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The Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences and Engineering (RISE) at AUK held a lecture entitled, "Live Mobile Hacking: Malware Attacks and Data Protection," delivered by Founder of KuwaitHackers.com, Basel Al-Othman. The lecture highlighted how vulnerable general mobile users are to malicious hacking attempts and introduced ways to ensure data protection against malware attacks. The event was open to members of the AUK community and the public.
RISE Director, Dr. Amir Zeid, welcomed the attendees to the interactive lecture that was aimed to provide an understanding of smartphone hacking threats and techniques. "We live in a world that is virtually wrapped into a net of rapidly evolving cutting-edge technologies. Our connectivity is greatly empowering, yet poses new points of vulnerability that we must be aware of," Dr. Zeid noted, "To be able to navigate through the cyber threats that we may be vulnerable to, both collectively and individually, is key to what this lecture aims to achieve."
To demonstrate how easily smartphones can be hacked, and how smartphone security operates, Founder of KuwaitHackers.com, Basel Al-Othman, Ã made the audience witness an actual hacking attempt, instigated by himself, and hacked a smartphone live. "We practically live our lives online. It is imperative that we understand the risks involved," Al-Othman said, "Credit card information, personal photos, sound files and chat messages may be in jeopardy, if one isn't cautious of potential threats." Al-Othman received his M.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Hertfordshire, with a specialization in computer security. He is currently an Information Security doctoral candidate at De Montfort University in Leicester, UK. In addition to his work as a hacking instructor and penetration-testing expert, Al-Othman's research interests include machine learning botnet detection and malware analysis for intrusion detection and prevention.
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.
The American University of Kuwait (AUK) is an independent, private, equal opportunity, and co-educational liberal arts institution of higher education. The educational, cultural and administrative structure, methods and standards of AUK are based on the American model of higher learning. The language of instruction is English. More information on the American University of Kuwait can be found at www.auk.edu.
Presentation by Basel Al-Othman, Founder of KuwaitHackers.com
Live hacking experiment
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 23rd December 2015
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015
The Library at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) organized an interactive talk with Yousef Nayef, an AUK student, in honor of the release of his first poetry collection, Awwal Al Q'itaaf (The First Harvest). The talk, moderated by Laila Abdal - an English Literature student, featured an interview with the writer and a monodrama performance.
Abdal introduced Nayef as a young, Arab poet and a promising actor. As a student, he had participated in several poetry readings and thirteen theatrical productions since 2007, mostly at AUK, in such productions as Waiting for Godot (2010), Antigone (2015), and most recently Arabian Nights (2015).
Nayef began his talk by explaining the title of his book and how it was influenced by his grandfather, who is, also, a writer of classical Arabic poetry. His grandfather had named his second-to-last poetry collection Aakhir Al Q'itaaf (The Last Harvest), so Nayef chose the title of his first book as a continuation of this legacy.
Awwal Al Q'itaaf contains 180 short poems, written in the Arabic language, that discuss such universal themes as love, loneliness, estrangement and sadness. It took Nayef more than half a year to complete the poems and arrange them for his book, which is now available for purchase at Dar AlFarasha, or from the author personally.
Towards the end of his talk, Nayef urged young writers to read and write. "Be prolific, be experimental, and try poetry, prose, a novel or a play, until you find where your true talent lies", he said. "Practice more than what you publish, but don't take too long to publish your first book. The most important thing is to never stop writing, even if you don't write a single word and just look at the paper in front of you, at least you are thinking about writing".
Following the talk, Nayef performed a monodrama for the attendees, after which he engaged with the audience in a Q&A session and signed copies of his book. Nayef's next goal is to publish a collection of translated plays, mostly monodramas, and stage them in Kuwait.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 23rd December 2015
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015
The American University of Kuwait (AUK) co-organized a photography competition for its students in partnership the Al Mulla International Auto Trading Company. The competition, called Acura, required participating students to take photographs of the Acura car- the world's first Japanese luxury car since 1986 - and share the photos on the social networking platform Instagram for a chance to win KD 1500, KD 1000, or KD 500 in prize money.
The competition was open to all AUK students and ran for one month, during which participants were required to take creative photos of the Acura car and posted them on their personal Instagram accounts.
The winners of the competition were selected based on the creativity of the photographs they posted and the number of organic "Likes" they accumulated on Instagram. Thirty students participated in the competition and the winners were announced during a ceremony held at the AUK campus. The event was attended by Mr. Loay Ahmed, Marketing Manager, and Mr. Khalil Aboud, Brand Manager at Al Mulla International, who presented the winners with the prizes. Bassam Saleh, Ali Deeb, and Aliaa Jamal, won the first, second and third prizes respectively.
Dr. Hanan Muzaffar, AUK Dean of Student Affairs, extended congratulations to the winners saying "Bassem, Ali, Aliaa, and everyone else who participated in the photography competition, you make us all proud to belong to AUK. Creativity and dedication are indeed traits that our students excel at, so there was no doubt that the top three winners would be members of our Wolfpack. Great job! Continue to make us shine."
"We at ACURA are always keen to encourage the young generation of Kuwait to get more creative and to excel in all areas, as part of our social responsibilities," said Mr. Imad Malaeb, General Manager of Acura, "This won't be the last event, as we still have so many more events to come in 2016."
The American University of Kuwait (AUK) is an independent, private, equal opportunity, and co-educational liberal arts institution of higher education. The educational, cultural and administrative structure, methods and standards of AUK are based on the American model of higher learning. The language of instruction is English. More information on the American University of Kuwait can be found at www.auk.edu.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 21st December 2015
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015
The Drama Program at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) presented its annual Fall theatre production for members of the AUK community. This year's production, The Arabian Nights, was adapted by playwright Mary Zimmerman and directed by Assistant Professor of Theatre/Drama, Dr. Kathleen R. Downs, under the auspice of the Music and Drama Department.
The production included performances by veteran AUK actors Tori Danner, Mohammed Al-Saeed, Eamon Issa, Yousef Nayef, Raghda Rustom, Maryam Hassanein and Nezar Al Tabaa. The show also introduced newcomers Hamad Al-Khaled, Mohammad Al-Adl, Rona Hasan, Nasser B. Zarooa and Sema Ahmad to the University's theatre community. Maryam Hassanein served as Stage Manager for The Arabian Nights and Makeup Mistress. The production crew included veteran cameraman Mohammad Al-Adl, Ken Downs on lights, and newcomers Ayman Kandil on sound and Mohammed Boodai on stage properties. PR and poster design were done by Khalid Al-Mashaan and Dhari Al-Kulaifi.
Dr. Downs' DRAM 160/360 production class made up part of the ensemble, with the rest of the company consisting of Alpha Psi Omega members and volunteers who met for eight weeks during the semester, immersing themselves in the characters they portrayed. All of the members helped each other with their various duties as they worked together to produce the show.
Zimmerman's play centers on stories that have developed through both oral and written traditions in the Middle East since the 9th Century. The power of storytelling is highlighted in the play as the leads, Scherezade and Shahryar, struggle to find their way in life. The interwoven narrative balances slapstick humor with genuine pathos as the characters confront themselves on their difficult journeys. In addition to the acting, the stage was transformed after each scene by the ensembl's use of lights, costumes, makeup, sound, and props. With the exception of a 12-minute intermission, the student actors were on stage throughout the entire production, transporting the audience to another time and place.
Yousef Nayef played eight roles in the production; the Vizier, a Fool, the Clarinetist, the Man in the Dream, the Kurd, the Third Sage, the Old Boatman, and Ishak of Mosul. He explained that the experience was nothing short of exhilarating. "There is nothing more addictive than witnessing words on a page being adapted and translated into actual theatre, to be enacted and given another life by people with hearts, minds, memories, flesh, bones and skin," he said.
The AUK community enjoyed entering the magical world of theatre and actors for four performances. The company engaged the audience in the production as participants rather than mere observers. They look forward to the next theatrical event, planned for the Spring semester of 2016.
The Department of Music and Drama offers a wide range of opportunities for both beginning and advanced students within the context of a liberal arts education. The Music and Drama faculty of talented professionals work closely with students to prepare them for campus concerts and plays, and to academically challenge them in courses on performing arts. The department fosters artistic proficiency, cultural appreciation, a sense of community, and a lifelong commitment to the arts.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 21st December 2015
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015
Multifaceted Cooperation Engages Tuck MBAs in Long-Term Planning Exercise for AUK's College of Business and Economics.
During the 2016-2017 academic year, the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College will engage with the American University of Kuwait by sending Tuck students to Kuwait as part of Tuck's OnSite Global Consulting Program. The team will work for AUK, researching and recommending methods to enhance the current Business and Economics curriculum, and conducting market studies to determine demand for growth and expansion in AUK Business and Economics offerings.
"We are eager to welcome the Tuck MBA students to our university and benefit from the experience and perspective they can offer in our strategic planning process," said Nizar Hamzeh, President of the American University of Kuwait. "AUK has a well-established undergraduate business program and is currently under consideration for accreditation by the AACSB program - we believe the in-depth research and strategic guidance the Tuck team provides will build nicely on our foundation of quality education and drive us even further in that direction." Dean Jin Wang of AUK's College of Business and Economics added, "We are committed to continuous improvement and to preparing our students to envision and serve domestic, regional, and international needs. Tuck and AUK can learn from one another."
Matthew Slaughter, Dean of the Tuck School of Business, commented: "As we prepare future global business leaders at Tuck, nothing is more critical than hands-on experience engaging with other cultures. The launch of TuckGO this year ensures that all Tuck students have an immersive global business experience in a country new to them moving forward. We are proud to provide experiences like these in partnership with schools like AUK who are leaders in important global markets."
In addition to sending Tuck MBAs to Kuwait for consulting purposes, TuckGO will welcome two AUK student interns in the summer of 2016. The students will work with the various TuckGO international programs and participate in educational seminars to gain exposure to the operations of an American graduate business school. Dale F. Eickelman, Lazarus Professor of Anthropology and Relationship Coordinator for the Dartmouth AUK Program, added, "The Dartmouth-AUK program has welcomed interns since 2005. The addition of AUK internships for students at Tuck in 2016 is a first for both institutions, and a first step toward exploring other co-operative possibilities." Beth Hindmarsh, Dartmouth-AUK Program Coordinator, added, "This collaboration with Tuck adds an exciting dimension to the offerings we have for AUK students who come to Dartmouth in the summer."
ABOUT TUCK ONSITE GLOBAL CONSULTING
OnSite Global Consulting is a core offering of Tuck's global programming. The course offers a wide range of international consulting services to corporations, not-for-profits, and governments where additional resources and strategic support are needed. Projects are short-term (10-12 weeks), highly focused, and concentrate on delivering immediate solutions to specific operational and business development challenges. OnSite is one of the programs central to the TuckGO global initiative at Tuck.
ABOUT THE DARTMOUTH/AUK PROGRAM
Dartmouth and the American University of Kuwait have formally collaborated since 2003, one year before AUK welcomed its first class of students. Since then, the partnership has deepened, enhancing the liberal arts learning experience on both campuses. AUK faculty conduct research in Hanover, Dartmouth and AUK students participate in an internship exchange, and faculty and staff from the two schools share expertise on academic and administrative projects.
Salmiyah, Kuwait: L to R - Jin Wang, Dean College of Business and Economics, Nizar Hamzeh, President, American University of Kuwait (AUK), Dale Eickelman, Relationship Coordinator, Dartmouth-AUK program
Hanover, New Hampshire: L to R - Beth Hindmarsh, Program Manager, Dartmouth-AUK Program, Kerry Laufer, Director, Tuck OnSite Global Consulting, Matthew Slaughter, Dean, Tuck School of Business, Dale Eickelman, Relationship Coordinator, Dartmouth-AUK Program
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 16th December 2015
The Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences and Engineering (RISE) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) held a lecture entitled "Reforming Labor Policies in the GCC" by Dr. Laurence Louër, Research Fellow, at the Sciences Po University in France.
Dr. Louër's talk provided insights on the GCC labor markets and how state-business-labor relations are being reshaped by labor policy reforms labeled "nationalization of employments". She explained how these reforms were launched in the 1990s and have picked up momentum in the 2000s due to rising unemployment among nationals. These reforms have resulted in a pro-labor policy shift that has materialized in new labor laws and regulations in the private sector. In this context, national labor has risen as an important social actor in some countries, with organized labor bodies emerging as a legitimate actor in formal tripartite negotiations over social and labor policies. A trend born before the "Arab Spring", this phenomenon has been reinforced amid the post-uprisings' counter-revolutionary measures, which aim to deal with the social grievances that were expressed during the protests.
Dr. Louër discussed the reasons for her interest in researching the GCC, explaining that she was attracted by the different cases of minorities and their life conditions in these countries. She explained that a significant portion of her research has been conducted in the State of Bahrain, which revealed the issues of unemployment and the scarcity of jobs. According to Dr. Louër's findings, sectarian biases were identified as some of the reasons that trigger these employment issues.
Dr. Louër explained that moves to reform labor laws in the GCC are considered evolutionary steps within the labor sector, and a natural milestone that many European countries have already gone through.
The speaker went on to give a brief overview of the history of the evolution of labor policies in the GCC, which began with the emergence of the oil industry, and is still ongoing. She explained how the nationals did not accept expatriates when they first came into their country. "They believed that they were here to take their jobs and that, on the long term, unemployment would occur for nationals because of it," explained Dr. Louër. According to her, nationals are now more accepting because laws were put to protect them, and now they live in coexistence.
She proceeded to discuss the 'kafala system' and how each of the Gulf countries have different conditions. Dr. Louër said, "the current 'kafala system' in most of the Gulf countries represents a prison for expatriates; restricting their transfer between jobs". She also described the systems and they're conditions, referring to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates as two of the GCC countries who have upgraded their policy for the 'kafala system'. The state of Bahrain allows freedom to transfer between jobs for expatriates. under certain conditions. As for the United Arab Emirates it allows expatriates to stay within the State for up to three months following the expiration of their kafala, with the opportunity to search for another job.
After Dr. Louër concluded her talk she answered questions from the audience and discussed many ideas. Alongside the lecture, Dr. Amir Zeid, Director of RISE Center, announced that he and Dr. Louër are starting a research project that aims to study and analyze the socio-technical factors that affect women's enrollment in academic computing programs in Kuwait. The research will also study representation of women in the IT workforce in Kuwait (private and public sectors). "I am looking forward to productive research collaboration" expressed Dr. Zeid.
Dr. Louër received her Ph.D. from Sciences PO. She has been trained in philosophy, social sciences (sociology and political sciences) and Arabic. She has specialized in the Middle East studies. She has authored numerous articles and three books. Her area of expertise includes minority issues in the Middle East and social policy reforms in the GCC countries. She is currently conducting a research on labor policy reforms in Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
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.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 14th December 2014
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2014
The Cultural Circle, in partnership with the American University of Kuwait has launched the Cultural Circle Prize for Arabic Short Story (AlMultaqa). The Prize initiative aims to promote and encourage writers to pursue and master the art of writing Arabic short stories. Writers and publishers, from this region and around the world, will be recognized for their creative contributions to Arabic short stories.
The annual Prize will recognize an exceptional writer or publisher who has creatively contributed to Arabic short story writing. The winner will receive USD 20,000, a trophy, a Certificate of Recognition, and an opportunity to have their winning piece translated to English for further publication. A jury comprised of accomplished writers, critics, and professors will review the submissions and determine the winner of the Prize.
During the launch event, AUK President, Professor Nizar Hamzeh gave a speech where he affirmed the reason for the University's involvement with the Prize, claiming, "The role of the American University of Kuwait not only includes providing our students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in their careers and prosper in communities, but to also encourage students to participate in cultural and creative initiatives. As such, we are honored to partner with the Cultural Circle to launch the Kuwaiti, Arab and global AlMultaqa Prize for Arabic Short Stories."
The founder of the Cultural Circle and Head of the Al-Multaqa Prize acknowledged the value of this initiative, saying, "I must admit that the Al-Multaqa Prize would not see the light without the kind support of Shaikha Dana Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American University of Kuwait. It is the first time that an international prize has risen through cooperation between an academic institution (AUK) and a local, cultural circle to promote and celebrate the art of Arabic short story writing in the Gulf and Arab world. After 35 years of being a short story writer, I am proud and honored to be a part of such a significant initiative with AUK to represent Kuwait on a global level in celebrating literary and cultural achievements."
The Prize will start accepting submissions from 1 January to 31 March, 2016.
Prize Name:
Cultural Circle Prize for Arabic Short Story in Partnership with the American University of Kuwait (ALMULTAQA Prize)
Prize Ceremony Venue:
American University of Kuwait, State of Kuwait
Founders of the Prize:
Cultural Circle and the American University of Kuwait
Objectives of the Prize:
- To launch a literature award from Kuwait that encourages Arabic short story writing.
- To highlight the production of Arabic short stories on a regional and international level, and promote reading.
- To recognize writers of Arabic short stories on a regional and international level.
Prize:
The author of the winning short story will receive USD 20,000 (Twenty Thousand US dollars), a trophy and a Certificate of Recognition, as well as a grant towards the translation of the prize-winning short story into English. The winning writer or publisher will communicate with the translator and arrange for publishing the story with foreign publishers.
Board of Trustees:
All the members of the Board of Trustees are volunteers selected through consultation between the Cultural Circle and the American University of Kuwait. All nine members of the Board of Trustees are from Kuwait and are expected to serve for two-year terms.
The Board of Trustees is comprised of the following:
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees - Founder and Director of the Cultural Circle
- Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees - President of AUK
- Rapporteur of the Board of Trustees - Vice President for Admissions and Public Affairs of AUK
- The Chair of Arabic Language & Foreign Language Department at the College of Arts & Sciences, AUK
- Five members from Kuwait who are experienced in the fields of story writing, culture, media and social work.
The Board of Trustees will meet two or three times per year, or when the need arises.
The main duties of the Board of Trustees:
- Discuss the bylaws and rules of the award.
- Recommend ideas that will help improve and promote the Prize
- Appoint the jury.
- Ensure a strong presence and status on an international scale.
Advisory Council:
In order for the Prize to gain more support, presence, and status, an Arab and International Advisory Board shall be formed for two years, consisting of 10 innovators, critics, publishers and media figures.
The members of the Advisory Board will meet in Kuwait once a year; during the Prize ceremony.
The Jury:
- The Board of Trustees will appoint a jury panel composed of five individuals who are Arabic speakers.
- Every session will have its own jury.
- Jury members will discuss the submissions via confidential correspondence through e-mail.
- The jury will shortlist ten stories, determined by the majority, which will be published on the competition website, the AUK website, and in local, Gulf and Arabic, newspapers on 15th October of each year.
- The jury will then choose 10 short stories collections as determined by the majority. The longlist will be published on the AlMultaqa website and the AUK website, along with the names of the chairperson and members of the jury committee, in October of each year.
- The jury will then choose 5 short stories collections as determined by the majority. The shortlist will be published on the AlMultaqa website and the AUK website, in November of each year.
- The jury will select the winner of the Prize, as determined by the majority. The winning collection of short stories will be published at the Prize website and the AUK website in December of each year.
- The winner will be invited to join the jury at the Prize ceremony, which will be held during the month of December of each year.
Prize Rules and Conditions:
- Cultural Circle Prize for Arabic Short Story (Al Multaqa) is an annual award granted to a collection of short stories published in hardcopy in the Arabic language.
- The application window for the competition is open annually from 1 January to 31 March.
- The names of the Jury members will be announced at the end of March of each year.
- Applications are accepted from the author or from the publisher, with the authorâÂÂs written approval.
- Every publisher may participate with two collections of short stories from two different writers.
- Any writer may apply for the Prize by submitting one previously published collection of short stories.
- Publishing houses may apply for the Prize with no more than two collections of short stories.
- Only short stories published in the year of the competition, or the previous year, will be accepted.
- Applications and submissions of short stories s for the Prize must be uploaded in PDF format through the online form available at the AlMultaqa website.
- The collections of short stories applying for the Prize must abide by the principles of intellectual property and copyrights. The author and publisher shall be responsible for the violation of any such principles or rights.
- The applicant, whether a publisher or an author, must complete the application form for each collection of short stories and upload all required documents via the Prize website www.auk.edu.kw/almultaqa
- Each collection of short stories applying for the Prize must have an ISBN.
- The short stories will be officially considered for the Prize when the writer or publisher receives a reply from the organizerâÂÂs e-mail address confirming the receipt of the participating collection of short stories.
- Short stories which were written by more than one person will not be accepted.
- Short stories written for children are not eligible to participate in AlMultaqa Prize.
- The Prize management reserves the right to reject collections of short stories that do not meet the conditions stated above.
Prize Ceremony:
The Prize ceremony will be held annually in Kuwait, with the presence of a number of Arab and international intellectuals, and representatives from local, Arab, and international media.
Board of Trustees
Cultural Circle Prize for Arabic Short Story (AlMultaqa Prize)
In partnership with the American University of Kuwait
Taleb Al-Refai, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Founder and Director, Cultural Circle
Prof. Nizar Hamzeh, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees
President, American University of Kuwait
Amal Al-Binali, Secretary
Vice President, Admissions and Public Affairs, AUK
Dr. Suleiman Al-Shatti - Trustee
Professor of Arabic Literature, Kuwait University
Ismail Fahad Ismail - Trustee
Writer and Literary Critic
Dr. Saud Al-Anezi - Trustee
Deputy Chief Editor,
Al Jareeda Newspaper
Dr. Raymond Farrin - Trustee
Department Chair, Arabic & Foreign Languages - AUK
Mr. Manaf AlHajeri - Trustee
Chief Executive Officer, Kuwait Financial Centre SAKC
Reem Al-Mayi'i - Trustee
Journalist & Writer
Nada Faris - Trustee
Writer & Poet
Advisory Board
Cultural Circle Prize for Arabic Short Story (AlMultaqa Prize)
In partnership with the American University of Kuwait
Ibrahim M. ElMoallem - Egypt
Vice President of International Publishers Association
Mohammed Achaari - Morocco
Writer & Former Minister of Culture
Dr. Kaoru Yamamoto - Japan
Academic, Translator & Researcher
Dr. Ghalia Al-Saeed - Oman
Professor of Literature, Literary Critic & Author
Mohammed Al-Abbas - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Literary Critic
Jonathan Wright - United Kingdom
Journalist and Literary Translator
Sayed Mahmoud - Egypt
Journalist & Chief Editor, Cairo Newspaper
Samuel Shimon - United Kingdom
Writer & Co-founder, Literary Magazine Banipal.
Dr. Iskandar Habach - Lebanon
Journalist, Poet & Literary Translator
Dr. Layla Al-Maleh - Kuwait
Professor of English Literature, Kuwait University
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 13th December 2015
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015
The Center for Continuing Education (CCE) at the American University of Kuwait has developed a workshop, "Campus to Corporate" that was facilitated in partnership with Burgan Bank at the 32nd Conference of the National Union of Kuwaiti Students - USA Branch (NUKS-USA) on 27 November, 2015. Both Burgan Bank and AUK are part of the KIPCO Group, which supported the conference for the fifth consecutive year as a Platinum Sponsor.
The workshop was designed to train potential Kuwaiti graduates from US universities to make a smooth transition from the campus to corporate settings, while embodying interpersonal skills that are required to succeed in their careers. Students practiced adapting to a professional setting, be mindful of their body language during meetings, presentations and interviews, and how to recruit their strongest attributes in order to be productive employees.
Talah Al Abdulaaly and Jasem Sabeeh Abul, Organizational Development Officers, Burgan Bank, presented the workshop; while Eman M. Al Awadhi, Group Communications Director, KIPCO delivered a motivational speech to the students. The workshop concluded with a ceremony, in which participating students received a certificate of completion from 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.
About KIPCO:
The KIPCO Group is one of the biggest holding companies in the Middle East and North Africa, with consolidated assets of US$ 31.4 billion as at 30 September 2015. The Group has significant ownership interests in over 60 companies operating across 24 countries. The groupâÂÂs main business sectors are financial services, media, real estate and manufacturing. Through its core companies, subsidiaries and affiliates, KIPCO also has interests in the education and medical sectors.
The conversion rate used is US$1 to KD 0.30210.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 10th December 2015
(Left to right): Mr. Jasem Sabeeh Abul, Burgan Bank Group, Organizational Development Officer; Ms. Eman M. Al Awadhi, Group Communications Director, Corporate Communications Department KIPCO; Ms. Talah Al Abdulaaly Officer, Burgan Bank Group, Organizational Development
* Photo courtesy of Saleh Alsanad
The American University of Kuwait (AUK) organized its annual Faculty Recognition Evening to celebrate the accomplishments attained by its significant faculty members. The event was held at the Marina Hotel Six Palms restaurant and was attended by Her Excellency Nabeela Abdulla AlMulla, Former Honorary Member of the AUK Board of Trustees, Former Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Brussels, Luxembourg, and the European Union, and Representative to NATO; Mr. Samer Khanachet, Group Chief Operating Officer at KIPCO and AUK Board Member; Mr. Robert Drolet, Senior Vice President, Technology & Media at KIPCO and Chair, CBE Advisory Board at AUK; in addition to the AUK President and Faculty members.
AUK President, Professor Dr. Nizar Hamzeh welcomed the faculty members and guests to the Recognition Evening that was prepared in their honor. During his opening remarks, President Hamzeh said, "We are here tonight to celebrate accomplishment. Not accomplishment that is expected as an institutional ritual only, but accomplishment against a standard that we have set for ourselves as a University. A standard that reflects our values and what we expect of ourselves in the areas of teaching, scholarship and service," he added, "The honored faculty have distinguished themselves not only by their excellent scholarship records but also by understanding the balance between teaching and research and that the convergence of the two would lead to excellence."
This year, AUK recognized 65 faculty members whose research and creative work produced books, book chapters, journal articles, book reviews, conference papers, and exhibitions/designs/ performances. AUK also recognized 7 faculty members who received external grants, patents and fellowships.
The faculty members who contributed to these successes are:
| Dr. Abid Vali | Dr. Lisa Urkevich |
| Dr. Ahmad Rabaa'i | Dr. Malek Mohammad |
| Dr. Ali Aljamal | Dr. Marcelline Fusilier |
| Dr. Ali El Saheli | Dr. Mark Speece |
| Dr. Aly Mansour | Dr. Mohamed Cader |
| Dr. Amir Zeid | Dr. Mohamed Satti |
| Dr. Andrei Zavaliy | Dr. Mohammad Akbar |
| Dr. Angelica DeAngelis | Dr. Mohammed Alsawafta |
| Dr. Antonia Stamos | Dr. Mohammed El-Abd |
| Dr. Arby Ted Siraki | Dr. Mohsen Bagnied |
| Dr. Ashraf Zaher | Dr. Mounib Khanafer |
| Dr. Athmar Al-Salem | Dr. Muath Eleswed |
| Dr. Ayman Haddad | Dr. Nicholas Scull |
| Dr. Bashar Zogheib | Dr. Pellegrino Luciano |
| Mr. Benjamin Crace | Dr. Rafiqul Bhuyan |
| Dr. Detlef Hummes | Dr. Ralph Palliam |
| Dr. Fatima Shibly | Dr. Raymond Farrin |
| Dr. George Bauer | Dr. Rosalind Buckton Tucker |
| Dr. George Irani | Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Esmaeili |
| Dr. Ghazi Nassir | Mr. Ramy Khair |
| Dr. Gholam Vatandoust | Mr. Scott Berlin |
| Dr. Inas Mahfouz | Mr. William Andersen |
| Dr. Issam Damaj | Mr. Yacoub Aljaffery |
| Dr. James Lambert | Ms. Agnieszka Fajga |
| Dr. James Rose | Ms. Emanuela Buscemi |
| Dr. Jibran Yousafzai | Ms. Ghaidaa Mohamad |
| Dr. Jin Wang | Ms. Hanan Arnous |
| Dr. John Russell | Ms. Lisa Waite Trago |
| Dr. Juliet Dinkha | Ms. Maaly Jarrah |
| Dr. Karim Jallad | Ms. Marcella Kulchitsky |
| Dr. Kathleen Downs | Ms. Maryam Hosseinnia |
| Dr. Kathy Nixon | Ms. Rima Ezzeddine |
| Ms. Viviana Peiretti |
AUK congratulated all those recognized this evening, and pledged to support faculty who continue to reach for scholarly and professional distinction.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 3rd December 2015
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015
The Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences and Engineering (RISE) at the American University of Kuwait inaugurated its annual Lecture Series Wednesday with a lecture entitled, "Cuban Biotechnology vs. the Diabetic Foot: Strategy, Results and Kuwait Clinical Trials." The event's VIP guest list included the Ambassador of Cuba in Kuwait, His Excellency Andres Gonzalez Garrido, and his wife, in addition to a number of renowned AUK faculty members.
Commencing with welcoming remarks from RISE Director Dr. Amir Zeid, and the Dean of the College of Art and Sciences Dr. Rawda Awwad, the lecture shed light on the ongoing collaboration between the Cuban Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) and Kuwait's Dasman Diabetes Institute (DDI). The joint efforts of the two bodies have successfully wielded Cuban research in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers in Kuwait. "We have chosen to commence our Lecture Series with this beacon of scientific hope," Dr. Zeid said of the event, "A little over a year ago we had a dream of creating this intellectual hub for innovators from all walks of life or corners of earth to come voice their visions here at AUK. This is what RISE is about. I'm glad to have witnessed this vision materialize here tonight."
Presentations by CIGB Assistant Researchers Drs. Lianet Rodriguez Cabrera and Ridel Jesus Febles Sanabria tackled the latest Cuban innovation in Biotechnology, Health Sciences and Medicine. "This is a great opportunity on so many levels," Dr. Rodriguez noted, "Getting to share scientific experiences and interact with the Kuwaiti audience here tonight truly is a remarkable leap forward."
Dr. Rodriguez obtained her PhD in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Molecular Biosciences from the University of Havana, Cuba, in 2013. Dr. Febles on the other hand is an Angiology and Vascular Surgery Specialist at the Cuban Jose R. Lopez Tabranes Provincial Teaching Hospital. Both scientists are members of a team of experts currently overseeing the center's clinical trials at DDI.
The evening marked the kickoff of this year's RISE Lecture Series set to cover a plethora of academic disciplines and interests, as the Dean of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences Dr. Rawda Awwad said, "For us to advance this process forward, outreach and partnerships between higher education and the economic sector, public and private enterprises are essential in linking new knowledge to development goals."
A primary source of AUK's interdisciplinary research and development endeavors, RISE aims at forging strong intellectual connections among local and international innovators, as well as academia and industry practitioners - whilst concurrently fostering efforts for community engagement and outreach.
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.
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Rawda Awwad
RISE Director, Dr. Amir Zeid
CIGB Assistant Researcher Dr. Lianet Rodriguez Cabrera
Audience
Audience
Audience
Dr. Rawda Awwad presenting Certificate of Appreciation to Dr. Lianet Rodriguez Cabrera
Dr. Rawda Awwad presenting Certificate of Appreciation to Dr. Ridel Jesus Febles Sanabria
Discussion between the audience and the speaker
(Left to right) Dr. Ali Charara; Dr. Ridel Jesus Febles Sanabria; Dr. Lianet Rodriguez Cabrera; the Ambassador of Cuba in Kuwait, His Excellency Andres Gonzalez Garrido, and his wife; Dr. Amir Zeid and Dr. Rawda Awwad
Group photo after the lecture
(Left to right) the Ambassador of Cuba in Kuwait, His Excellency Andres Gonzalez Garrido, and his wife; Dr. Lianet Rodriguez Cabrera and Dr. Ridel Jesus Febles Sanabria
Group photo for AUK students and alumni with Dr. Amir Zeid after the lecture
