27 May 2015
Sharjah - True sustainable development can only be achieved when economic, social, environmental, religious and cultural objectives are aligned, said Dr. Rashid Al Leem, Chairman of the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA), during a lecture delivered at American University of Sharjah (AUS) today, May 27, 2015. .

"I am pleased to welcome you to this special event being held as part of the Chancellor's Distinguished Lecture Series, in cooperation with the AUS college of Engineering," said Dr. Bj?rn Kjerfve, Chancellor of AUS, in his opening remarks. The chancellor welcomed Dr. Al Leem, and said that the speaker was "widely considered a visionary and a thought leader in business, socioeconomic, academic and cultural endeavors."

Dr. Al Leem was the Director General of the Sharjah Department of Seaports and Customs as well as the Sharjah Free Zones Authorities and was the driving force in transforming them into strategic commercial hubs that have empowered thousands of businesses in the region.

During the lecture, entitled "Sustainability: Fiction or Fact," Dr. Al Leem said that development is sustainable only when the needs of the present do not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. He said that "sustainability" is one of the most misunderstood terms today as people only believe it to be a balance between economic and social aspects, while in reality sustainable development can only occur when economic, social, environmental, religious and cultural objectives are met.

Elaborating the concept further, he described the various objectives involved. He stated that the economic objective is about actions that affect how people and businesses meet their economic needs; the social aspect involves actions and conditions that affect all members of society; the environmental objective revolves around actions and conditions that affect the earth's ecology and climate; culture is about actions through which communities manifest their identity and cultivate traditions from generation to generation; and finally the religion/faith objective encompasses timeless participles, values and belief systems.

He urged the students present in the audience to imbibe knowledge but also to ensure that that knowledge is turned into action for the betterment of society. He also listed a number of principles which they could focus on to help them achieve this aim. Dr. Al Leem shared the work being done by the Alleem Foundation, which helps individuals and innovative organizations to improve social, economic and environmental living conditions worldwide thereby helping to improve the quality of life for hundreds of millions who have not yet seen the benefits of sustainable development.

Dr. Al Leem is the recipient of numerous national and international awards. Some of these include the Achievement Award given by the League of Arab States; a Gold Medal from the Mayor of Cannes for environmental efforts; an Excellence in Leadership Award from The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) in India; and being declared the 'Celebrity of the Year' by Khaleej Times. He has also been recognized as 'Maritime Personality for 2009' by Marine Biz TV and received the Middle East Business Leaders Award 2012 as a tribute to his acumen in training and human capital development. Dr. Al Leem has authored many books and articles in journals and magazines in both Arabic and English, including his recent book My Leadership Secrets.

The event was attended by a large audience that included senior AUS and SEWA officials, faculty members, students and members of the public.

-Ends-

About AUS
American University of Sharjah (AUS) was founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The university was envisaged by His Highness as a leading educational institution in the Gulf region. Located in University City, Sharjah, AUS is a not-for-profit, independent, institution of higher education formed on the American model.
 
It offers 26 majors and 52 minors at the undergraduate level, and 14 master's degrees through the College of Architecture, Art and Design; the College of Arts and Sciences; the College of Engineering; and the School of Business Administration. These programs are designed to meet the challenges of a competitive and dynamic business and industrial environment.
 
As a provider of quality higher education in the Gulf, AUS is licensed and its programs are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the United Arab Emirates. AUS is accredited in the United States of America by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
 
The bachelor of science degree programs in chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering offered by the College of Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (
www.abet.org). The bachelor of science degree program in computer science offered by the College of Engineering is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET (www.abet.org). The Bachelor of Architecture program of the College of Architecture, Art and Design is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) of the United States. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) as well as the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degrees offered by the School of Business Administration are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

For more information, please contact:
Miriam Kiwan, Director of Strategic Communications and Media, mkiwan@aus.edu

Nazzal Yousef, Director of Media Relations +971 6 515 2157, nyousuf@aus.edu

Press Release 2015