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The International Week at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) is an annual event on campus that celebrates cultural diversity within the AUK community. This year marked the 10th consecutive International Week and included a host of diversity-themed events beginning Sunday March 15th and continuing through Wednesday, March 18th. Events included a lecture, movie night, cooking competition and the highly anticipated Global Village, where students had the opportunity to showcase traditions from their countries. International Week is organized each year by the Office of Student Life to promote cultural exchange and understanding within the AUK community and to enhance global and social awareness.

This year's Week began with students competing in a two-day round of Sporcle trivia quiz testing their general knowledge of countries around the globe. Dr. Chris Ohan, former AUK professor, contributed to the week's happenings in his Monday morning lecture on global sensitivity entitled "Balancing Tolerance, Diversity and Academic Freedom in a Politically Correct World."

International Week also included a series of foreign movie nights, featuring such movies as the politically controversial Indian film My Name Is Khan and an Iranian drama called The Painting Pool - stories of family dynamics, global intolerance and a changing world. All of these activities and events exposed AUK students to a range of different international and human experiences, while committing to the spirit of the week.

Each year, student representatives from countries participating in International Week are assigned booths in the Central Hallway of the campus to showcase their cultures by displaying traditional clothing, books, music and foods, creating the Global Village. The booths are then rated by judges for the Best Country Representation Award. This year's winners were Lebanon, Pakistan and Palestine, coming in first, second and third place, respectively.

One of the more anticipated activities of the week was the cooking competition. Participants were asked to present traditional dishes from their countries. Although not every country was represented, there were many cuisines for the judges to sample, including dishes from Kuwait, Egypt, Pakistan, Lebanon, Syria and Iran. The Best Main Dish Award went to Syria, while the Best Dessert Award went to Egypt.

International Week concluded, as is tradition, with the Parade of Nations; a parade of flags representing countries of members from the AUK community, led by Kuwaiti flag. Following the Parade was the Cultural Showcase, which featured an array of performances from 6 different countries; Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Iran, Egypt and Kuwait. The Best Cultural Showcase title went to Lebanon, second place to Palestine, and third place to Egypt.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 31 March 2015

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015

The Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) is a student based association that is affiliated with intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations and its agencies. Each February participants from around the world meet in Boston, Massachusetts, to take part in a 3- day conference. This year, a team of six students from the American University of Kuwait (AUK) travelled to the United States to take part in the 61st annual event, where they came together with the 3000+ students from 68 countries to participate, and the only team from the Gulf region.

AUK's MUN team is composed of Yasmine Abdulwahid, Mohammed Al-Saeed, Nourah Al-Sulaiman, Rolf Braathu, Ali Kelkawi and Paola Sedas, with Dr. Gholam R. Vatandoust, Associate Professor History, as their Faculty Advisor. Attending HNMUN provided the AUK students with an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the rules of parliamentary procedures, such as making procedural and substantive motions, writing and presenting resolutions and working within the norms of international diplomacy; it gave them the opportunity to measure themselves internationally against the world's best and the brightest.

Yasmine is the Vice President of the AUK chapter of the Model United Nations. She said that she felt grateful for the support AUK has provided the team with in preparation for the trip. "I'm also very proud of my delegates who came along and provided their time and effort to represent our country and our university," she added. Her teammates expressed similar sentiments. Paola Sedas, one of AUK's international students commented that "on the whole, it was an experience I do not regret, in spite of the snow storm, and I would encourage all young debaters to attend international conferences to get a real life exposure of what a career in Politics or International Relations would be like."

At HNMUN, the AUK team represented Poland. Yasmine Abdulwahid, Vice President of MUNAUK, and fellow student Rolf Braathu, assumed the roles of committee members of the World Health Organization. Paola Sedas and Nourah Al-Sulaiman were part of the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee of the General Assembly, while Ali Kelkawi and Mohammed Al-Saeed were members of the Futuristic Commission on Space Development under the Economic and Social Council. Professor Gholamreza R. Vatandoust of the International Relations department served as the academic advisor for the team.

That was not the first time the team participated in an international MUN conference. In November 2014, a team of 13 students travelled to Bahrain to participate in the Bahrain Universities MUN conference with Dana Taqi, Senior Coordinator for Alumni Affairs, as advisor. The conference took place in the Sheraton Hotel, Manama, and was open to participants from universities within the GCC.

Ali Kelkawi, the current transitional Student Council Vice President at AUK, was part of the Economic and Social Council representing Canada. His commission sponsored a resolution on the prevention of Juvenile Delinquency and Agricultural Development and Food Security. Ali received an honorable mention for his performance and debating the resolution on Juvenile Delinquency.

Nourah Al-Sulaiman participated in the General Assembly representing Indonesia. She was a co-submitter of a resolution that was finally approved, and won a Diplomacy Award for her work. Rolf H. Braathu, also represented Indonesia, but in the International Atomic Energy Agency, focused on the peaceful use of nuclear power. He also won a Diplomacy Award for his engagement in drafting a resolution that was approved.

"The major problem facing most universities is funding, particularly from economically pressed countries," said Dr. Vatandoust. "Limited numbers of scholarships are available for individuals and delegates. By brining students together from across the world and having them engage in the art of negotiations and diplomacy, the real goal is to help build human capital for the future of the international community."

Model UN is a long standing tradition for many universities where credit hours are granted for preparation and competition at the annual events. MUNAUK is registered as a student club. Over the past 5 years, the club has been funded and endorsed by the Office of Student Life and supported by the International Relations Department which, according to Dr. Vatandoust, aims to support MUNAUK both financially and academically in order to prepare the team for future competitions.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 30th March 2015

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015

The Office of Student Affairs at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) invited Nader Sabry, CEO and Founder of TIMEZ5 Global Inc., the world's first Muslim wellness and lifestyle Company to be certified by the NASA Space Foundation, to give a talk at the Library's American Corner. The purpose of his talk, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, was to educate the attendees on how to develop simple ideas into successful endeavors.

Sabry's talk discussed the concept of entrepreneurship and the drivers of innovation. According to Sabry, innovation could be inspired by the simple things around us. He used the example of one of his inventions, the Physiological Prayer Mat, which reduces pain and stiffness experienced during prayers by Muslims who suffer from stiff joints and lower back problems. Following the release of his invention, Sabry published an extended article on the Huffington Post in which he linked the practice of Muslim prayer and its physical prostrations to the general health and wellbeing of the person performing it. "While researching the practice of prayer I discovered that our physical prostrations have many benefits beyond the spiritual, connected to our health and well-being, a common link with other faiths," he wrote.

In terms of entrepreneurship, Sabry walked the attendees through the process of how to turn an idea into a successful enterprise. The subject generated a lot of interaction amongst the audience, who were particularly interested to know how to develop a successful and marketable idea. The key elements of success, according to Sabry, are finding ideas that cater to the needs of many, and conducting extensive market research before going into the implementation stage. He also gave an example on how his own business, TIMEZ5, was born out of his prayer mat idea. "As an innovator and entrepreneur, I instinctively saw an untapped market with a huge social benefit and eventually created TIMEZ5, a company focused on Muslim health and wellbeing, a vastly underserved sector," he wrote in his article. To develop the Physiological Prayer Mat, Sabry went through three years of extensive research on ritual practices, modern science and design. He also collaborated with scientists from different disciplines to verify the validity and success of his invention.

Nader Sabry won the Global Islamic Economy Summit award for creating the world's first physiological prayer mat. He is the former head of innovation & thought leadership at A.T. Kearney, a frequent public speaker, and advocate for youth epreneurship. Sabry has been featured in a number of media outlets, for example, The Huffington Post, FT's Mergermarkets, Al Bayan, and various TV shows.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 5th March 2015

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Black History Month is celebrated in February each year in the United States in recognition of the accomplishments of African-Americans whose contributions have influenced society in a positive way. Many American academic institutions and professional organizations around the world regard this month as an opportunity to promote literacy. This year, the American University of Kuwait (AUK) was invited by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and the Black Caucus of NCTE to hold its first African-American read-in.

The event was sponsored by the English Department and was organized by Dr. Inas Mahfouz, Assistant Professor of English. It was held at the University's Multi-purpose room, where the (Visiting Associate Professor of English and Communications, Dr. Souad Ali, commenced the event by giving a brief overview of Black History Month and its significance, and introduced the attendees to prominent African-American poets and authors.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the book by the acclaimed African-American author Maya Angelou, was selected as the main work of literature for the event, from which attendees took turns to read excerpts from the book to each other. They also made time to read excerpts from the works of other authors, such as Langston Hughes and Malcolm X.

In keeping with the American University of Kuwait's liberal arts tradition, the English department provides students with the ability to use the English language effectively, think critically, and reach their full potential as creative individuals, engaged citizens, and lifelong learners. Through its emphasis on developing cultural awareness, rhetorical flexibility, information literacy, and appreciation for literary traditions, the department prepares students for the increasingly complex challenges of the 21st century.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 8th March 2015

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The American University of Kuwait (AUK) Library hosted an Open House in February to members of the AUK community. This annual event is held to introduce visitors to the Library's latest technological features and resources, and enhance their overall library experience by familiarizing them with all the services available at the Library.

During the half-day event, Library staff members were on hand to provide information, give tours of the facilities and engage the students in intellectual exchange and competitions. Ms. Asma Al-Kanan, the Library Director, expressed her pleasure with the success of the event. "Over 200 students, faculty and staff participated in the Library activities today. The festivities of the day bring everyone closer and give librarians the opportunity to promote new resources, meet with old and new students and answer their questions. This yearâs Library Open House featured an Instagram photo booth for visitors to capture their moments and a prize wheel game where they learn in a more fun and interactive way," she said.

The competitions and prizes were sponsored by some of the Library's international partners and academic resource providers. SAGE, Emerald, and Lexis Nexis represented by their local agent in Kuwait, Virtus Group, offered prizes that included a Kindle Paperwhite, a Kindle Fire HD, and a Galaxy Tab. The Library also held a raffle drawing, in which participants won vouchers from the AUK Bookstore and an Ipad mini, which was a prize provided by EBSCO Publishing and was presented through their local agent in Kuwait, "Naseej".

Throughout the day, online demos on the different tools and resources available at the Library were featured, and visitors were introduced to the digital libraries of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Computer Society (IEEE), RefWorks, an online citation management tool, Literature Online, a leading online resource for the study and teaching of literature in English, and Credo Reference, a research tool and a collection of online sources.

The AUK Library holds more than 42,000 print books in different disciplines, in addition to thousands of E-books and other electronic resources. Over the past 12 years of its existence, the Library has undergone physical and technological upgrades to cater for the growing academic and technological needs of the AUK community. Last year, the AUK Library became the first in Kuwait to introduce the 3M SelfCheck kiosk, a device that allows Library visitors to self-checkout books without stopping by the helpdesk.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 2nd March 2015

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015

The International Relations Club (IRC) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) organized its 2nd annual Liberation Village Exposium in February, where they invited young Kuwaiti entrepreneurs and local social media celebrities to the University to participate in the 3-day event. In honor of this occasion, IRC invited Sheikh Ahmed Al-Mansour Al-Sabah, Director General of the Public Authority for Youth & Sports (PAYS), to deliver the closing speech for the event.

The 2nd Liberation Village Exposium featured a number of activities, which included an exhibition of small business ideas by young Kuwaiti entrepreneurs, motivational and educational lectures, and a variety of recreational activities for the students and visitors of the campus. In one of the lectures on the first day, local celebrity bloggers were invited to discuss the growing influence of social media on today's youth. Fouz Al-Fahad, Bibi Al-Abdulmohsen, Dana Al-Tuwairish, and Zaina Al-Humaidhi were among the bloggers invited to the event to speak with the community. They shared their personal experiences with the various social media outlets and the challenges they faced entering the world of bloggers in Kuwait. They also discussed how blogs and bloggers can positively impact and inspire the youths of the community.

On the second day, the lectures focused on the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Colonel Nasser Salmeen (Retd.), Colonel, Abdulwahed Al-Naqqah (Retd.), and Lieutenant-Colonel Pilot Saleh AlJemaz (Retd.) shared their personal experiences with stories of martyrs and prisoners of war as they displayed images and footage from the invasion.

The Liberation Village Exposium concluded with a ceremony that featured a keynote address, poetry recitation, and national songs. Sheikh Ahmed Al-Mansour Al-Sabah, in his speech on the last day of the event, emphasized that the pillars that support any nation are the nation's youth. He explained that as they comprise the majority of Kuwait's population, they should aspire to be more innovative and proactive in seeking opportunities, and that the country depends on the minds and talents of the youth to elevate Kuwait's intellectual and moral value standards.

Following the keynote address, AUK President, Professor Dr. Nizar Hamzeh, spoke with the visitors about the importance of extra-curricular activities and how it plays an essential role in the Liberal Arts experience. "We at AUK pride ourselves, not only for providing quality education, but also for equipping our students with the essential skills that build well-rounded individuals capable of handling the future challenges. What we have seen today by the IRC club is a good example of how a good balance between education and activities can create individuals who have a foresight, a sense of responsibility, and a great deal of leadership," he said. "On this occasion, I would like to wish Kuwait's people and leadership a happy National and Liberation day," he concluded.

Sara Al Haddad, IRC Vice President, thanked everyone who contributed to the success of the event. "This is an event of great significance to youth because it provides awareness about Kuwait from different interesting angles and through a combination of intellectual and entertainment activities," she said.

The Liberation Village Exposium was sponsored by the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) (Platinum Sponsor), Asnan Clinic and Royal Pharmacies (Golden Sponsors), Elevation Burger (Silver Sponsor), and Nescafe (Bronze Sponsor). The event was featured in a 3-minute report on KTV2's English News Bulletin, and the IRC members were interviewed live on Good Morning Kuwait.

The International Relations Club (IRC) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) is a unique student organization that welcomes students from all majors. The IRC mission and many of its activities deal with global politics, and are directly linked to the International Relations academic program at AUK. The club works for the benefit of the students and supports their learning process by providing hands-on experience through the different club activities and initiatives.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 24th February 2015

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015

The American University of Kuwait (AUK) hosted the Small Enterprises, Future Ambitions Forum last week under the Patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. The event came as part of the Small Enterprises, Future Ambitions Forum's tour of Kuwait universities that aims to inform young Kuwaitis about the establishment of the National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises. During the AUK visit, Sheikh Mohamed Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, supported by government officials and local business leaders, spoke to AUK students about the important role small businesses will play in the future of Kuwait.

Addressing the students, Sheikh Mohamed explained that the purpose of the fund is to assist young entrepreneurs, both financially and technically, to establish their own businesses. He stated that KD 2 billion is currently available in the fund, and urged the young innovators to take advantage of this resource and create self-employment opportunities for themselves. Sheikh Mohamed also discussed the upcoming urban area in Subiya, Silk City, and the business opportunities it will provide for small and medium businesses upon its completion. On a final note, he reminded the attendees of their responsibility towards the economic development and prosperity of Kuwait and how participating in such initiatives will contribute to the countryâs growth.

Building on what Sheikh Mohamed said, MP Rakan Al-Nisf explained that the purpose of the initiative was to prepare the current generation for challenges they may face in finding employment in the future as result of the increase in the youth population of Kuwait. As the government is obligated to provide jobs for its citizens, it may encounter difficulties in catering to their professional needs due to projections that indicate that in 15 years, the government will be required to find jobs for approximately 74, 000 people, which may cause an economic burden to the country. The purpose of the fund is to provide opportunities for young entrepreneurs to create their own jobs and become self-employed.

Following the MP, Mr. Abdul Mohsen Al-Mutairi, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, explained that today's youth are privileged to be directly supported by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who is committed to providing them with financial and moral support. Al-Mutairi also addressed some of the challenges that young entrepreneurs confront when establishing their businesses, such as finding suitable locations, obtaining the necessary licenses, and exposure to false information. These challenges may hinder their creativity and ambition and direct them towards seeking employment in the government sector, where opportunities for growth are difficult to come by. He suggested creating an industrial zone for the youth where, with the appropriate guidance, they will be able to gain the relevant experiences they need to establish and manage their businesses.

Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Lughani, Vice Chairman of the National Fund for Small and Medium Businesses, added that many Kuwaiti companies and projects have established themselves as solid brands within the Arab world over the past few decades. Their examples are inspirational and their stories can motivate the youth to apply themselves and be proactive in shaping their futures.

Mr. Faisal Sarkhouh, Executive President for KAMCO, said that the fund will facilitate the process for the entrepreneurs to finance their projects, since finding financial backing is one of the major obstacles faced by young innovators. He advised the young entrepreneurs to commit themselves to their education and to work hard on developing their projects, urging them to take advantage of the concessions made by the government to the private sector, which were put in place to facilitate the successful development of ideas into small and medium enterprises.

Eng. Fares Al Enezi, Director of Planning at the Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP), explained that finding employment in the private sector is competitive nowadays, so the government is providing monthly salaries to Kuwaitis who are exploring the option of establishing their own ventures, and it promises to offer specialized training courses and programs, as well as marketing services, free-of-charge, to help start-up SMEs.

Finally, the President of AUK, Professor Dr. Nizar Hamzeh, addressed the attendees, who were comprised mostly of AUK students, and spoke of the benefits of a Liberal Arts education and how it can stimulate students' creativity and innovation, and teach them the necessary technical and leadership skills to enable them to transform their ideas into a reality.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 22nd February 2015

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015

The American University of Kuwait's (AUK) Karate Twins, Salman and Mohamed Al Mosawi, won silver medals at the Karate1 Premier League, a championship organized by the World Karate Federation, in Paris, in January 2015. The 19-year-old twins were there to represent Kuwait as part of its Karate National Team (KATA), and are currently practicing for their upcoming championships this year in multiple locations around the world.

The Karate 1 Premier League saw 888 athletes from 67 nations come together in what is known as one of the most challenging championships in Karate. "The level of this championship was very high because it's organized by the World Karate Federation. There are 8 Karate1 championships a year, and the strongest one is the one held lately in Paris, where many athletes participated and competed on ranks", said Mohamed of the championship.

Salman and Mohamed participate in several karate championships every year, which provides them with opportunities to hone their skills in the sport. In November 2014, the Karate Twins came in 7th place in the 22nd World Seniors Championship in Germany-Bremen, which Salman described as "the dream of each karate athlete". They are looking forward to competing in the 23rd World Karate Seniors Championship in 2016, which will be held in Lenz, Austria. In the meantime, they will participate in other international championships in preparation for the tournament in 2016. The Karate Twins look forward to fighting in two more competitions in 2015; one will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, and the other one will be the Asian Championship in Yokohama, Japan.

"With a lot of work, training, and support from our parents, our coach, family and friends we have reached now the grade of black belt, which is a prestigious position in ranking system by Japanese organization, and became professional karate players. We will never give up. Instead, we will follow our goal until we achieve it and make our country proud of us", Said Salman

The Karate Twins have been recognized for their combating skills throughout their careers. In 2011, at the World Championship in Malaysia, they were crowned as the World Champions, and were later selected by Al Ahli Club of Dubai to compete in the UAE karate league, where they won gold medals.

The Karate Twins expressed their gratitude to those who supported them in achieving their success. "We would like to thank the American University of Kuwait for their amazing support throughout all our championships. We would also like to especially thank the Intensive English Program's Ms. Sandy Stein, Ms. Marisa Tessier, and Mr. Don Prades for all their support," expressed Salman and Mohamed.

Images from the Event