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AUK Psychology students had the opportunity to visit the Kuwait Center for Mental Health (KCMH) this academic year (2015/2016). While classroom lectures and individual research can provide students with essential knowledge, the visits to the institution adds a layer of education that immerses the students into real-life cases of mental health issues. The value of these visits provides students with the necessary experience to witness first-hand, the process of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of patients. The students also had the opportunity to converse with resident psychologists, physicians and patients, which all served for a well-rounded educational experience.
During the Fall, 2015 semester, Dr. Juliet Dinkha, Associate Professor of Psychology, along with students in the PSYC204 class were invited for a visit by Dr. Adel Alzayed, Consultant Psychiatrist to visit the Rehabilitation and Drug Center, and the Kuwait Center of Mental Health (KCMH). The purpose of the fieldtrip was for students to witness hands-on practices on mental disorders and treatments.
Students learned about treatment methods including addiction management, and types of services provided for individuals suffering from drug abuse. They were able to visit with a group of women who were long-term residents of the center and asked questions regarding their treatment, what their daily routines at the center consist of, their relationship with their families, and discussed the overall quality of their lives before and after receiving treatment. Dr. Jacob Al-Kandari, psychologist and program director, Ms. Amna Al-Rabiei and Dr. Mohammad H. Al-Mosawi presented informative lectures to the students on services, disorders and methods of treatments offered to patients at KMCH.
Dr. Dinkha also accompanied her Spring, 2016 PSYC 204 students for a field trip to KCMH. They were led by Dr. Abdulmohsen Alhumoud for their first stop at the Kuwait Forensic Unit, where a variety of services are offered for individuals with criminal behaviors. The students then moved on to visit Al-Manarat, a child and adolescent inpatient unit with specific services for minors. The group had an extensive presentation by the Occupational Therapy (OT) team, detailing the types of cases serviced and type of disorders and challenges. Saud Al-Suhaibi, Mental Health Counselor, and psychologist Dr. Mariam Al-Bloushi then gave a lecture to the students on the general hospital which provides mental health and psychiatric services to adults and the elderly. Finally, the students visited the Drug and Alcoholic Rehabilitation Center where Dr. Adel Al-Zeid described the facilities in the Halfway Houses Residential Wards. Furthermore, it was noted that Kuwait has the largest rehabilitation services in the Middle East.
"These trips were enlightening experiences for the students to accept that addiction and mental health disorders are serious issues in Kuwait and treatment is available for anyone who accepts it. In addition, the information they were able to gather provided them with a deeper understanding of cognitive function and psychological practices, which serves to fulfill their knowledge of psychology as a field of scientific study," said Dr. Dinkha.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 15th May 2016
The College of Business and Economics (CBE) organized a Water Research Forum at AUK in collaboration with Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) to highlight CBE's water research agenda undertaken by faculty members Dr. Mark Speece, Dr. Mohsen Bagnied and Dr. Ali Aljamal. The agenda comes as part of the College's efforts in pursuing AACSB accreditation, which encourages research of impact and relevance to the local community.
Following the welcome notes of AUK President, Professor Nizar Hamzeh, the Forum featured presentations by Dr. Mark Speece and Dr. Ali Aljamal who highlighted the research agenda and discussed findings of ongoing research. Delegates from KISR also attended the Forum, among whom were Ms. Eiman Al-Awadhi, KISR's Director of Commercialization Division, in addition to Ali Al-Odwani, and Ahmad Al-Saffar from KISR's Water Research Center.
According to Dr. Aljamal, most projects in the agenda are tied to issues which can have some water policy impact. Part of the agenda is a project to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) for water among Kuwaiti households. Its objective is to assess WTP under different pricing, subsidy and water shortage awareness schemes. A follow-up study aimed to gain better understanding of perception of water subsidy among Kuwaiti households, "The results have shown that Kuwaitis, for the most part, perceive subsidy as a matter of fairness; and not necessarily as a means of defraying cost of water. This "unique" perception could very well complicate efforts to roll back heavy subsidy, improve efficiency and promote sustainable water use," said Dr. Aljamal.
Business and economics students have participated in different phases of the studies. Students enrolled in Environmental and Resource Economics (ECON 363) helped with the data collection process, while marketing students developed marketing plans for KISR's bottled water.
In addition to enriching the CBE accreditation portfolio, the research agenda also serves multiple objectives, including generating useful data for government stakeholders concerned with water issues, providing students with opportunities for experiential learning, use of research results as classroom material, and integration across different disciplines.
The College's collaboration with KISR has started earlier last year and included multiple activities, including a visit by Eng. Al-Odwani last October, as a guest speaker in Dr. Mark Speece's class, MRKT 413; and a recent field trip of AUK students to an experimental water treatment facility run by KISR Water Research Center.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 15th May 2016
The Intensive English Program (IEP) at AUK held an Open Day which was attended by 200 government school students and members of the public on Thursday, April 28. The event highlighted the IEP department and showcased the IEP students' talents. Visiting students experienced life at AUK by attending performances of oral poetry, impromptu speeches, plays, and game shows; in addition to interactive displays of art, and other student work. Students also visited the booths of student clubs and organizations, and enjoyed a campus tour.
"The government school students joined in on the fun activities created by the IEP students. It is our firm belief that when students are invested in their learning through projects such as this, they learn more quickly and that knowledge stays with them over the long-term," says Sandra Stein, Director of the IEP. We heard comments such as, "this is the kind of place I want to study in," and "I didn't know that college could be so interesting" from various students.
This event was a collaboration of multiple departments in AUK, and everyone worked hard to make it successful. Participants were encouraged to complete applications for admissions and to take English Placement Exams in May in preparation for the upcoming scholarship application period. "We were very pleased with the turnout for this wonderful event, and we thank Ms. Amal Jaber for her efforts in generating the high school traffic to the University," says Maher Dabbouseh, Director of Admissions.
The Intensive English Program serves people with intermediate, high intermediate, and advanced English proficiency. It is geared to develop advanced academic reading/writing/listening/speaking necessary for the individual student to succeed in the university. The IEP was the first in Kuwait to attain an accreditation by the Commission on English Accreditation (CEA).
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 12th May 2016
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2016
The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) self-study for the Computer Engineering Program of the College of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Kuwait was featured at the ABET Symposium in Hollywood, FL, US, April, 2016. The self-study was selected as one of the few examples of well-written and organized reports from around the world.
Dr. Issam Damaj, Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Dr. Ashraf Zaher, Associate Professor of Computer Engineering, attended the symposium to represent the Department and the College of Arts and Sciences. "Being included in the list of self-studies that ABET views as well-constructed is prestigious, as it is distinguished among computer engineering self-study reports from all over the world," explained Dr. Damaj, "It places us on a par with well-established world class institutions of higher education."
Dr. Rawda Awwad, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, pointed out that "we as a College and Institution value processes that provide us with opportunities for continuous growth, development and improvement. The self-study is one example of our overall commitment to best practices in areas of teaching, learning and scholarship."
ABET is the world's leading accreditation organization for the applied sciences, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. ABET currently accredits 3,569 programs at 714 colleges and universities in 29 countries.
From left: Dr. Ashraf Zaher and Dr. Issam Damaj
The 4th Kuwait Oil and Gas Summit took place on April 11 - 12, 2016 at the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa. The Summit was organized by the CWC Group Limited of London and was hosted by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), and supported by KPC subsidiaries.
The Summit was held at the backdrop of a dramatic fall in oil prices; and since this was one of the most important global macroeconomic developments of the past 20 months, the CBE Department of Management at AUK seized the opportunity to engage the students in the competition organized by the CWC Group.
Leading universities in Kuwait were invited to participate and share their opinions with the government and the stakeholders in the oil sector. As it is incumbent on Kuwait to invest in the next generation of oil workers, one of the aims of the CWC Group was to identify students' ideas on how to align academic effort with industry requirements in order to develop a world-class workforce for the future within the topic: "How can Kuwait adapt to the reality of low oil prices?"
External reviewers evaluated a host of submissions of essays and the top essays came from AUK. The overall winner was AUK's Yousef Al Majadi who received a commemorative plaque; and the two runners up were Menino Xavier Noronha and Vincent Puyat, also from AUK, who received the finalists' certificate. These students had the opportunity to attend the conference; learn further about the industry; network with senior oil executives and join the platform provided for forward-thinking interactive debates. The awards were handed over by Mr. Nizar Al Adsani, Deputy Chairman and CEO of KPC. The participants were guided and directed by AUK Professors Mohsen Bagnied; Ali Aljamal; Ralph Palliam and Aly Mansour who also attended sessions of the conference.
A group photo of the finalists
The winning AUK Student, Yousef Al Majadi with his mom
The American University of Kuwait received a visit by Monsignor Dr. Clemente Martin Munoz, President of the Real Asociacion Caballeros del Monasterio de Yuste (Royal Association of Knights of the Monastery of Yuste in Spain), a prestigious Spanish private membership-based organization for youth empowerment and international academic research funding. Monsignor Dr. Clemente was accompanied by Professor Miguel Angel Schiller, also member of the Real Asociacion.
The visit came as part of a research grant awarded last year to AUK International Relations Professor, Dr. George E. Irani for a project entitled, "Youth Empowerment and Community Building in Kuwait." The project aims at promoting civil society engagement within Kuwait. AUK students are currently working on completing their individual projects on a voluntary basis. Results of the various projects will be published in both Spanish and English. Furthermore, students will be awarded medals and certificates of participation upon completion of the project.
"We were very pleased to have Monsignor Clemente on campus. It was a great chance for our students to present the work they have accomplished so far and Monsignor Clemente was extremely impressed by their work. I would like to thank our students Shaza Wattar, Danah Al Bader, Abdulaziz Shawaf, Abdulaziz Mahmeed, Zainab Al Sammak, Paola Schietekat and Layan El Dabt for contributing to this project," said Dr. Irani.
During his visit, Monsignor Dr. Clemente also met with Dr. Nizar Hamzeh President of AUK and Dr. Rawda Awwad, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, where they discussed the ongoing youth project as well as other opportunities of collaboration between the Real Asociacion Caballeros de Yuste and AUK. President Nizar Hamzeh, Dean Rawda Awwad, and IR Professors Roman Kulchitsky, George Irani and the project coordinator Shaza Wattar, all received gold medals from the organization.
Monsignor Dr. Clemente Martin Munoz is President of the Real Asociacion Caballeros del Monasterio de Yuste. By training, he has a legal background as judge and law professor at various universities in Spain. Dr. Martin Munoz was recently awarded a honoris causa degree In Maritime and Computer Sciences from Columbus University in Panama. In addition to the Caballeros de Yuste (Knights of Yuste in Spain), Dr, Martin Munoz is also member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 9th May 2016
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2016
As part of its mission to establish connections with the industry, the Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences and Engineering (RISE) at AUK organized a lecture entitled "The Way to 5G: Live Demo by Zain" in April. The event incorporated a practical field test of the yet-to-be-released fifth generation of mobile network technology. The lecture was conducted by Zain's Operation Center Department Manager, Mr. Muhammad Al Ruwayeh; and Access Planning Engineer, Mr. Khaled Al Saleh. The demo featured free trial of the 5G technology on-campus to members of the AUK community and the public.
"This practical testing made it possible for members of the audience to dabble with the prospects of such breakthrough firsthand. To offer this experience, Zain has been working with us on the installations for the past 4 weeks. We really appreciate their time and efforts to bring this to life" RISE Director, Dr. Amir Zeid, said of the event, "Having an established industry player give us a glimpse of where the technology is currently at is a rare opportunity we are pleased we could offer."
5G networks will offer a significant increase in speed than what was available in previous generations, according to Al Ruwayeh. "It's going to be exceedingly rapider than what is now available. The difference would be revolutionary," he noted.
In addition to raw speed, other main benefits will include low latency and high capacity. "Not only will download and upload speeds be staggeringly quicker, but the response times of initiating such data transfers will correspond to that snappy speed," Al Saleh said. "To rephrase that, you would experience a significantly less of a pause between hitting play on a heavy video content and that crisp load starting to actually stream on your device," he explained. The groundbreaking upgrade is also expected to put a spin on current mobile network inadequacies, namely the critical lack of bandwidth. The 3G and 4G networks currently operate on radio frequencies that are considered "overcrowded," an issue that is subject to significant development under the novel technology, Al Saleh added.
About RISE:
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.
About Zain Kuwait:
Mobile Telecommunications Company "Zain" was founded in 1983 in Kuwait as the first mobile telecommunications company in the Middle East and Africa. The Group's flagship operation has enjoyed a proud history of achievements since then, including becoming the first telecom operator to launch a commercial GSM service in the region in 1994, as well as becoming the first telecom company in Kuwait to launch nationwide 4G LTE Internet services in 2012.
Looking ahead, Zain is following several strategic objectives, namely to consistently exceed customer expectations and maintain its leadership position by launching promotions and services that meet customersâ needs as per the highest quality standards through its largest network of branches and its dedicated call center (107).
As a main partner of the community in which it operates, Zain is keen on delivering its Corporate Sustainability and Social Responsibility through investing in and launching several sustainable initiatives that cater to education, health, environment, youth, sports, and other essential sectors. Zain believes that it has a responsibility to lead in the promotion of positive behavioral change within the community, and will continue to find ways to inspire and motivate people in leading humanitarian initiatives so as to foster a better world for everyone.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 11th May 2016
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2016
Mr. Maher Dabouseh, Admissions Director for the American University of Kuwait (AUK), attended the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers' (AACRAO) annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. The conference brought together officers of admissions and registrars from higher educational institutes and universities from around the world to discuss the latest developments, philosophies and techniques used in recruiting students to join their institutions, and to explore the various systems of higher education.
Mr. Dabouseh and Mr. Mike Zhang, from Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island held a joint presentation about the education systems found in high schools in the GCC region. They explored the cultural and social dynamics of Middle Eastern students studying in the U.S. and offered the attendees points to consider when recruiting international students from the GCC region that will help the students adjust to settling in new environments.
During the conference, AACRAO selected AUK's TV advertisement, which was produced and directed by AUK Alumnus Abdolmohsen Al-Hashem, to be played for the attendees, who praised how effectively it featured AUK's different majors in an engaging and entertaining movie-trailer.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 2nd May 2016
AUK held its 12th annual Career Fair for AUK students on April 12, 2016. Each year, employers from leading companies around Kuwait visit AUK to discuss future employment opportunities with AUK students. This initiative is part of AUK's commitment to provide its students with the opportunity to meet face-to-face with future employers and explore career options. During the fair, students interacted with different businesses and were given with advice on their resumes from various corporate representatives and professionals.
The Career Fair was organized by AUK's Career Services and Wellness Center (CSW) and took place in the AUK Auditorium, where 25 local and multinational companies from around Kuwait met and spoke with AUK students about possible career paths. The Career Fair was open to AUK students and graduates and was attended by around 300 people. This year's event was sponsored by the platinum sponsors Boubyan Bank and Gulf Bank; the gold sponsors KAMCO and Alghanim Industries; and the silver sponsors Yiaco Medial Company, Bloovo Middle East FZ-LLC, Kout Food Group, and Microsoft Gulf.
AUK President, Dr. Nizar Hamzeh, inaugurated the Fair with the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony. In his opening speech, he welcomed all participants and thanked sponsors. President Hamzeh said "Today, we renew explained that the Career Fair was a renewal of our partnership with both the private and public sectors and also the larger community in Kuwait. This partnership is based on shared responsibilities. For you is to attract qualified employees and for us is to ensure that our graduates are distinguished in their education and that you are attracting the greater number of them." He also added that "AUK prides itself for providing students with not only technical competency in their professional fields but also the soft skills of critical thinking, problem solving, communications, leadership, integrity, civic responsibility, and teamwork that are necessary for any job performances."
Abir Tannir Itani, Career and Personal Counselor at AUK, accompanied Dr. Hamzeh throughout his visit to the booths. She noted that the fair this year covered almost all the majors offered by AUK. Companies' attended were spread on a wide field spectrum: banking, consumer business/retail, financial, healthcare, sports and wellness, governmental, non-governmental organizations, recruitment, research, advertising, and training. It was encouraging also to see AUK Alumni representing their companies at the fair and meeting current and graduating students.
About the Student Counseling Center:
The Student Counseling Center (SCC) aims to promote wellness education, serve as a resource for students, staff and faculty, and provide counseling for students and alumni. Counseling follows American Counseling Association (ACA) standards which require confidentiality between client and counselor. Career services provide career counseling, professional trainings, and job readiness. Personal counseling addresses a wide range of academic, personal and social concerns. Disability services offer reasonable accommodations and assistance for students. The SCC is committed to help students learn, think and become...
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 1st May 2016
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2016
The Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences and Engineering (RISE) at AUK invited the Director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the United States, Dr. Martin Keller, to give a lecture entitled "Synergies between Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency: Untapped Potentials in Different Socioeconomic Sectors." The lecture was open to all members of the AUK community and the public.
Commencing with welcoming remarks from RISE Director Dr. Amir Zeid, the talk explored global energy trends and the driving momenta toward sustainable energy transition in the region for both users and suppliers of clean energy technologies. "I'm delighted we get to highlight and advocate a positive stance for change where the drive for clean energy is concerned," he said, "Awareness is essential to positive transition. That's what we aspire to establish."
The lecture discussed the issue of energy supply diversification and efficiency, with an emphasis on demand abatement options and the integration of new and renewable energy resources. "The MENA region's energy consumption rates per capita are among the highest in the world, a result of rapid economic and demographic growth, wasteful habits and an environment that requires major energy investments in power generation and efficiency measures to constrain consumptions," Keller remarked on the region's extents of reliance on oil and natural gas. "Natural gas is expected to remain the dominant fuel in the energy mix for the foreseeable future, responsible for a projected 71 percent of generation capacity by 2030," he noted, emphasizing that clean energy is key to maintaining sustainable development. The lecture also tackled the region's quest for transition to more balanced developmental models, where increasing interests in renewable energy and energy efficiency are essential.
In addition to being the Director of NREL, Keller is also President of the alliance which manages the laboratory of the Department of Energy. Prior to joining NREL, he served as Associate Laboratory Director for Energy and Environmental Sciences at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). He earned his doctorate in Microbiology (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Regensburg in Germany, and was appointed a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 2013. Keller also serves on multiple boards and advisory panels, including the Science Advisory Board for the Council on Competitiveness.
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.
Images from the Event
