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This summer, the Center for Continuing Education (CCE) at AUK sponsored LOYAC's social entrepreneurship program KON in partnership with Babson College. Over the course of a month-from the end of July to the end of August-CCE & LOYAC worked together in merging both their visions by helping advance Kuwait's youth. The KON program had 40 students (ages 12-16) and aimed at teaching the youth about teamwork, business development, and creating ideas to help solve social problems.

Throughout the month-long program, CCE arranged facilities and day-to-day management for the whole program, ensuring its success. Each week, the students worked together on their business ideas and prepared for the final week of the program. During the final week, all the business ideas were evaluated by a judging panel. CCE director, Buthaina Al-Khubaizi, served as one of the judges, and helped give input to the students on the feasibility of the ideas and how to improve or implement them.

While talking about the importance of their partnership with LOYAC for KON, Al-Khubaizi explained, "Through the program, we start as young as 12 years old, where we allow the participants to get to know themselves early, explore their entrepreneurial skills and challenge their thinking, while being exposed to various inspiring businesses, mentors and trainers. Self-exploration is a journey and it is the most critical skill to start an infinite path of learning". This collaboration with LOYAC is in alignment with CCE's vision, mission, and values of creating partnerships and collaborations to develop the Kuwaiti society. CCE was established in 2004 and offers an array of workshops, courses, and programs aimed to assist in the personal and professional development of individuals and groups within the public and private sectors. Course offerings are specifically tailored to meet the needs of their clients, whether they are independent groups or corporations.
 

Since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between AUK and Dartmouth College in 2003, the two institutions have collaborated on a variety of projects on both administrative and academic levels. One of these projects has been the Dartmouth-AUK Student Internship Program through which Dartmouth students intern at AUK during fall and spring, while AUK students intern at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH over the summer.

During summer 2017 AUK sent students Salma Abdelaziz and Nathalie Matta to Dartmouth College. Abdelaziz was placed in the Office of Communications, while Matta worked with the TuckGo Department in the Tuck School of Business. Over the course of their stay, the two students were able to meet people from different departments, enjoy nature-focused activities, and learn about lasting Dartmouth traditions.

For Abdelaziz, the two most striking parts of her experience were her internship placement projects and the environment at Dartmouth. The Dartmouth campus is the quintessential college town, located in a small New Hampshire town called Hanover. "For the first few days I explored the campus and was amazed by how you could almost never tell where the college ended and the town of Hanover began. I loved everything about Dartmouth and I loved how looking at the greenery, mountains, rivers and even the old buildings made me feel as if I was seeing color for the first time. I would always walk around with my camera taking pictures of things around me and sometimes forgetting to take pictures of myself," Abdelaziz reminisced in her reflection on the program.

Working in the communications office revolved around social media posts, analytics, video-making, and imagery for distribution to parties both inside and outside the college. This work gave Abdelaziz insight on Dartmouth traditions that would not be taking place during her stay, but are essential parts of the definition of life at Dartmouth for many students. "I started working on designing Snapchat filters to go with the annual events they have every year like commencement, homecoming, and the winter carnival. This project was one of my favorites as it allowed me to get to know Dartmouth better and explore the different rituals they have for each and every event," said Abdelaziz

Matta felt that her placement was a perfect fit-preparing her for tasks she will have to tackle in the business world. The TuckGo Department where she was placed focuses on the management and planning of global experiences and onsite consultations for graduate students. She felt supported by her placement advisor in terms of reaching her goals for the internship and being understood. In reference to her placement she said, "I was very happy with my internship placement and my tasks in supporting general business work and dealing with day-to-day operations. Compared to all the jobs that I've had on campus [at AUK] and outside, this internship was broader than any job I've had and that itself added a lot to my knowledge and experience of the business world," said Matta

As for the highlight of her internship, Matta said, "One of the things that I enjoyed most was that I was given a chance to present and talk about Kuwait. I was called out by one of the students as being ‘very challenging, as she took our idea about the Middle East and changed it'. It was one of my highest points during the internship, and I felt very accomplished that I could represent the country that I am from in a very positive way." The time spent at Dartmouth served not only as work experience, but as a chance to both inform others about her own culture, and to learn more about theirs.

This summer marks the twelfth time since 2006 that Dartmouth College has hosted AUK students for the internship program. Both students returned feeling more confident in their abilities and grateful for the opportunity to experience Dartmouth.

Over the summer of 2017, AUK sent two students to George Washington University (GW) in Washington D.C. on an AUK Study Abroad Summer Programs Scholarship. Over the course of six weeks, Leena El Hawary and Yara E. Al-Quorashy took on education and life at a university in the United States capital before returning to AUK. The immersive experience shed light on cultural differences, similarities, and learning and teaching styles across borders that the two students reflected in essays upon their return to AUK.

Learning Inside the Classroom

Both El Hawary and Al-Quorashy took two academic courses during their stay in Washington D.C. For El Hawary this included Cultural Anthropology and Historical Geology, while Al-Quorashy was enrolled in (Level 2) Introductory French and Introduction to International Relations. Reflecting on her experience Al-Quorashy stated, "Being surrounded by students who enjoy what they learn, and learn with persistence and determination to make sure they grasp concepts, created the atmosphere I needed to function better academically. Every student truly cared about their courses, and did not procrastinate or miss class; students strived to impress the professors with the smallest details."

The opportunity to take classes at GW not only exposed the students to a different teaching and learning environment, but helped them discover more about their individual learning styles and what things help them thrive in classroom settings.

Living in D.C.

During the six weeks abroad the students learned to balance and navigate school, fun, and business. These skills will continue to serve them as they continue their studies at AUK, graduate and begin to build lives for themselves—having already gotten a bit of experience being on their own. "One of the biggest challenges I had to face was finding balance between work and leisure. I was in DC for a mere six weeks and was therefore determined to make the most out of it. I wanted to explore the whole of DC, from visiting all the monuments and museums, to going to local shops and restaurants. However, I also wanted to succeed academically, therefore I had to make time for both by finding the right balance," El Hawary remarked. Though finding the proper balance took time, both students were able to explore the city while also succeeding in their classes. They were able to attend baseball games, go kayaking, visit the Smithsonian Institutes, and attend programming workshops and panels held by the University.

Not only did the students immerse themselves in and learn about the GW environment, but they also were able to share pieces of their own culture. El Hawary felt that she was able to enlighten people as she explains, "Locals were interested to know more about my culture and where I am from, which allowed me to represent myself, AUK, and Kuwait as a whole. I was able to bridge cultural gaps and try to eliminate any pre-existing stereotypes." Al-Quorashy was also comforted by seeing how she and people she met were able to overcome differences as she mentioned, "I was exposed to many cultures and met people from all kinds of backgrounds, and soon we became friends and our differences faded."

The American University of Kuwait (AUK) established a Study Abroad Summer Programs Scholarship in the spring of 2016 to enable AUK students to take summer classes at the George Washington University (GW) - Washington DC. The scholarship provides an opportunity for selected AUK students to engage in a short term international academic experience, and is awarded to AUK students providing tuition and fees for two classes, round-trip economy airfare, room and board, and health insurance. This initiative is in addition to a previous agreement with GW to establish a program for undergraduate student exchange. The GW and AUK student exchange agreement allows for nominated students to attend a maximum of two academic semesters (fall or spring) with the other institution on a non-degree basis.

For more information on AUK International Programs, please visit: International Programs

About GW:

The George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study, as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate and professional students from across the country and around the world.

To kick off the semester and celebrate the start of classes, the Office of Student Life organized a Welcome Week packed with events to help integrate new students and allow returning ones to catch up with friends.

Opening the week was the Welcome Back Barbecue in the recreation area near the Liberal Arts building on Monday. Students and faculty socialized, the Drama Department faculty handed out flyers for the University's production of West Side Story, and students passed by bustling to and from classes. Enjoying the live music with a friend after classes, sophomore Estabraq Abadi talked about her view of education here at AUK saying, "I think the way we study here at AUK is cool. I really appreciate the barbeque because the food is good."

Music for the event was provided by the music department. Alternating sounds of upbeat jazz and classical music filled the courtyard with an atmosphere of excitement.

Tuesday brought faculty and staff together with students for competitive sports events. Going head-to-head, the faculty/staff vs. students games started at 2pm in the indoor court beginning with a soccer match which was then followed by a basketball game. The bleachers were full of people as both sides cheered for their favorite team. The soccer game ended at a 5-to-5 tie, and the student team swept the basketball game away-beating the faculty/staff 20-12. Closing out the night was a viewing of Avengers: Age of Ultron in the Student Lounge.

The start of any school year brings not only the start of classes, but the start of club and organization activities. Wednesday afternoon, the Club Fair was held in the main hallway. Students crowded the hallway, stopping by tables and listening to music that played from speakers. At the AUKause table, cookies and notebooks were given out as the organization talked about their upcoming blood drive and winter break trip. Other tables had donuts, candy, and games set up on iPads.

Bringing the week to a close was a casual ice cream social on Thursday afternoon. As Student Life and the University welcomed back students, returning students welcomed each other back as well-glad to see familiar faces. After a long summer, Welcome Week was the perfect way to set the tone for the year.

Images from the Welcome Week

The American University of Kuwait officially opened its doors to the class of 2021 on the 10th of September, 2017. In preparation for the new academic year, AUK held a series of orientations for faculty and staff to introduce the newcomers to campus and provide various curricula and administrative updates. AUK President Tim Sullivan gave a speech during the meeting in which he emphasized the importance of a liberal arts education to the new generation of students as a vital role in their growth and prosperity beyond their educational journeys. The President also highlighted some new facilities on campus such as the newly opened student center and the multipurpose building that is currently under construction. AUK Provost Dr. Rawda Awwad also gave a speech on the University's continued strive toward development-stating, "What is compelling in this is the sturdiness of this institution: it truly knows itself and understands on a very fundamental level the importance of growth and development."

The meeting concluded with a panel discussion presented by a group of AUK professors on the best practices for education in the 21st century, which include increased student engagement in the classroom.

Orientation week kicked off on campus to welcome new students to the academic year with a series of events and activities organized by the Office of Student Life, Division of Student Affairs. The orientation started with an informational session to introduce students to the various services and academic departments at AUK. This allowed students to familiarize themselves with the campus and socialize with their fellow new and existing community. Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Hanan Muzaffar expands on this point as she states, "On Sunday, we conducted the New Student Orientation that welcomed new students to AUK, introducing them to the University dynamics and to campus life, and providing them with an opportunity to meet and greet their fellow classmates. The week continues with activities that encourage the students to take part of college life outside of the class, starting with BBQ Monday, and ending with Ice-Cream Social Thursday, with sports and activities throughout the week, among them a staff/faculty/student sports matches." Among the activities this week will also be a visit from the Private Universities Council and a club fair where students can find an array of clubs and honor societies to join.

Established in 2003, the American University of Kuwait (AUK) currently offers 14 distinct degree programs in various academic disciplines. According to Ms. Amal Al Binali, Vice President for Admissions and Public Affairs, AUK has offered admissions to 350 students to the undergraduate and Intensive English programs for the fall 2017 semester.

AUK is accredited institutionally by the Private Universities Council (PUC) in Kuwait. The College of Business and Economics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP); the College of Arts & Sciences is accredited by the American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE); The B.E. in Computer Engineering is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET); and its Intensive English program is accredited by the Commission for Intensive English Program Accreditation (CEA).

On the 19th of July, 2017, AUK graduate interns Aryka Rice and Adrienne Bocci met with the U.S. Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, Lawrence Silverman. As participants in AUK's Summer Student Affairs Internship Program, Aryka and Adrienne used the opportunity to learn more about higher education administration in Kuwait and partnerships between U.S. and Kuwaiti institutions. The interns also discussed their experiences at AUK-including their dual placements in different Student Affairs and Student Services departments on campus. During their 8-week experience, which concluded on July 20th, 2017, Aryka worked in the Registrar's Office and the Office of Student Life; while Adrienne worked in the Counseling Center and with Learning Support Services.

Regarding the conversation with the Ambassador, Adrienne said, "It was such a unique and valuable experience to meet with him. He shared a number of insights about the strong relationship between Kuwait and the United States, and in particular how their status as allies has translated into some wonderful international opportunities for college and university students. The Ambassador encouraged us to consider how we might be able to further expand upon this opportunity even after the internship has ended. He was also very interested to hear what we had learned from our time at AUK, which provided a chance for me to further reflect on the skills I have developed and the knowledge I have gained as a result of the internship. Meeting him was an honor and a privilege, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to do so. It was an incredible way to complete my experience here."

Reflecting on her visit to the Embassy, Aryka said, "This experience was truly amazing. Being able to walk through the Embassy, taking in history, was absolutely breathtaking. The Ambassador was easy-going and seemed to be very interested in our internship experience, how we interacted with the AUK community, what we learned about Kuwait, and how we can help to create partnerships with our home institutions in Kuwait. As a result of this afternoon chat with the Ambassador, I will continue to find ways to tell people about Kuwait in hopes of encouraging them to visit the Gulf Region and continue to travel the world learning about other people, places, and cultures. This experience was definitely the grand finale of a wonderful summer abroad experience."

This semester, AUK welcomes a new pair of interns from Dartmouth College-Alexis Colbert and Mary Versa Clemens-Sewall.

Alexis Colbert will be working in the Marketing and Public Relations Department, the Office of Student Life, and the Writing Center. She is a Gates Millennium Scholar in the Dartmouth College class of 2019. Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri she worked with her local congressman as a member of the Congressional Youth Cabinet and was highly engaged with her local Young Men's Christian Association where she later became an employee. Her major is Anthropology with a focus in cultural studies, and she will be participating in the anthropology study abroad in New Zealand in the winter. At Dartmouth, she serves as the Historian of West House, works for America Reads tutoring and mentoring local elementary students, and is a freshman outreach chair for Sigma Delta sorority.

Working in different departments during their stay, both Alexis and Mary will be on campus until mid-to-late November and share an interest in the field of education. The pair also has Dartmouth study abroad programs with different departments in their repertoire.

Mary Versa Clemens-Sewall will be working in the Math and Natural Sciences Department, the Tutoring Center, and in the Intensive English Program. She is a Dartmouth class of 2020 student majoring in mathematics with teaching in mind. Mary is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended a performing arts magnet school where she studied dance and theatre which she continues to participate in at Dartmouth. On campus, Mary dances with the Dartmouth Dance Ensemble, with whom she toured in Costa Rica, and is an Arts Ambassador. In high school, Mary stayed with a host family in Ghana as an exchange student, an experience that helped expand her knowledge of global awareness. This past summer she also participated in a language study abroad program in Morocco and hopes to further global knowledge through her time at AUK and through future travel.

This is the twenty-second time since 2005 that interns have joined the American University of Kuwait from Dartmouth College.

The Center for Continuing Education (CCE) at AUK graduated the first group of trainees from the Training of Trainers (TOT) Certificate Program; a program launched in April in partnership with the Public Authority for Applied Education & Training (PAAET). The two-week program trained the participants on how to assess the levels of knowledge in training venues, identify key elements that promote learning and application, and apply the best practices of instructional methods and teaching strategies in the classroom.

A graduation ceremony was held for the participants upon completion of the program at the CCE premises in AUK, during which they received their Professional Certificates of Achievement.

Buthaina AlKhubaizi, Director of CCE, explained "This partnership is a great example for knowledge transfer between private sector training and public sector education establishments. We believe that the programs that will run under this partnership will not only benefit in the advancement of PAAET teachers, but also will broaden their knowhow and their exposure to new tools & ideas".

The Training of Trainers (TOT) Program goes in line with CCE's commitment to offer professional training to help advance the professional community in Kuwait. It is designed for trainers, instructors, teachers, and facilitators from all industries, and two more cycles will run throughout 2017.

CCE succeeded in developing and delivering Teacher Development courses & programs since 2015. Programs such as the Teacher Training Certificate: Educational Training, Teacher Training Certificate: Educational Leadership Training, and the Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) focus on developing teachers anywhere from 1 year experience up to 10 years and above. While other programs, such as the Train The Trainer (TTT) ISTD Certified Program, is an internationally certified training program which focuses on developing trainers.

The center also preparing international certification programs in the field of Teacher Development, working alongside elite universities & organizations in the UK and USA to bring the Kuwaiti society an educational experience like no other.

CCE was established in 2004 and offers an array of workshops, courses, and programs aimed to assist in the personal and professional development of individuals and groups within the public and private sectors. Course offerings are specifically tailored to meet the needs of their clients, whether they are independent groups or corporations.

Images from the event