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Two AUK teams competed in the 2016 Startup Kuwait National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge held in Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa on 29 and 30 May, 2016. The initiative was launched by Kuwait University's Global Center to enable students to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions in the face of current social and economic challenges.

Kuwait Startup is under the patronage of the Minister of Commerce, Dr. Yousef Al-Ali and Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Bader Al-Eissa who attended the event along with the Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah.

Over 600 students competed in the challenge from GUST, ACK, Box Hill College and Kuwait University.

Participating teams presented their business ideas to a panel of judges consisting of entrepreneurs, Dr. Saad Al-Barrak, Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa and John Preseton from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in addition to audience members that included investors and fellow students.

One of the two AUK teams was selected as one of 5 winners of Kuwait Startup; students Ahmed Khalil and Abdullah Al-Ansari received KD 3000 to start their project, and were honored in an awards ceremony that was attended by AUK Dean of the College of Business and Economics Dr. Jin Wang.

Startup Kuwait is an initiative that was formally launched in November 2015 by the Global Center at Kuwait University's College of Business Administration. It is backed up by a Government allocation of KD 2 Billion to fund and support businesses.  

Image from the Event

AUK welcomed its eighth pair of graduate interns, Nicholas (Nick) Martin and Jeffry Neuhouser, who will spend eight weeks of the summer completing graduate internships. Martin will be working with the Office of Student Life and the Office of Admissions, while Neuhouser will spend his time at AUK working for Academic Advising & Learning Support Services and on study abroad initiatives in the Office of the President.

Martin is a graduate student from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, where he is pursuing a master's degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs. He completed his undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management. Before beginning his graduate studies at Virginia Tech, Martin served as a Program Specialist Intern within the Student Life and Recreation Department for a year at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado. His duties included advising the Campus Activities Board and supervising a small staff of work-study students.

When asked about his experience in Kuwait thus far, Martin said he finds it exciting. "Seeing how the American model of higher education that I've grown accustomed to can be transposed onto Middle Eastern culture has been fascinating. The Office of Student Life and the Office of Admissions have been very friendly and welcoming while never hesitating to answer any of my many questions. I feel that I'm learning new strategies for student development every day in addition to helping my respective offices consider new perspectives based on my past experiences. In short, I'm very thankful for this opportunity and I'm looking forward to seeing what the rest of the summer brings!" he said.

Meanwhile, Neuhouser is completing his Master's degree in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He completed his undergraduate education at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, where he received his BA in History with a minor in Political Science. He then completed a Master's degree in History from Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. At Ball State, his graduate assistantships were in the Office of Study Abroad as well as the Academic Advising Office. Neuhouser is passionate about university excellence as well as teaching and is pursuing a certificate in University and College Teaching. He will complete his degree in summer 2016 and, shortly after graduating, will begin his first fulltime position at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana as a Career Advisor.

When asked about his reasons for coming to the Middle East, Neuhouser explained that he wanted to experience higher education outside of North America. "To add an international perspective to my program, I decided to look into internships and positions outside of the United States. I believe that the American University of Kuwait will open up doors to work in higher education internationally for the rest of my career and I pursued the internship because I deeply believed that the experience would challenge and strengthen me. This has been true thus far and has been an eye opening experience," he said.

The internship program started in 2009, and in 2011 won the NASPA Best Practice Award for International Exchange Programs, it is designed to provide graduate students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain experience within the professional areas of Student Affairs/Student Services. Several past interns have returned to work professionally in the Arabian Gulf region, and almost half have conducted presentations at either the NASPA annual conference or Gulf region conference following their experience. Through these collective experiences interns gain a deeper understanding of higher education administration, are provided multiple placements to gain varying perspectives and experiences, and acquire specific skill sets which will help prepare them for a career in the profession.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 14th June 2016

In May, the Art & Graphic Design Department at AUK concluded its 9th annual Capstone Exhibition. The Exhibition offered seniors an opportunity to showcase their creative work, which covered to a range of topics that included social and cultural awareness, corporate identity and entrepreneurship, to the public and have their designs considered by renowned experts from the industry.

Under the supervision of Rita Merheb Khair, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at AUK, participating students investigated a topic of their choice, researched and analyzed it, and designed communication tools that addressed their target audiences through the medium of Graphic Design.

The exhibited projects reflected a culmination of semester-long, self-initiated, and self-directed ideas implemented through diverse applications. The projects were evaluated based on their creativity and presentation; their ability to conduct and use graphic design research strategy effectively; and their ability to plan and implement a compelling graphic design display.

The Capstone Exhibition is held annually. It brings together visitors from the field of graphic design, including experts from graphic design studios, publishing houses, film and video production companies, advertising, and multimedia firms. According to Merheb, "This exhibition is an opportunity for our students to present themselves, their creative capabilities, and their technical skills, through a project in which they have utilized everything they have learned over the past four years. It also gives them exposure, a good body of work to include in their portfolios, and most importantly the strength and the courage they need to move on to the next stage in their lives, whether it is further studies, or the professional world of Graphic Design"

As one of the final year courses, the GDES Capstone course is designed to teach graduating students how to visualize the complex intersection between personal voice, conceptual understanding, and the use of research for a graphic design exhibition. Maryam Hosseinnia, Chair of the Department of Art & Graphic Design, explained that the showcased designs displayed the students' capabilities. "The Capstone is meant to be the culmination of four years of learning for our Graphic Design majors, showcasing their design, talents, abilities, and learning. The faculty of Art & Graphic Design is constantly working to improve the learning environment for the students. The faculty is involved throughout their creative project learning and development. This Capstone shows the hard work and earned expertise of our students as well," she said.

AUK's Graphic Design Capstone represents an opportunity for senior students to fully incorporate their design strengths and learning into a focused, extended process of research and visual expression. The projects are diverse, reflecting individual student investigations into their topic of choice.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 12th June 2016

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2016

AUK held its annual graduation commencement for the Class of 2016 on Thursday June 5th, where 367 students officially became AUK graduates, amongst whom where 24 graduates with honors, 21 with high honors and 6 with highest honors. The ceremony was held under the patronage of His Highness, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait's Council of Ministers, and was attended by His Excellency Dr. Bader Al-Essa, Minister of Education and Higher Education; Professor Dr. Habib Abul, Secretary General of Private Universities; and Shaikha Dana Naser Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Founder and Chair of AUK's Board of Trustees, along with members of the AUK Board of Trustees, diplomats, dignitaries, and the families and friends of this year's graduates.

Ms. Amal Al-Binali, Vice President for Admissions & Public Affairs, welcomed the guests and family members of the graduates to AUK's 11th graduation ceremony and officially inaugurated the ceremony by introducing the traditional processionals of the faculty and graduates. After the processional, all attendees were asked to rise for the National Anthem, which was followed by a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran that emphasized the value of education for humanity.

In his opening remarks, Professor Dr. Nizar Hamzeh addressed the graduates and congratulated them for their successful completion of an important phase in their lives. In his speech, Hamzeh explained that education is a bundle of learnt experiences and self-disciplines that stay with the graduates for life. "We set out to prepare leaders who will excel in their fields and apply the critical thinking skills they acquired from the liberal arts education they received at AUK to make the best decisions that will benefit their countries and communities. I am confident in your abilities and believe in each of you to carry on AUK's legacy of producing strong and successful alumni," he said.

President Hamzeh then invited this year's keynote speaker, H.E. Dr. Bader Al-Essa, to stage to deliver his keynote address.

The Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Bader Al-Eissa addressed the graduates saying, "It is a great honor to have His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah present to celebrate the sons and daughters of this dear nation."

Dr. Eissa congratulated the students on achieving their goal of graduating with academic and professional skills that they could utilize in the future, "As it is their duty now to contribute to the development of this country."

Following the keynote address, Dr. Hanan Muzaffar, the Dean of Student Affairs, addressed the attendees and the graduates. "We are confident that they will excel in whichever path their future leads them to, for we were witness to this excellence while being honored to nourish it in the last few years. This group has often been vital in enriching our lives at AUK, staff and faculty alike, and here we are today, ready to follow their progress as they move to enrich your lives," Dean Muzaffar said.

Dr. Muzaffar then announced this year's valedictorians, Batul Sadliwala from the College of Arts & Sciences, who earned the valedictorian distinction with a 4.0 GPA, and Sara Lobbad from the College of Business & Economics, who earned the valedictorian distinction with a GPA of 3.99, and invited Sadliwala to deliver a speech to her peers and guests.

In her speech, Sadliwala explained that her experience at AUK was one that exposed her to a diverse community of talented individuals who challenged, motivated and mentored her throughout the past four years. "Everyday, we embrace and celebrate the diversity amongst our ranks. And as we leave here today, my fellow graduates, let us make a promise to always remember that celebration, to remember that difference is always enriching," she said.

Following the Valedictorian remarks, H.H. Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah; H.E. Dr. Bader Hamad Al-Essa; and Professor Dr. Nizar Hamzeh were invited to present the graduation diplomas for the AUK Honors graduates

The event then proceeded to the part of the ceremony most anticipated by the students; the distribution of their earned degrees. The Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, Dr. Rawda Awwad, recommended the conferral of degrees for the graduates of the College of Arts & Sciences, while Dean of the College of Business & Economics, Dr. Jin Wang, recommended the conferral of degrees for the graduates of the College of Business & Economics to President Hamzeh, who then conferred upon the graduates their respective degrees. The graduates were then awarded their bachelor's degree diplomas by Dr. Hamzeh, H.E. Dr. Bader Al-Essa, Dean Rawda Awwad, and Dean Jin Wang.

In keeping with the academic tradition, the graduates were requested to shift their tassels from right to left, thereby marking their official graduation from AUK. As the ceremony drew to its conclusion, the graduating class celebrated the occasion and took photos with their families and friends.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 8th June 2016

Since its establishment in 2009, the American University of Kuwait's College of Business & Economics Advisory Board (CBE - AB) has been working closely with the College Dean to support initiatives that advance the College. The Advisory Board is comprised of business leaders who are interested in quality education and are committed to serving and advocating for the College and offer practical insight to the academic curriculum.

In May 2016, Sara Akbar, Chief Executive Officer of the Kuwait Energy Company, was appointed as Chairperson of the Advisory Board, following the departure of the former Chairman, Mr. Robert Drolet, former Senior Vice President of Technology & Media at KIPCO. Mr. Drolet has served as Chair of the CBE Advisory Board since its inception in 2009.

Dean of the College of Business & Economics, Dr. Jin Wang thanked Mr. Drolet for his services and dedication to the advancement of the College and welcomed Ms. Akbar as the new chair saying "Ms. Akbar brings with her 30 years of experience in areas such as strategy development, portfolio management and strategic relationships, which are essential to further developing new plans for the future and earning accreditations".

Wang explained that it is critical for the College to have the Advisory Board, as its members can be supporters of the College and serve as public ambassadors to reach the larger community. "I am enthusiastically looking forward to working with Ms. Sara Akbar and the Board members to develop a new plan for the future, focusing on our AACSB accreditation. The Board's support, guidance, and leadership contribute greatly to our commitment to relevant programs, outstanding opportunities for students, and ethical and impactful graduates. The board members also provide a role model for students," Wang said.

"It is a great privilege to serve on the advisory board of the collage of business and economic. Together with the other members of the board we will work very closely with Dean Jin Wang to achieve the vision of the school and deliver the best in class business education to the students of AUK," said Akbar

Key responsibilities of the Advisory Board include assisting in securing internship and employment opportunities for CBE students, fostering the research efforts of CBE faculty, and generating financial support to implement programs that enhance the overall quality of CBE's students and programs.

Current members of the Advisory Board are Dr. Jin Wang, Dean of the College of Business & Economics at AUK; Mr. Rami Wadie, Partner Enterprise Risk Services at Deloitte & Touche; Mr. Bader Alabduljader, Managing Partner at Bader Al Abduljader & Partners; Ms. Henadi Al Saleh, Chairman of Agility; Mr. Basil AlSalem, Chairman & Managing Director at Kuwait Food Concepts K.S.C.; Abdul Aziz Al-Yaqout, Senior Partner in Meysan Partners; and Mr. Faisal M. Sarkhou, CEO of KAMCO.

The Advisory Board members are in the process of creating a list of topics they would offer to classes, providing valuable and high quality internship opportunities for our students, and have donated money to support student entrepreneurship competitions.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 2nd June 2016

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2016

Director of Center for Gulf Studies, Dr. Farah Al-Nakib presented a lecture on her new book entitled, 'Kuwait Transformed - A History of Oil and Urban Life'. The event took place at the AUK auditorium with members of the AUK community and external visitors present to participate in a discussion of Kuwait's transformation as discussed in Dr. Farah's book.

The book traces the history that connects Kuwait's past and present; bridging the urban, social and cultural patterns to illustrate the development of the city since the discovery of oil.

Dr. Farah was introduced by the International Relations Department Chair, Dr. Roman Kulchitsky saying, "I see tonight's speaker as an arising Kuwaiti historian whose dedicating her career to offering narratives on Kuwait, its past and present, providing a way to imagine the future of Kuwait from a Kuwaiti point of view."

The lecture was followed by questions from the audience and a discussion on Kuwait's future path.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 30th May 2016

The Center for Continuing Education (CCE) at AUK signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the British Council - Kuwait - that focuses on key areas of assessment and academic quality.

The existing relationship across the last ten years focused on IELTS delivery at AUK. The new Agreement strengthens this by the IELTS Venue Partnership, IELTS Registration Center, and a Loyalty Programme. In addition, the agreement also establishes ties between AUK and other prestigious UK-based qualification providers. There is a plan to bring an Academic Teaching Excellence course, developed by Oxford University Department of Education and British Council, to AUK next academic year to support the professional development programme for university staff. Both parties will also seek collaborative opportunities for future corporate social responsibility initiatives.

"The Center for Continuing Education is a platform for local and global partnerships, and this is what ultimately led to the establishment of this partnership with British Council. This partnership will allow us to create new opportunities and facilitate knowledge transfer from various institutions in the UK to Kuwait, using CCE as a hub for learning, development and networking", said Buthaina AlKhubaizi, Director of the Center for Continuing Education (CCE)

"For ten years we have enjoyed an excellent relationship at AUK. Together we have offered IELTS for admission to universities in Kuwait as well as for those seeking study programs in the USA, UK and elsewhere. Now this Agreement takes us to another level. We have identified new areas of collaboration that will support assessment and learning outcomes at AUK and beyond," said Jim O'Neill Country Exams Manager at British Council in Kuwait.

The Strategic Partnership Agreement was signed by Mrs. Buthaina Al-Khubaizi, Director of CCE, and Mr. Jim O'Neill, Deputy Country Exams Manager at British Council. The partnership will be in effect from June 2016 until August 2019.

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 30th May 2016

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2016

AUK held its 11th Annual Academic Showcase in April 2016. This event highlights the achievements of AUK faculty and students across varying disciplines through presentations, performances and displays. The ultimate goals for the showcase are to provide an opportunity for students to further their education and careers, and to expose the entire student body to the various disciplines at AUK.

The showcase covered a variety of presentations, ranging from educational presentations, visual artwork, and academic field trips, in addition to different music and drama performances, including a faculty duet performance. The Intensive English Program concluded the two-day event with a dramatic rendition of Love & Magic: Houdini Unchained, which involved many students.

"The annual academic showcase, provides us with an occasion to celebrate the process of learning, thinking, and becoming: the bedrock of our institution while reminding us as to why we are here and how we all as a "community of learners" continue to make a difference here and outside of the university walls," said Dr. Rawda Awwad, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

Dr. Jin Wang, Dean of the College of Business & Economics commented on the event and said, "The 11th Annual Academic Showcase at AUK is a great success. I was very impressed with the talent, creativity, and accomplishments of students and faculty at AUK. Their diligence, dedication, and accomplishments made AUK a proud higher learning community. I am proud to be part of this academic institution that provides opportunities for talent to grow and develop. I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation and congratulations to all the participating students and faculty. I also want to extend my appreciation to Ms. Dalia Hassaan, Senior Faculty Support Coordinator, College of Arts and Sciences, and her colleagues for their time and effort that are indispensable for this successful event."

The Academic Showcase is held annually as a celebration of AUK's mission to "foster an environment encouraging critical thinking, effective communication, personal growth, service, and leadership."

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 29th May 2016

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2016