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Following the presentation by the Kuwait Finance House (KFH) Chairman, Mr. Hamad Abdulmohsen Al-Marzouq, at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) in October, KFH has elected to sponsor a Sukuk Seminar entitled "Practical Applications of Sukuk in the Financial Markets". This comes as part of their CSR and Youth Education Initiative". The seminar was delivered by Mr. Mohammad Al Duwailah, Senior Manager of Capital Markets at KFH. The Seminar was organized by the Center for Continuing Education (CCE) in coordination with the College of Business and Economics (CBE), which provided review of outline, content and seminar materials.
CBE was keen in having committed senior students, particularly in Accounting, Economics and Finance, participate in this seminar. Although the majority of participants were AUK business students, few faculty members and several external stakeholders (adult learners) attended the seminar as well. The seminar was held at the Auditorium, where CCE capped enrollment at 40 to ensure close interaction and engagement.
The 4-hour seminar introduced participants to Sukuk as an alternative savings and investment option, and covered topics such as the types and structures of Sukuk, primary and secondary markets of Sukuk, risks associated with Sukuk, and an assessment of newly emerging trends in the Sukuk markets. Attendees also learned about the practical applications of Sukuk in financial markets.
As the market is currently $300 billion-strong, and growing, and the fact that almost half of banks in Kuwait are Islamic, the seminar was ideal for business students with career ambitions in the investment and banking sectors. Students who attended the seminar received Certificates of Participation, cosigned by KFH and CCE.
"Success of this 4-hour seminar is potentially a stepping stone for further on-campus educational and training opportunities which can add value to the portfolio of skills and enrich the learning experiences of our students," said Dr. Ali Aljamal, Chair of the Department of Economics, who coordinated CBE efforts.
"As we strive to achieve AACSB accreditation, this seminar strongly supports our pursuit and sends a message about our commitment to the academic and business community at large. I admire and appreciate KFH's Youth Education Initiative. I am very proud of and optimistic for our continued AUK-KFH collaboration and hope it will become a model for the town-and-gown relations in Kuwait," added Professor Jin Wang, Dean of the College of Business & Economics.
About CCE
CCE was established in 2004 and, in addition to offering language courses in Arabic, English, French and Spanish, offers an array of courses and workshops 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.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 28th April 2016
As part of its commitment to exploring academic partnerships and opportunities for collaboration with respected institutions, the Vice Chair of the American University of Kuwait's (AUK) Board of Trustees, Mr. Meshal Ali, along with AUK'S President Professor Nizar Hamzeh and his Cabinet, met with a delegation from Arizona State University (ASU) in March to discuss collaborative opportunities. The delegation consisted of Dr. Ajay Vinze, Associate Vice Provost, and Dr. Souad T. Ali, Chair of the ASU Council for Arabic and Islamic Studies and Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies. Areas such as student and faculty exchange, study abroad, research collaboration, and the development of new programs were discussed.
"ASU is one of the leading universities in the United States that is rich in its program offerings and its diverse community. We look forward to creating initiatives that are mutually beneficial to our two institutions," President Hamzeh said.
Dr. Vinze was pleased with meeting the AUK representatives and the prospects of collaborating with the University. "We applaud the international efforts initiated by President Hamzeh, and are delighted to be in conversations with AUK to explore academic possibilities that will benefit both institutions," he said.
Dr. Ali was a Fulbright Scholar at AUK in 2009-2010, Faculty Director of the ASU Study Abroad Program at AUK, and a Visiting Professor during the Spring 2015 semester at AUK. "It has been a distinct pleasure to continue the ASU/AUK conversation with Vice Chair of AUK's Board of Trustees, Mr. Meshal Ali, President Nizar Hamzeh, and the President Cabinet. We have been encouraged to explore more mutually beneficial academic and intellectual possibilities," said Dr. Ali.
About ASU
Arizona State University (ASU) is a premier public institution and research center located in Arizona, United States. ASU enrolls students from all U.S. states and 140 nations in more than 700 undergraduate and graduate programs. Driven by values of higher education excellence, access and impact, ASU is ranked the number one choice in the U.S. for international students by the Institute of International Education (IIE); ranked among the top 100 universities in the world by Academic Ranking of World Universities; and ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the most innovative public school in the United States. More information about ASU can be found at www.asu.edu.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 27th April 2016
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2016
Dartmouth College established the Global Exploratory/Development Grant in support of Dartmouth faculty members collaboration with international scholars on joint research projects. The grant, worth $15,000, covers expenses from airfare to resources and facilities; and is valid for up to 18 months for each project.
As AUK and Dartmouth have a longstanding partnership, AUK faculty members are eligible to apply for this grant and collaborate with fellow scholars in Dartmouth. Materials produced from these researches can be used for further teachings and development, and can serve as a beacon of knowledge that affirms the high standards of education that AUK and Dartmouth strive for.
Grant submission deadlines are the first week in October and the first week in April
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 26th April 2016
Nour Al-Failakawi and Paola Schietekat, both juniors in the Department of International Relations at AUK, presented papers at the 56th Naval Academy Foreign Conference in Annapolis, Maryland held on April 12-14, 2016. The students were accompanied by George Emile Irani, Associate Professor in the department of International Relations at AUK.
The title of the conference was, "Women and Security: The Implications of Promoting Global Gender Equality" and explored the security implications of promoting gender equity as policy. The Conference drew upon a wide range of interdisciplinary approaches, in exploring the role of women in armed conflict, political power and decision-making broadly defined.
Paola Schietekat's paper won the Best Paper Award which marks the second consecutive year that an accomplished student from AUK wins the prestigious award.
Dr. Rawda Awwad, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences states that, "Our student participation at International conferences of this scale is not only desirable but an imperative for the College of Arts and Sciences and the University. Global concerns are equally our concerns: education it is not merely restricted to learning and understanding, but demands of students to develop their own insights into ways by which they can contribute toward human advancement and social progress. I'm obviously proud of our studentâs achievement and expect nothing less."
AUK was the only international civilian school participating at the meeting.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 26th April 2016
The College of Business & Economics (CBE) at AUK organized a fieldtrip for students enrolled in the Environmental & Natural Resource Economics and Marketing Capstone courses to visit a state of the art experimental facility built and run by KISR Water Research Center. During the visit, the students attended a presentation conducted by the Center's researchers and toured the water desalinization and bottling facility.
KISR Water Research Center engages in research to articulate cost effective sustainable water production alternatives in Kuwait. The KISR facility visited uses reverse osmosis to produce potable water from beach groundwater wells. This year's trip came just days after the KISR commissioned a new state-of-the-art facility. The presentation highlighted Kuwait's water supply based on thermo desalinization of sea water. This large scale and energy-intensive process is primarily used to produce Kuwait electric energy but it also produces distilled water as a by-product. The distilled water is then mixed with groundwater to reconstitute the potable water delivered throughout Kuwait. The presentation also emphasized the small scale water production scheme currently being developed by KISR using reverse osmosis technology to reduce salt content of water drawn from beach wells. Following the presentation and discussions, the students toured the small scale experimental water desalinization and bottling facility, which produces and bottles high quality natural beach water under the brand name Kadhmah.
The visit was organized by Dr. Ali Aljamal, Chair of the Department of Economics at AUK, and Dr. Mark Speece, Associate Professor of Marketing at AUK.
"AUK is grateful to KISR Water Research Center and its scientists foroffering our students an opportunity to reflect on their classroom learning. It also allow students to gain deeper insight into how water is produced in the arid dry Kuwait environment.Water is a vital resource for the growth and sustainability of Kuwait economy and so it is imperative that we, as an academic community, engage scientists and professionals at all levels in this vital sector in Kuwait economy," said Dr. Aljamal.
This was the second fieldtrip organized for CBE students by the Department of Economics since 2013. CBE hopes that these fieldtrips would bridge the divide between the textbooks and real world application. "Such collaboration efforts will help develop a cadre of students who understand Kuwait water issues and appreciate the intricate role of economics and marketing in promoting sustainable and viable water supply in Kuwait," Dr. Speece explained.
The fieldtrip to the KISR Water Research Center goes in line with the themes of the ECON 363 course offered in spring 2016; Sustainability of Kuwait Water Resources and the Market Perspective, and the theme ofthe MRKT 413 course; the emergence of a Kuwaiti natural water (as opposed to manufactured water) bottle brand.
AUK's shares a strong relationship with Water Research Center at KISR. Over the past two years, KISR has organized two field trips for AUK students and engaged the students in the water research at the KISR Desalination Research Plant, located in Doha, Kuwait. KISR experts have also presented guest lectures in CBE classes.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 20th April 2016
The Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences, and Engineering (RISE) at AUK; the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait; and Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR) are pleased to co-organize the 3rd Annual Fishackathon in April 2016 at AUK.
The Annual Fishackathon (Fish Hackathon) is an international environmental initiative by the US Department of State to conserve marine life and sustainable fishery practices through technology solutions. The event calls on coders, designers, and science enthusiasts from all around the world to come together over a weekend to create new applications and tools to address issues in sustainable fishing.
The inaugural Fishackathon took place in 2014 in the United States. Last year, the second annual Fishackathon took place in 12 cities around the world. This year, the event has expanded to 43 cities on six continents, as well as a virtual hackathon. Kuwait has been added to the list this year to be the first country in Middle East to join the Fishackathon. This year the event is planned on April 21-23 in conjunction with Earth Day. The Kuwait local event will be hosted at AUK through RISE Center, under the sponsorship of Gulf Telecom, and in collaboration with Engineers Without Borders.
Participants from different institutions in Kuwait - including AUK and Kuwait University- will be competing in this two-day event in developing computer solutions that promote marine conservation practices. The teams will be supported by experienced mentors from both industry and academia, along with marine scientists from KISR. The winner of the Kuwait Fishackathon will advance to compete with 42 winners from around the world. A global judging panel composed of business, technical, and fisheries experts will review the submitted solutions from each site and select the grand prize winners, to be announced on World Oceans Day on June 8. One team will receive a $10,000 cash prize, and another teamâÂÂs project will be further developed through a U.S. government contractor.
In preparation for the weekend Fishackathon, the organizing partners held a series of training workshops for participants at AUK and KISR premises, through which participants received information and training sessions in marine biology and technology.
Dr. Amir Zeid, Director of RISE Center at the American University of Kuwait, said "We are delighted to partner with the U.S. Embassy and KISR on this prestigious event. Utilizing technology to solve environmental marine biology issues aligns with the RISE Center mission to serve multidisciplinary research and development, as well as to contribute to the local community. We would like to thank our sponsors and collaborators and we look forward to seeing the outcome of this event, which I am sure, will produce innovative ideas to support the local environmental efforts."
The event kick-off will take place at KISR premises on Thursday 21st of April at 5 PM. The Fishackathon activities, along with results announcement will be held on April 22nd and 23rd at the AUK campus in Salmiya. This will be followed by an awards ceremony at AUK on Wednesday May4th.
About RISE:
The AUK Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences, and Engineering (RISE) serves as AUK's primary source for multidisciplinary research and development (R&D) activities. The Center employs a holistic approach to R&D by integrating academic disciplines, and forging connections between local & international innovators, academia & industry, and technology & society.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 20th April 2016
Images from the Fishackathon Preparatory Sessions
The Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences and Engineering (RISE) at AUK announced that AUK will be hosting the Microsoft Imagine Cup Kuwait Finals for the second year, on April 20th, 2016. The Imagine Cup 2016 allows students to bring their technological ambitions to fruition with the help of Microsoft resources and guidance.
One team from AUK will be competing in Imagine Cup this year, along with other teams from the Gulf University for Science & Technology (GUST) and the American University of the Middle East (AUM). The winning teams will qualify for the Pan-Arab Semi-Finals to be held in Egypt in May 2016, leading to Microsoft Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals, which will be held in USA in July 2016.
Dr. Amir Zeid, Director of RISE Center at the American University of Kuwait, and mentor of the AUK team, said: "We are very proud to participate in Microsoft Imagine Cup for the 6th time; every year we have new teams participating and new talents unleashed, and that indeed is the core of what we strive to achieve here at AUK; incubate thinkers and innovators and offer them opportunities to expose their ideas."
Imagine Cup is broken down into three tiers of competition: Games, Innovation and World Citizenship. The Games tier invites creative students to produce a game on the following platforms: Windows (PC or touchscreen), Windows Phone, Xbox Indie Games or Kinect SDK. The Innovation tier includes innovative, ground-breaking and appealing software engineered by students using Microsoft tools and technology. Lastly, the World Citizenship tier is built for solutions to global challenges - apps to help reduce world hunger, raise environmental awareness or provide better access to education, for example. The AUK teams will be presenting ideas under the category of Innovation and World Citizenship.
The Imagine Cup Kuwait Finals will take place on April 20th at the Multipurpose Room of the American University of Kuwait (AUK) in Salmiya. The event is open to public and will commence at 4:30pm. Student presentations will run from 5pm-7pm, followed by an award ceremony at 8:pm when the winning teams will be announced.
About RISE:
The AUK Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences, and Engineering (RISE) serves as AUK's primary source for multidisciplinary research and development (R&D) activities. The Center employs a holistic approach to R&D by integrating academic disciplines, and forging connections between local & international innovators, academia & industry, and technology & society.
About Microsoft:
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 19th April 2016
The Department of Communication & Media at AUK, in collaboration with the Media Club, hosted a talk entitled "Discovering Arab Media" and invited popular media personalities, each from a different medium, to discuss their personal experiences in their fields with members of the AUK community. Local blogger Dana Al-Tuwairish, radio personality Farah Beshara, and actresses Shujoun Al-Hajeri and Reem Erhama, shared their stories with the audience in a discussion moderated by Dr. Mohammad Akbar and Dr. Iqbal AlHaddad, Assistant Professors of Communication at AUK.
Dana Al-Tuwairish spoke of her experience with social media and how she gained popularity to become a local celebrity and influencer. She highlighted some disadvantages that accompany being a local celebrity, such as having to deal with individuals who invade her privacy and take pictures of her and use them without seeking permission to do so, which may affect her reputation.
Farah Beshara was a Communication & Media student at AUK. Before she became a radio host at FM 99.7, she worked at a local bank. She explained that she found her work at the bank to be not suitable for her personality, as she found it to be too much of a routine. Upon that realization, she decided to pursue her passion for music and become a radio host.
Shujoun Al-Hajeri and Reem Erhama spoke of celebrity and the challenges they face from people who don't respect their personal space and cross the lines from fans to stalkers.
The lecture concluded with a Q&A session, where the attendees interacted with the speakers and asked questions about media in Kuwait. They explained the advantages and disadvantages of working in the different media platforms.
Hanouf Al-Azmi, President of the Media Club, explained that the talk offered an opportunity for students to learn more about celebrity life and the challenges celebrities face in Kuwait on a daily basis. "The Media Club always invites successful people to share their experiences with the AUK students, because we really need to learn from others in order to succeed in our work. And I advise all the students to be what they want and to work hard to achieve their goals as soon as they can," she said.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 18th April 2016
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2016
The Department of International Relations at AUK organized a lecture entitled "The Changing Political Landscape of the New Middle East" by Dr. Mona Makram-Ebeid, Distinguished Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the American University in Cairo (AUC), moderated by Dr. Roman Kulchitsky, Department Chair, and Assistant Professor of the Public Policy & International Relations.
In this lecture, Dr. Makram-Ebeid explained the differences between the Middle Eastern countries in terms of their history, economic levels, and political stability, and she divided them into Arab and Non-Arab countries. She also spoke about the relationship between the Middle East and the rest of the world, and discussed their mutual benefits.
Dr. Makram-Ebeid talked about the situation of the Arab region in specific, and discussed the security challenges and the political problems they face, and how they became known as the New Middle East. She stated that the Arab region should cooperate together and develop a real Arab Union, similarly to the European Union.
After her speech, there was a Q&A session where the attendees had the opportunity to interact with Dr. Makram-Ebeid and express their thoughts and ask questions.
Dr. Mona Makram-Ebeid is a Distinguished Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the American University in Cairo. She is a former member of Parliament and Senate in Egypt, and was the Head of Committee of Social Rights at the National Council of Human Rights from 2012-2013. Prior to her career in Parliament, she worked as an adviser to the World Bank for the MENA region from 1992-1996. Later she was appointed as an expert to the U.N. Committee for Policy Development (CPD) from 2000-2003, as a Regional Expert for the Arab States at the UNDP's Capacity 21 Program from 2000-2003. She founded the Association for the Advancement of Education, was a member of the International Consultation Group for the Middle East at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Washington, and is a founding member of the Arab Organization for Human Rights. She is a frequent media commentator and often contributes to programs such as CNN, BBC Hard Talk, NBC, the Doha Debates, and Al Hurra. She was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award (AUC) and the grade of Officier de La Legion dâhonneur (France), as well as the Hall of Fame Award. She is a prolific writer for a variety of national and international newspapers, and her most recent work is entitled Memories of Makram Ebeid.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 18th April 2016
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2016
Faculty members from the Department of Art & Graphic Design at the American University of Kuwait, Dr. Antonia Stamos, Assistant Professor of Art History; and Mr. William Andersen, Associate Professor of Studio Arts/Graphic Design, organized an academic field trip to Greece for AUK students and faculty members, along with their family members and AUK alumni, to visit archaeological sites, ancient monuments and museums in Greece and experience the country's history and culture. Over the ten-day trip, the multi-cultural group, which represented nine countries, visited historical sites and structures from the Prehistoric, Archaic, Classical, Byzantine, and Modern Greek historical periods.
Upon their arrival to Athens, the group briefly explored the city center before they headed to the island of Santorini; home to blue-domed churches, idyllic cliff-side dwellings, and the Bronze Age site of Akrotiri. While there, the group witnessed a parade that was held in celebration of the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821.
Following Santorini, the group headed back to Athens for a tour of Ancient Athens, where they visited Syntagma Square, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Greek Parliament Building, the Parthenon on the Acropolis, and the Acropolis Museum, where the caryatids - sculpted female statues that serve as columns - now stand as sentinels, and the Archaeological Museum of Athens where the treasures of the Ancient Greek world were on display. The students also experienced the metro system in Athens after some souvenir shopping in Plaka, the famous heart of ancient Athens.
Next, the group went on the Peloponnesian tour, which began with a quick stop at the Corinth Canal at Isthmia. They visited Mycenae (home of legendary Agamemnon), and had lunch at the port city of Nafplio (the first capital of Greece). After lunch, they headed to ancient Olympia (birthplace of the Olympic Games), Nafpaktos, and the scenic Itea (the port city of Delphi), and continued to the site and museum at Delphi, home of the Delphic Oracle.
Meteora (which translates to "suspended in the sky") was their last stop before returning to Athens. The six remaining monasteries, some built as early as the 11th century, are situated atop inaccessible natural rock pillars and are filled with Byzantine frescoes. Dr. Stamos, one of the organizers of the field trip, described the experience as a sublime encounter between man and nature.
"The trip was truly the trip of a lifetime; the classroom was brought to life as artwork and architecture were finally experienced in their proper contexts. New foods were discovered and explored. Moreover, the sheer beauty of the country, its history, and the hospitality of its people is something that everyone bonded over and brought back with them. We also wish to thank the Department of Art and Graphic Design, the College of Arts & Science's Office of the Dean, the President's Office, and the Department of Finance for all their help and support in the planning and preparation for this trip; without them it would not have been possible. As they say in Greece, "Efharisto poli!," she said.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 14th April 2016
