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AUD Student awarded ExxonMobil MENA Scholarship

Dubai, March 28, 2011. American University in Dubai ( AUD ) student Mouin Al Masoodi is one of eight students to be awarded the 2011 ExxonMobil MENA Scholarship. Mr. Masoodi , a senior student in civil engineering and former president of Al-Qalam, the Arabic Literature Club at AUD , was selected after a rigorous application screening and interview process among a total of 300 students applying for the scholarship from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The ExxonMobil MENA Scholars Program is a highly competitive scholarship program, funded by ExxonMobil Corporation , with the goal of developing regional skills in the area of geoscience. The program is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE), an international organization that also manages the Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

The program enables selected student leaders from the Middle East and North Africa to continue their studies toward a Master's degree in geoscience at a top US university. In addition to placement in one of several leading US universities, ExxonMobil Scholars receive a fully funded scholarship covering tuition, housing, stipends, insurance, textbooks, computer expenses, transportation to the US, visa fees, and academic support. Scholars attend an intensive orientation program and an annual conference, and are given an opportunity to complete summer internships with ExxonMobil .

This year, some 300 MENA applications were evaluated by a panel of international education experts and faculty. Among this pool, a total of 21 students were shortlisted on the basis of technical merit. "I was excited to receive news that I was shortlisted," said Masoodi. "I then attended a three-day short-course in Abu Dhabi on 25-27 February to develop skills related to the program and participate in numerous teamwork activities. Before making their final decisions, the selection panel evaluated our prospects for success in graduate school, as well as the alignment of our career goals with the program mission," he added. Mr. Masoodi already signed the contract for the scholarship and hopes to join either the Colorado School of Mines or the University of Texas at Austin to pursue his Master's degree in Geophysics.

Masoodi, who is slated to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from AUD at the end of April 2011, noted the constant support and encouragement by his professors at AUD . Commenting on Masoodi's selection as an ExxonMobil Scholar, Dr. Elias Saqan, Chair of the Civil Engineering Department at AUD , said: "the faculty members in our Department are very proud of Mouin's achievement. Given his academic track record, excellent work ethic, and teamwork abilities, I have no doubt he will shine through his graduate studies."

Dr. Alaa Ashmawy, Dean of the School of Engineering stressed on the relevance of AUD 's holistic approach to education in forging student success. "Mouin's selection for this award highlights the importance of both general education and technical academic rigor in the academic preparation of our students," said Ashmawy. He also noted the fact that the Civil Engineering program is one of several programs at AUD that have been accredited for a number of years by both the US-based ABET and the Commission on Academic Accreditation of the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

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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 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 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 Architecture, Business Administration (both undergraduate and graduate), Communication and Information Studies, Engineering, Information Technology, Visual Communication and Interior Design, in addition to a Certificate in Middle Eastern Studies program.

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 more information, please contact
Rim O. Ibrahim
Marketing Communications Coordinator
The American University in Dubai
T. + 971 4 318 3139
F. + 971 4 399 8899
E. ribrahim@aud.edu

© Press Release 2011