups and downs throughout the experience, but everything Omar has gained will benefit him tremendously in his academic, professional and personal life, and he would recommend everyone to take part during the next program.
AUK students Batool Hassan and Omar Khalil at George Washington University
19, Sep 2018
AUK Starts the New Academic Year with a Successful New Student Orientation and Welcome Week
AUK held its bi-annual student orientation where it welcomed first-time students to the AUK campus. The orientation is one of the most highly regarded events on campus as it intends to prepare students to effectively transition into university, while giving students the tools and information needed to become academically and socially successful at AUK.
The orientation was inaugurated by the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Hanan Muzaffar who explained that, “New Student Orientation is a vital part of the holistic transition and success of a student during their university experience. At AUK, we are committed to providing an all rounded experience for our students while providing them with a smooth and enjoyable transition, as we continue to enrich their academic, extracurricular and social lives on campus.” Following Dr. Muzaffar’s opening remarks, the Provost, Dr. Rawda Awwad spoke of the timelessness of learning and the significance of diversity of backgrounds and interests in the university community, citing them as some of the reasons that make AUK proud of its community. The speeches ended with a video that highlighted the students’ achievements in their involvements, both on and off campus.
The incoming students were then led on tours around campus and got to know each other through various ice breaking activities. The tour was organized by the Division of Student Affairs that also introduced its voluntary Peer Mentor Program for this year’s new student orientation. Comprised of 12 AUK junior and senior students, each peer mentor is assigned a group of around 30 freshmen to help them acclimate to the University, take them to their first club meetings and events, assist them with finding their way around campus and guide them through the process of dealing with various offices in the University. In commenting on the success of the Peer Mentor Program, Dr. Muzaffar said, “The Peer Mentors were excited for this opportunity, saying that they volunteered for this program because of their love for AUK and their desire to welcome the new students into their community.” Following this, optional activities ranging from an art workshop at the University’s art and therapy room to a basketball game in the indoor court were organized.
The AUK orientation week continued on campus with the Welcome Week activities that encouraged student engagement within the university community. Organized by the Office of Student Life, Division of Student Affairs, Welcome Week kicked off with a barbecue by the Student Life team, photo challenge, movie night, an involvement fair which consisted of recruitment for student clubs, organizations and university departments; wrapping up the fun-filled week was a mini carnival by AUK’s Student Council.
Commenting on the success of Welcome Week, Dr. Muzaffar said, “Welcome to a new academic year at AUK new and returning AUK students, we have been eager to meet you all! Our Welcome Week activities are here to provide all students with different ways to connect and meet their new and continuing fellow students, staff and available resources at AUK. We are looking forward to a successful fall 2018 semester.”
The orientation was inaugurated by the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Hanan Muzaffar who explained that, “New Student Orientation is a vital part of the holistic transition and success of a student during their university experience. At AUK, we are committed to providing an all rounded experience for our students while providing them with a smooth and enjoyable transition, as we continue to enrich their academic, extracurricular and social lives on campus.” Following Dr. Muzaffar’s opening remarks, the Provost, Dr. Rawda Awwad spoke of the timelessness of learning and the significance of diversity of backgrounds and interests in the university community, citing them as some of the reasons that make AUK proud of its community. The speeches ended with a video that highlighted the students’ achievements in their involvements, both on and off campus.
The incoming students were then led on tours around campus and got to know each other through various ice breaking activities. The tour was organized by the Division of Student Affairs that also introduced its voluntary Peer Mentor Program for this year’s new student orientation. Comprised of 12 AUK junior and senior students, each peer mentor is assigned a group of around 30 freshmen to help them acclimate to the University, take them to their first club meetings and events, assist them with finding their way around campus and guide them through the process of dealing with various offices in the University. In commenting on the success of the Peer Mentor Program, Dr. Muzaffar said, “The Peer Mentors were excited for this opportunity, saying that they volunteered for this program because of their love for AUK and their desire to welcome the new students into their community.” Following this, optional activities ranging from an art workshop at the University’s art and therapy room to a basketball game in the indoor court were organized.
The AUK orientation week continued on campus with the Welcome Week activities that encouraged student engagement within the university community. Organized by the Office of Student Life, Division of Student Affairs, Welcome Week kicked off with a barbecue by the Student Life team, photo challenge, movie night, an involvement fair which consisted of recruitment for student clubs, organizations and university departments; wrapping up the fun-filled week was a mini carnival by AUK’s Student Council.
Commenting on the success of Welcome Week, Dr. Muzaffar said, “Welcome to a new academic year at AUK new and returning AUK students, we have been eager to meet you all! Our Welcome Week activities are here to provide all students with different ways to connect and meet their new and continuing fellow students, staff and available resources at AUK. We are looking forward to a successful fall 2018 semester.”
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19, Sep 2018
AUK Student Council Hosts a Mini Carnival to Start New Academic Year
The Student Council at the American University of Kuwait held its first event of the year during the first week of the semester. The Mini Carnival took place in the recreational area and it featured live music, games, and prizes. The carnival was part of the University’s Welcome Week event which brought together students and professors with student council members.
The Mini Carnival included many games such as mini basketball, tower, charades, Pictionary and ring toss. Each was placed on a separate booth and had stuffed animals that were given as prizes to the winners. Students joined the event and showed their enthusiasm as they participated in the carnival’s activities.
The event also featured a Time Capsule booth which allowed freshmen to write letters to their senior selves. The letters were then kept in envelopes that the students sealed and signed with their names and student IDs. The booth was created by the President of the Student Council, Shahad Al-Mousa who said, “As a senior I have always wondered how much AUK has helped me grow. I wish I had a way to document the progress I had made both academically and socially.” She hopes that with the Time Capsule, freshmen would have the opportunity to envision what their experience in AUK would be like.
Alongside the games and prizes, the event also featured live music which was performed by the saxophonist Hussein Elessawy. He played covers of a wide variety of songs to cater to everyone’s taste.
The Council, which consists of an entirely new board called for this carnival as an opportunity to introduce the new team to the students and to provide a source of entertainment for the student body at the end of AUK’s Welcome Week. The event was executed in collaboration with the Student Life Department who provided support for the event and refreshments for the carnival attendees.
Despite the summer heat, the Mini Carnival was a success in that it brought the AUK community together for an enjoyable time.
The Mini Carnival included many games such as mini basketball, tower, charades, Pictionary and ring toss. Each was placed on a separate booth and had stuffed animals that were given as prizes to the winners. Students joined the event and showed their enthusiasm as they participated in the carnival’s activities.
The event also featured a Time Capsule booth which allowed freshmen to write letters to their senior selves. The letters were then kept in envelopes that the students sealed and signed with their names and student IDs. The booth was created by the President of the Student Council, Shahad Al-Mousa who said, “As a senior I have always wondered how much AUK has helped me grow. I wish I had a way to document the progress I had made both academically and socially.” She hopes that with the Time Capsule, freshmen would have the opportunity to envision what their experience in AUK would be like.
Alongside the games and prizes, the event also featured live music which was performed by the saxophonist Hussein Elessawy. He played covers of a wide variety of songs to cater to everyone’s taste.
The Council, which consists of an entirely new board called for this carnival as an opportunity to introduce the new team to the students and to provide a source of entertainment for the student body at the end of AUK’s Welcome Week. The event was executed in collaboration with the Student Life Department who provided support for the event and refreshments for the carnival attendees.
Despite the summer heat, the Mini Carnival was a success in that it brought the AUK community together for an enjoyable time.
General photo of the Mini Carnival attendees
Saxophonist Hussein Elessawy performing at the Mini Carnival
General photo of the Mini Carnival attendees
18, Sep 2018
AUK Students Intern at Dartmouth College
Three AUK students were granted the opportunity to intern during the summer at Dartmouth College-one of the Ivy League institutions in the United States. Leena Elhawary and Dima Jadayel were placed in the Office of Communications, while Omar Matar worked with the TuckGo Department in the Tuck School of Business.
The internship experience allowed the students to dive into a culture filled with different perspectives, meet people from all walks of life, enjoy nature-focused activities, learn about Dartmouth traditions, and have first-hand experiences of working in a professional setting.
Elhawary, Jadayel and Matar share their insights and experiences during their stay in Dartmouth that they believe has helped them shape their characters and pave the way for new goals.
Elhawary and Jadayel worked alongside each other in the Office of Communications. For Elhawary, the highlight of the trip was learning so much from her internship placement projects, taking part in various outdoor activities, as well as meeting many new people. In her spare time, she made sure that she was outdoors as often as she could. As she reminisces on her time at Dartmouth, Leena said, “I made sure to balance work and leisure because I wanted to take advantage of Dartmouth and all the opportunities it offered me. I’d make sure that I’m up early ready to start the day, then after I finish my assigned work, Dima and I would either go for a quick hike, or head over to the river and enjoy the glorious sun at the Dartmouth dock.”
Meanwhile, for Jadayel, getting used to a new routine has always been a thrill to her, as she explains, “You break out of that box you’ve been so comfortable in only to find out more about your strengths and weaknesses, personal traits to improve or eliminate, or even additions to your list of goals.” For the past month, Jadayel was able to open her mind to a new culture and its people. She adopted new unique perspectives that Dartmouth’s creative team instilled in her during her internship at the Office of Communications.
Omar Matar, the only TuckGO-Office of Business intern learned as much as enjoyed his office working hours. He obtained many Microsoft Excel skills that added to his existing knowledge of the computer program. He proudly boosted the Business Consulting team’s operations by creating a whole database that goes over 20 years back which included all the projects completed with all the information needed for future reference. Omar had surrounded himself by many friends that he met from inside and outside the office. Away from work, Omar was fortunate enough to live the town life in Hanover, New Hampshire, as the State enjoyed natural landscapes and a tropical summer weather.
Elhawary, Jadayel, and Matar had an incredible summer interning at Dartmouth. They were able to contribute to and learn from their internship placements and actively engage with the local community. The skills and personal growth that they gained while at Dartmouth is sure to influence their lives for years to come.
The internship experience allowed the students to dive into a culture filled with different perspectives, meet people from all walks of life, enjoy nature-focused activities, learn about Dartmouth traditions, and have first-hand experiences of working in a professional setting.
Elhawary, Jadayel and Matar share their insights and experiences during their stay in Dartmouth that they believe has helped them shape their characters and pave the way for new goals.
Elhawary and Jadayel worked alongside each other in the Office of Communications. For Elhawary, the highlight of the trip was learning so much from her internship placement projects, taking part in various outdoor activities, as well as meeting many new people. In her spare time, she made sure that she was outdoors as often as she could. As she reminisces on her time at Dartmouth, Leena said, “I made sure to balance work and leisure because I wanted to take advantage of Dartmouth and all the opportunities it offered me. I’d make sure that I’m up early ready to start the day, then after I finish my assigned work, Dima and I would either go for a quick hike, or head over to the river and enjoy the glorious sun at the Dartmouth dock.”
Meanwhile, for Jadayel, getting used to a new routine has always been a thrill to her, as she explains, “You break out of that box you’ve been so comfortable in only to find out more about your strengths and weaknesses, personal traits to improve or eliminate, or even additions to your list of goals.” For the past month, Jadayel was able to open her mind to a new culture and its people. She adopted new unique perspectives that Dartmouth’s creative team instilled in her during her internship at the Office of Communications.
Omar Matar, the only TuckGO-Office of Business intern learned as much as enjoyed his office working hours. He obtained many Microsoft Excel skills that added to his existing knowledge of the computer program. He proudly boosted the Business Consulting team’s operations by creating a whole database that goes over 20 years back which included all the projects completed with all the information needed for future reference. Omar had surrounded himself by many friends that he met from inside and outside the office. Away from work, Omar was fortunate enough to live the town life in Hanover, New Hampshire, as the State enjoyed natural landscapes and a tropical summer weather.
Elhawary, Jadayel, and Matar had an incredible summer interning at Dartmouth. They were able to contribute to and learn from their internship placements and actively engage with the local community. The skills and personal growth that they gained while at Dartmouth is sure to influence their lives for years to come.
Leena Elhawary, Dina Jadayel, and Omar Matar in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
16, Sep 2018
AUK Commences New Academic Year
AUK officially opened its doors to the class of 2022 on the 9th of September, 2018. During the first week of classes, AUK held a series of orientations for faculty and staff to introduce newcomers to campus and provide various curricula and administrative updates. AUK Provost Rawda Awwad gave a speech during the annual general staff meeting in which she articulated the significant outcome of each administrative and academic accomplishment in creating an unparalleled environment for students to immerse themselves in their education, as she explains, "All of the hard work that we invested that resulted in successful accreditations, the range of extra and co-curricular student engagement initiatives, research, alumni activities, school visits, moving toward holistic approaches to learning, retention pilots . . . are a means to an end in creating an environment and experience for our students that enables them to compete and lead and create and discover and explore, and actively partake in the shaping of their own cultures and societies, and give back to others."
The general meeting was followed by a panel discussion presented by a group of AUK professors on the best practices for education which include increased student engagement in the classroom, and using the latest technologies and software for a more dynamic educational experience.
The University’s first week of the new academic year was full of student events and activities such as the New Student Orientation Day and Involvement Fair to help further integrate students to their new environment on campus.
It has also been a busy time for campus expansion operations as they continue to progress this year to complete two new buildings at AUK that are expected to add more educational and recreational facilities to the AUK urban Salmiya campus.
The general meeting was followed by a panel discussion presented by a group of AUK professors on the best practices for education which include increased student engagement in the classroom, and using the latest technologies and software for a more dynamic educational experience.
The University’s first week of the new academic year was full of student events and activities such as the New Student Orientation Day and Involvement Fair to help further integrate students to their new environment on campus.
It has also been a busy time for campus expansion operations as they continue to progress this year to complete two new buildings at AUK that are expected to add more educational and recreational facilities to the AUK urban Salmiya campus.
AUK Provost Dr. Rawda Awwad
Dr. Ali Charara, Dean of College of Arts & Sciences
General photo of the audience
Group photo of the students
