Middle East Career Development Conference at AUD

Dubai, December 18th, 2012. The American University in Dubai (AUD) co-hosted the Middle East Career Development Conference (MECDC) with Northeastern University on AUD Campus, attracting around 85 Career Counselors from Higher Education institutions across the Middle East and the GCC. This regional career development conference was designed to share best practices in career advising through improving networking with other professionals in the industry.

Ms. Stella Mandehou, Career Services Manager at AUD and MECDC Host and Co-chair, commented: "We are very proud to initiate this inaugural conference in the region and create a networking and professional development opportunity for career counselors and other career-advising professionals from academic institutions in the GCC and the Middle East. With career advising being an integral part of the education process, it has become a necessity to improve our knowledge and focus on providing comprehensive career services to our students."

The conference was launched with opening remarks from Dr. Jihad S. Nader, Provost/Chief Academic Officer at AUD. During the session, the attendees examined new programs as they shared their professional experiences while reflecting upon the current trends in career development. They also focused on developing improved career programs for their respective institutions and students.

During the forum, inspiring guest speakers talked about current topics in the career development field including "Inspiring the Right Choice, Helping Students Become Who They Were Born to Be" by Mr. Peter Sage, Serial Entrepreneur and International Best Selling Author; "How Selection Tools are used in the Real World" by Ms. Ehsan Fahmi, Consultant Analyst at Cubiks Limited; "LinkedIn Workshop - Train the Trainer" by Ms. Sabrina Woods, Associate Director Career Services at Northeastern University; "Competency-based Selection Process: What We Look For in  Searching For Future Leaders" by Mr. Abraham Togatorop, HR Director at Unilever Gulf & KSA; "The Power of Social Media: Online Communities & Building a Professional Brand" by Ms. Nancy Richmond, Social Media Instructor at Northeastern University and President of VirtualCareerAdvice.com ; "Innovative Ways to Build Relationships with Employers" by Ms. Maggie Shea, Associate Director Employer Relations at Northeastern University; and "Psychometrics and Career Counseling"  by Ms. Sharan Gohel, Director of Consulting at Innovative HR Solutions.

The AUD Career Services team, headed by Ms. Mandehou, is committed to assisting students and alumni in seeking rewarding and meaningful careers through developmental career counseling, hosting networking driven events, and facilitating career planning workshops. Commenting on the event, Mrs. Rachel Baldwin, Dean of Student Services at AUD, expressed: "I am amazed and extremely proud of Stella Mandehou and the Career Services team for creating, organizing, and implementing the MECDC. This is an incredible networking and professional development opportunity for career counselors from the region, as well as AUD. This event was a great success and will garner more support and participation for years to come."

About Northeastern University
Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a comprehensive, global research university. Based in Boston, with two graduate campuses in Seattle and Charlotte, the university offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and more than 165 graduate programs, ranging from professional master's degrees to interdisciplinary PhD programs. Northeastern's research enterprise is aligned with three national imperatives: health, security and sustainability. Northeastern students participate in co-op and other forms of experiential learning in 92 countries on all seven continents.

About AUD:
The American University in Dubai (AUD) is a private, non-sectarian institution of higher learning founded in 1995. It serves UAE nationals and international students who seek world-class career-oriented education. AUD, as an international institution of higher education, encourages global understanding by providing an atmosphere of cultural diversity and opportunities for an international education.

• AUD is officially licensed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates. The Ministry has accredited the university's programs in International Studies, Business Administration (both undergraduate and graduate), Communication and Information Studies, Engineering, Computer and Information Technology, Computer Science, Architecture, Visual Communication and Interior Design, Education (graduate), and Construction Management (graduate), in addition to a Certificate program in Middle Eastern Studies.

• AUD is accredited by the Commission on Colleges (COC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award Bachelor's and Master's degrees.   

• AUD is approved to operate by the State of Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC).

• AUD has received specialized accreditation for its Bachelor's of Business Administration (B.B.A.), and Master's of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree programs in business through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). The university's undergraduate concentrations in Marketing Communications and Advertising (Creative) have been accredited by the International Advertising Association (IAA) in New York.

• The Civil, Computer, and Electrical Engineering Programs of AUD's School of Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Technology (B.S.C.I.T.) program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.

For more information, please visit www.aud.edu

For further information & media queries, please contact:
Marketing Communications Department
American University in Dubai
Ms. Samira Elghoul
T. +971 4 3183 108
E. selghoul@aud.edu

© Press Release 2012