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Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between BDO Middle East and the American University of Beirut

BDO Bahrain is pleased to announce the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the American University of Beirut ( AUB ). The MOU was signed by Mr. Jawad Habib Jawad, BDO Senior Partner and the Chairman of BDO Middle-East and Dr. Hassan Diab, AUB Vice President for Regional External Programs, at the AUB Campus in Beirut in late October, and was witnessed by a number of management members of both organizations. The signing comes as a strategic initiative that combines the strengths and experiences of both organizations in an effort to meet the foreseen regional market demand.

The MOU represents a significant milestone for BDO in which Mr. Jawad said "The signed MOU manifest a shared commitment towards the development of BDO advisory services in the region for their clients and strengthen their expertise in the healthcare, education and HRD advisory. It accords with BDO exciting vision to be the region's professional leader in these sectors and disciplines"

Mr. Jawad emphasized that the MOU is a results of the market dynamic, ongoing and increasing demand in the sectors of Education and Healthcare. "In fact, AUB is one of the first universities in the region; founded in 1866 and has been a leading University in developing many Middle Eastern Leaders. The AUB foot prints have been in the GCC region with many projects such Fahad Bin Sultan University in Saudi Arabia, Dofar University in Sultanate of Oman, Jeddah University for Medical and Allied Health Science, Mohammed Al Mana' College of Health Science in Saudi Arabia and many more. Therefore, this collaboration will enable our clients to access in-depth and highly specialized expertise and resources of the AUB ." Mr. Jawad added.

Dr. Hassan Diab said "with over 70 projects in 22 countries AUB is committed to serving the peoples of the Middle East and advancing the academic and professional position of the region. Regional External Programs (REP) provides world class professional services covering the entire scope of expertise available at the AUB while reflecting AUB core values and its commitment to service excellence. In addition AUB 's Continuing Education Center (CEC) offers the local community and the region a variety of standard and customized certificate programs which aims to enhance professional and technical skills while addressing the needs for personal development and cultural enrichment." Diab described the MOU as an "joint collaborative initiative to offer AUB 's technical assistance in the region by designing products that draw on the strengths of both organizations."

BDO Bahrain

BDO is a leading management consultancy firm in Bahrain, which originally commenced operations on 1^st January 1980. BDO is a Member Firm of BDO International , one of the world's largest professional services firms. BDO provides advisory, auditing, tax and consultancy services on a globally integrated basis with over 1,138 offices in more than 150 countries.

For over twenty years, BDO has dedicated itself to the service of their clients, and has built up an unrivalled knowledge of the legal and commercial environment in the Kingdome of Bahrain. BDO has established an enviable reputation as a leading force in the HR, Training and Advisory profession, responsive to its clients' needs by providing solid local and international expertise. For more information please contact Dr. Ehsan Ghurbal; Director of the HRD Advisory Services at ehsan.ghurbal@bdo.bh

The American University of Beirut ( AUB )

Founded in 1866, the American University of Beirut bases its educational philosophy, standards, and practices on the American liberal arts model of higher education. A teaching-centered research university, AUB has 717 instructional faculty and a student body of more than 7,800 students. The University encourages freedom of thought and expression and seeks to graduate men and women committed to creative and critical thinking, life-long learning, personal integrity, civic responsibility, and leadership.

The University, which was granted institutional accreditation in June 2004 by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in the United States, includes six faculties: Agricultural and Food Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Architecture, Health Sciences, Medicine (which includes the Rafic Hariri School of Nursing), and the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business.

AUB currently offers more than 100 programs leading to the bachelor's, master's, MD, and PhD degrees. The University became coeducational in 1922; its student body is 50 percent male and 50 percent female. The language of instruction is English (except for courses in the Arabic Department and other language courses).

BDO in Bahrain (www.bdo.bh) is one of the largest professional firms in Bahrain for auditing, management consulting, legal advisory services and intellectual property. As a member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, BDO in Bahrain forms part of the international BDO network of independent member firms.

BDO International (www.bdointernational.com) is a world wide network of public accounting firms, called BDO Member Firms. Each BDO Member Firm is an independent legal entity in its own country. The combined fee income of all the BDO Member Firms, including the members of their exclusive alliances, was $5.03 billion in 2009. The global network has more than 1,138 offices in 110 countries, and more than 46,000 partners and staff provide advisory services throughout the world.

BDO is the brand name for the BDO International network and for each of the BDO Member Firms.

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Hind Saif Buhnaidi
Head of Media Relations & Marketing
Bahrain
39156063
36571188
Hind.buhnaidi@bdo.bh

© Press Release 2010