Dubai, September 28, 2011. The School of Engineering at the American University in Dubai (AUD) welcomed, recently, Mr. Houlin Zhao, Deputy Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Mr. Zhao visited the School of Engineering to congratulate AUD for being the first academic institution in the UAE to join ITU.

Mr. Zhao, accompanied by Mr. Bilel Jamoussi, ITU Chief, Study Groups Department and Mr. Nasser Bin Hammad, Senior Manager, International Affairs, UAE Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) was welcomed by Ms. Peggy Awad, AUD's External Relations Manager.

ITU is a United Nations specialized agency covering the fields of information and communication technologies. It is responsible for assigning global radio spectra and satellite orbits, developing international electronics, telecommunication and information exchange standards to ensure interoperability among different countries and agencies, and assisting underserved communities in gaining access to technology.

The meeting was also an occasion to discuss prospects for further involvement by the AUD faculty in the ITU's telecommunication standardization sector and TRA activities. TRA encouraged and supported the cooperation between AUD and ITU to promote, develop, and advance the information technology and telecommunication industry in the region.

Commenting on the meeting, Dr. Wael Bazzi, Assistant Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering and AUD's focal point with ITU said: "membership of the ITU gives AUD a unique opportunity to contribute to a wide range of issues in the telecommunications and information technology sector. Both AUD faculty and students will have access to the various meetings and events organized by ITU and engage in discussions with ITU decision makers and other ITU sector members from around the globe."                        

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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 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 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:
Ms. Rim Ibrahim
Marketing Communications Coordinator
American University in Dubai
T. +971 4 3183 139
E. ribrahim@aud.edu

© Press Release 2011