News
AUK Associate Professor of Philosophy, Andrei Zavaliy, has concluded his summer fellowship program at Dartmouth, which came as part of the Dartmouth-AUK faculty fellowship program that started back in 2009. This year, Zavaliy's research grant has been sponsored by the Department of Philosophy at Dartmouth.
In an interview with the Dartmouth news team, Zavaliy said that "The endless rows of bookshelves at Baker-Berry Library are one of the main reasons why scholars from various fields seek to secure a fellowship at Dartmouth. I had immediate access to all the books and periodicals that I could conceivably need for my project." Over the course of 8 weeks, Zavaliy worked on his research on "the nature of an other-directed moral evaluation and its function in the overall structure of moral agency," among other projects.
The Dartmouth-AUK faculty fellowship program is one of many collaboration programs that link Dartmouth and AUK. Historically, Dartmouth has hosted six AUK fellows on this program in the previous years. The fellows were sponsored by the Leslie Center for the Humanities; the Thayer School of Engineering; the medical school's Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Sciences (iQBS); and the Department of English, respectively. The fellowship competition is open to AUK faculty members conducting research that can be facilitated by access to Dartmouth's libraries and museum collections, or to senior administrators pursuing professional development projects that can be guided by Dartmouth mentors.
The selection criteria include the proposal's promise of research outcomes or professional development, alignment with the Strategic Planning Goals of AUK, a project timeline, and appropriate use of Dartmouth resources.
To access the full interview of Andrei Zavaliy with Dartmouth, please click here
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 1st October 2015
Photo Courtesy of Dartmouth College
Professor Jin Wang, Dean of Business and Economics
Jin Wang, Professor of Economics, joined AUK this Fall to head up the College of Business & Economics (CBE). Professor Wang joins AUK from Westminster College, Salt Lake City, where he served as Assistant to the President for International Programs.
Professor Wang said, "It is a great honor to join the College of Business and Economics at the American University of Kuwait. I am privileged to work with our dedicated and outstanding colleagues who are focused on student learning and success in the world of business. We strive for excellence in teaching and academic scholarship, and provide our students with a rich learning environment that supports their intellectual, professional, and personal development. I have met with many and look forward to meeting with more students in the near future to learn and appreciate their aspirations and challenges."
Professor Wang also expressed that AUK is an exciting place to be. "My wife, June, joins me in expressing our heartfelt appreciation to the entire university community for your kindness, friendship, hospitality, and support," he added.
Dr. Wang holds an MA in Economics from Ohio University and a PhD in Economics from Kansas State University. Throughout the past years, he served in different academic and executive positions including, Dean of the Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business, Professor of Economics at Westminster College (2011-2014), Associate Provost and Dean of Academic Services at the University of Tampa (2007-2011), Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Professor of Economics at Rowan University (2003-2007), Associate Dean of the College of Letters and Science, and Professor of Economics at the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point (1992-2003).
Dr. Wang has published in academic referred journals and was a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship in 2003.
Dr. Hanan Muzaffar, Dean of Student Affairs
Dr. Hanan Muzaffar, Assistant Professor of English, has been appointed Dean of Student Affairs as of last summer. Prior to her appointment, Dr. Muzaffar served as Assistant Professor of English at AUK (2014-2015) and Kuwait University (2000-2011). She also served as Head of the Student Guidance Office at Kuwait University (2004-2006).
Dr. Muzaffar said, "Serving as Dean of Student Affairs is a thrilling feat, as I'm gradually discovering. AUK has an amazing community of students and I am often swept away by their enthusiasm and dedication. I am looking forward to continuing the work I started last semester, to learn more about our wonderful student body, and to get involved in their projects and offer my guidance and assistance."
Dr. Muzaffar earned her M.A. (1997) and Ph.D. (2000) in English Literature, with an emphasis on Literary Theory and Criticism, from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA. After completing her graduate studies, she joined Kuwait University (KU) as Assistant Professor of English from 2000 to 2011, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in literature and theory. Dr. Muzaffar's research revolves around gender studies and minority writers. She currently serves on the editorial board of Ibdaat Alamiya, which is a publication of Kuwait's National Council of Culture, Arts, and Letters.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 29th September 2015
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015
Timothy (Tim) Rizvanov, a Junior majoring in Computer Science Modified with Engineering, is the latest Dartmouth intern to join AUK. He arrived in September 2015 and will spend the Fall 2015 semester working with several departments within AUK, splitting his internship time between the AUK Library, the Intensive English Program (IEP), and Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences, and Engineering (RISE) until late November 2015.
Tim aspires to become a professor in the analytic social sciences. He considers his AUK internship as an opportunity to learn more about Kuwait and the Middle East. "I hope to learn as much as I can about Kuwait and AUK via my interactions with the warm and welcoming students, staff, and faculty here, and I'm excited work in such engaging and creative roles with the departments I've been placed in," he expressed.
Since 2005, AUK has received 31 undergraduate Dartmouth interns as part of an internship program initiated through the partnership of the two universities.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 14th September 2015
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015
The American University of Kuwait (AUK) officially opened doors to new and returning students today. In preparation for a new academic year, AUK held a series of orientation sessions last week to familiarize the new faculty, staff, and students with campus life and the academic community at AUK.
The orientation week kicked off with orientation sessions for new and returning faculty members. 5 new fulltime faculty members joined the AUK community this semester. Coming from different parts of the world, the new faculty members bring to AUK years of experience and scholarly achievements which will be valuable assets to the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Economics and the Intensive English Program.
The 4-day orientation sessions featured welcome notes and addresses by AUK administrators, including AUK President, Professor Nizar Hamzeh; Vice President for Admissions & Public Affairs, Ms. Amal Al Binali; Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Hanan Muzaffar; Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Rawda Awwad; Dean of the College of Business and Economics, Dr. Jin Wang.
During his welcome remarks to new students, President Hamzeh congratulated them on their admission to AUK, and welcomed them as new members to the AUK community, where they will receive a world-class education delivered. College Deans and unit heads introduced their divisions and reminded the students to seek support and advice from AUK faculty and staff members on all matters related to their academic careers.
Dean Muzaffar explained that extra-curricular activities play an important role in complementing the educational experience. She encouraged the students to spend time on campus, interact with each other, learn outside the classroom, and enjoy the university experience.
One full day of the orientation week was dedicated to the Intensive English Program (IEP) students, during which the goals of the program were explained by IEP Director, Ms. Sandra Stein. IEP is designed to help people with intermediate, high intermediate and advanced English proficiency to develop advanced academic language skills necessary for the individual student to succeed in the university.
The AUK orientation sessions also hosted speakers from the Private Universities Council including Asma Al-Mutairi, Director of Public Relations; Fahad Al-Khalifa, Director of the Internal Scholarship Office; Al- Jawhara Al-Ghaith, Social Allowance Auditor; and Noura Al-Dhubaibi, Public Relations Officer. The PUC session provided an overview of scholarships and social allowances including, their requirements, their application procedure, and timelines.
Following the orientation sessions, the students toured the campus and learned about the different academic and recreational facilities available to them, such as the AUK Library, the offices of Admissions & Registrar, the Academic Advising and Learning Support Services, the Center for Continuing Education (CCE), the Counseling Center, and the sports facilities. The students met with the teams of each of the areas, who gave them an overview of the services they provide.
To ensure a smooth transition into collegiate life and get the students well acquainted with the different activities AUK has to offer, the Office of Student Life is organizing several recreational and educational events within the first month of the Fall semester, including a Welcome Back Week, which features the Involvement Fair, a clubs, organizations and departments' fair; and a Faculty Meet And Greet, a movie night, among a host of activities that reflect the non-academic facet of AUK.
Established in 2003, the American University of Kuwait (AUK) currently offers 14 distinct degree programs in various academic disciplines. According to Ms. Amal Al Binali, Vice President for Admissions and Public Affairs, AUK has filled all offered places for the Fall 2015 Semester "The current admission cycle has brought in students with high academic records. The average high school GPA of newly enrolled freshman students is 3.09 and 2.88 for Transfer Students," said Al Binali
AUK is accredited institutionally by the Private Universities Council (PUC) in Kuwait. Its business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP); its social sciences, arts and humanities programs are accredited by The American Academy for Liberal Education's (AALE); and its Intensive English program is accredited by the Commission for Intensive English Program Accreditation (CEA).
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 13th September 2015
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015
The Department of Computer Science & Information Systems (CSIS) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) has become a member in the Cisco Networking Academy (CNA), an academy that offers courses for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) programs, and prepares students for other computer-related courses.
CNA combines traditional classroom teaching methods with web-based curricula, hands-on lab exercises, and Internet-based assessments. It offers comprehensive coursework that helps improve students' academic and career outcomes and teaches them technological skills that satisfy the demands of the business community. The Academy aims to train AUK's CSIS students for professional networking and IT-related careers in the public and private sectors, and sets a solid foundation for them to pursue their higher education objectives in computer science, information systems or engineering.
CSIS faculty will benefit from ongoing training in current curriculum and delivery techniques. Cisco also provides seminars and conferences for the technology, and the teaching and learning aspects, of the overall program. Being a member of the CNA will enable CSIS faculty to access and deliver courses that:
- are designed by industry and education experts
- are ready-made and continuously updated via the Internet
- come with a Quality Assurance Plan
- utilise the latest web tools
- have full technical support and an on-line instructors' guide
- use the CNA Management System (Academy Connection) management tool which greatly reduces administration time and increases productivity
- conduct assessment on-line and provides immediate feedback that monitors students' progress
In addition to becoming a member of the CNA, the Department of Computer Science & Information Systems has become an associate Member of SAP University Alliances Program. SAP is the world's largest provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software to manage and integrate different business operations, supply chain management and customer relationships. This appointment provides AUK access to a range of opportunities to engage with one of the world's leading technology companies.
CSIS faculty members will be able to develop and share software curricula online, and participate in professional development workshops in order to provide students with hands-on experience making business decisions using real-time, integrated data. Additionally, SAP UAP offers scholarship programs to its member institutions.
Cisco Networking Academy (CNA) is a global education initiative from Cisco Systems, established in 1997, offers networking programs, like the (Cisco Certified Network Associate) CCNA and (Cisco Certified Network Professional) CCNP courses, which prepare students for the certification exams of the same name, and other computer-related courses.
Cisco Networking Academy (CNA) is a global education initiative from Cisco Systems, established in 1997, offers networking programs, like the (Cisco Certified Network Associate) CCNA and (Cisco Certified Network Professional) CCNP courses, which prepare students for the certification exams of the same name, and other computer-related courses.
SAP University Alliances Program (UAP) includes more than 1,800 universities worldwide. SAP UAP brings together over 17,000 Professors and hundreds of thousands of students from different member institutions to download resources, share their stories, engage with the wider SAP Community and find out about how to get involved.
The Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS) program at AUK encompasses the principles of computing that enables students to keep abreast of developments in a rapidly changing technology. CSIS students not only gain a solid foundation in the theory and design of modern computing systems, but are exposed to a variety of applied applications in lab assignments, internships, and in a semester-based senior capstone project course. The students are also encouraged to explore cross-disciplinary connections by completing a minor in a related field.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 31st August 2015
Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) organized a "Positive Thinking" workshop in collaboration with the American University of Kuwait- Center for Continuing Education, for KFAS employees and its centers at KFAS.
The workshops were conducted by Dr. Hesham Al-Awadi, Associate Professor of History at AUK, and covered the theme of "positive thinking" at the workplace. The 100 participants, from KFAS and its centers such as The Scientific Center, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Sabah Al-Ahmed Center for Giftedness & Creativity and Jaber Al-Ahmad Center for Nuclear Medicine, were evaluated and assessed their general outlook and attitude, learned how to break bad habits, and were introduced to methods of maintaining a positive outlook at the workplace.
During the workshop, the attendees participated in several exercises that helped them learn how to develop positive thinking skills. These included acknowledging one's successes, even if partial or non-material, identifying and developing personal strengths rather than weaknesses, and dedicating more time and effort in one's circle of control, rather than focusing on a circle of worries and concerns.
About KFAS
The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences is a non-profit Kuwaiti entity chaired by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. It has been established in accordance with an Amiri Decree issued on 12 January 1976 as a private foundation for public interest to support, since its inception, scientific and technological development in Kuwait in several ways; mainly granting financial support for scientific research and availing awards for distinguished researchers.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 27th July 2015
The Center for Continuing Education (CCE) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) held a ceremony to celebrate the graduates of the Leadership for Supervisors Certified Program; a 3 week program designed for the professional development of members of Burgan Bank's middle management. The ceremony was held at the Chairman Club in the Burgan Bank Tower, Kuwait City, and was attended by AUK President, Professor Dr. Nizar Hamzeh, and Burgan Banks's Group Chief Human Resources and Development Officer, Ms. Halah El Sherbini, and Mrs. Buthaina Al-Khubaizi, Director of CCE, who presented the graduates with their certificates.
The Leadership for Supervisors Certified Program provided the participants with the opportunity to learn the practical and analytical skills required to manage teams. While exploring such topics as "Building and Leading High Performance Teams", "Resolving Workplace Conflict", and "Achieving Successful Results", the participants learned how to define clear team objectives and the most effective means of achieving them.
"The program has equipped me with sets of skills that help me manage daily challenges more effectively," participant Nour Hamadah, Manager - Marketing Communications, explained.
"We are proud of the partnership between Burgan Bank and the CCE itself, and the American University in Kuwait at large. We are adamant at Burgan Bank to nurture talents transitioning into leadership roles. The Leadership for Supervisors Certified Program is built around the new paradigm of leadership that focuses on people, soft skills and emotional intelligence," expressed Ms. Halah El Sherbini, Group Chief Human Resources & Development Officer.
One of the key elements of the program focused on the importance of developing the communication skills of the participants. By learning and practicing effective communication skills, the participants will be able become inspiring team leaders and learn to channel the energy, enthusiasm and motivation of their team members to achieve optimum results, thus transforming competent supervisors into true leaders.
"The Leadership for Supervisors Certified Program will create a generation of self-driven leaders and equip them with the skills needed to continue the future development and growth of Burgan Bank in Kuwait. The American University of Kuwait is honored to be part of this program with Burgan Bank and will continue to develop innovative learning and development opportunities for the next generation of professionals in Kuwait," said AUK President, Professor Dr. Nizar Hamzeh on the sidelines of the ceremony.
The Leadership for Supervisors Certified Program has been offer by CCE twice before. To date, 60 participants from Burgan Bank have successfully completed the Leadership for Supervisors program.
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 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 12th July 2015
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015
The Intensive English Program (IEP) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) performed a theatrical adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel "Pride and Prejudice" in April, 2015. The play was performed and organized entirely by the students as part of Professor Alison Koushki's "Bring Reading to Life" program, an initiative that, as the name suggests, promotes comprehensive reading of a given semester's main reading material, a classic novel, by allowing the IEP students to create a performance based upon it. This adds a new dimension to their learning experience. With the assistance of Drama Coach Lalin-Radhika Dissanayaka, the students drove the production by assuming the roles of actors, costume and set designers, advertisers, script-writers, and choreographers. The "Writing Corner" team selected and posted in the performance area the 10 best essays students wrote about the novel, giving the play a literary reflection for the audience to contemplate before and after the show.
"Pride and Prejudice" follows the drama of an English family in the early 19th century. The main character, Elizabeth Bennet, struggles with issues of class, morality and marriage as she navigates the social landscape of her rural town. The students in Professor Koushki's English classes began work on the performance in the beginning of the semester, in conjunction with their reading of the novel. Drama Coach Dissanayaka worked closely with the actors and dancers throughout rehearsals to perfect their diction, movement and timing. "The students were very dedicated to the production and were committed to memorizing all of their lines and dance moves," she said.
The play included a number of important scenes from the story of "Pride and Prejudice." Notable among them were two marriage proposals, one from the presumptuous Mr. Collins (acted by Mohammed Saab), and one from the arrogant Mr. Darcy (Aref Froutan). Elizabeth Bennet (Mona Singer) rejects them both and sends the two hopefuls packing. The performance also featured two British-style dance sequences and an unexpected dance number at the end of the show that was based on the Bollywood modern-day adaptation of the novel: "Bride and Prejudice." The student actors dressed in period costumes and scripted the dialogue with direct quotes from the novel.
In May, the production ran for a second time during the Intensive English Program Open Day. The students added a scene to the performance that was not included in the original production. The scene depicted an apology and a marriage proposal by Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth. The second performance provided the students with the opportunity to expand on their acting skills and include a few additions to the script. Actress Mona Singer "broke the fourth wall" between the stage and the audience when, as Elizabeth, she turned to them and asked "What should I do?" upon receiving Mr. Darcyâs apology and second marriage proposal. Audience interaction was lively and loud as they shouted their advice.
The "Pride and Prejudice" production was not the first time that Professor Koushki has integrated visual and dramatic arts into the reading curriculum. Last semester, her students kicked off Halloween celebrations on campus with their enactment of the novel "Frankenstein" complete with a flash dance to Michael Jackson's "Beat It," in full monster make-up and "Bring Reading to Life" t-shirts. In Spring 2014, IEP students produced performances of "The Godfather," based on the novel by American author Mario Puzo. These performances were also assisted by Ms. Dissanayaka.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 12th July 2015
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015
The Center for Continuing Education (CCE) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) began working with the British Council in 2005 to deliver English language courses to individuals who were considering attending English language universities in Kuwait or abroad. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the establishment of this partnership, and to commemorate the occasion, the Director of CCE, Mrs. Buthaina Al-Khubaizi, visited the British Council to meet with Mr. Grant Butler, Country Director, to celebrate the milestone and discuss future opportunities for collaboration. During the visit, Al-Khubaizi presented the British Council with a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of CCE.
Since its establishment in 2004, CCE has been committed to offering courses and training programs that help students and professionals improve skills that assist them in achieving their goals; a service the British Council has been committed to for years. This shared interest in reaching out to students who are in need of English language improvement and offering them top-quality courses led to a partnership forming between CCE and the British Council.
The scope of the partnership between the British Council and CCE covers the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exams. The CCE and the British Council have developed a "One-Stop IELTS" system, whereby candidates are able to register for intensive preparation courses at CCE and schedule to take the IELTS exam in the CCE facilities. The CCE administers the IELTS exam 3 times a month to approximately 300 candidates each day.
CCE also offers English language courses for academic, workplace, and everyday purposes; for all levels and from age groups of 14 years and above. Learners benefit from quality instruction and innovative programming, delivered in a supportive and collaborative learning environment. CCE is currently offering a 10% reduction for the IELTS preparation courses for candidates who register for the British Council IELTS exams via 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 25th June 2015
The American University of Kuwait (AUK) held a lecture by Dr. Souad Ali, Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Arizona State University and Visiting Professor at AUK, to discuss the subject of her book-in-progress "Kuwaiti Women in Leadership Positions." The lecture discussed the advances made in women's issues in Kuwait over the last sixty years and the findings of the research conducted by Dr. Souad for the book, which features interviews with leaders such as Founder and Chair of AUK Sheikha Dana Nasser Al-Sabah, Former Parliament Members Dr. Rula Dashti and Dr. Aseel Al-Awadhi, CEO of Kuwait Energy Engineer Sara Akbar; Sheikha Hussah Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Director General of Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, former Parliament member Ms. Safa Al-Hashem, among many other Kuwaiti women in leadership positions. The lecture was open to members of the AUK community and the public.
The lecture emphasized that, although the advances made in women's issues in the State of Kuwait through the years have been widely commented upon, limited academic research has been published on their material effects. Dr. Souad explained that Kuwaiti women received both the right to vote and to run in elections to Parliament in 2005-the first women in the conservative Arab Gulf bloc to do so. "In an unprecedented move in the region, the first four Kuwaiti women were elected to the Parliament in 2009. Simultaneously, the critique of Muslim women scholars and feminists is creating new spaces in Islamic theology," she said.
The works of these scholars have raised significant questions about women's rights in Islam and the Qur'an. Based on Dr. Ali's book-in-progress, this study presents authentic perspectives by Kuwaiti women in leadership positions in different fields on their work, the usefulness of feminist identifiers and theory, feminist theology, and the dynamics of Kuwait's reform measures. "The study is significant in that it allows Kuwaiti women in leadership roles to speak for themselves producing new knowledge and perspectives on issues vital to the advancement of women's causes in their society," she added, further highlighting the fact that this constitutes one of the many strengths of the book and the fresh scholarship it contributes to the field of women and gender studies in the Middle East.
Dr. Souad T. Ali is Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Arizona State University (ASU); Director of Arabic Studies, and was Head of Classics and Middle Eastern Studies from 2007 - 2014. An internationally acclaimed scholar, Dr. Souad Ali was an AUK Fulbright Scholar in 2009-2010.
Dr. Ali received an M.A. in English (American and African-American Literature) from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Utah (2004). She is the author of two books: A Religion, Not a State: Ali 'Abd al-Raziq's Islamic Justification of Political Secularism (U of Utah Press, 2009), and The Road to the Two Sudan(s), an edited Volume of which she is the lead author (Cambridge Scholars 2014). Her other books in progress include, Kuwaiti Women in Leadership Positions; Modern Perspectives on Gender Issues in Islam; and a Translation of 'Abd al-Raziq's Study from Arabic into English. She has also published numerous articles. Dr. Ali's interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary research includes Women and Gender studies, Islam and Modernity, Comparative Literature, Feminism in Islam, Arab, African, and Muslim Women, and Sudanese Politics. Founder and Chair of the new ASU Council for Arabic and Islamic Studies (fostering research on East/West multiculturalism and cross-cultural understanding), Dr. Ali recently served as President of the American Academy of Religion-Western Region Branch; and Vice President and Program Chair. She serves as a board member on numerous American and International Academic Associations, and is a reviewer for several U.S. University presses, International Publishing Houses and Scholarly Journals. Dr. Ali has been a Visiting Associate Professor for spring 2015 at AUK.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 21st June 2015
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015
