Sharjah, Sunday, February 15, 2015

American University of Sharjah (AUS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Victoria International School, Sharjah, today, February 15, 2015, launching a new strategic partnership between the two institutions. A part of the Sharakah program, the partnership is a collaborative initiative between AUS and selected schools from across the United Arab Emirates, which aims to reach out to the community by creating a platform for mutually beneficial educational exchange programs.

Addressing Dean Pyrah, the principal of Victoria International School, AUS Chancellor Dr. Björn Kjerfve said, "Victoria International School is a feeder school for us, and some of your high-quality graduates will join us. We are delighted to have a relationship with you, and we hope to work on extending this relationship and scope of collaboration."

"We value this partnership with AUS, as many of our students have aspirations to go here," said Pyrah. "We see ourselves being a school of educational excellence in the region and we graciously thank you for inviting us into this partnership."

The Sharakah program is a strategic initiative by the Office of Enrollment Management at AUS to promote sustainable partnerships with area schools. The agreement includes AUS offering workshops to teachers and students of Victoria International School; patronage of selected research, cultural, social and sporting activities and events organized by the school; partial scholarships to distinguished students selected from lists provided by the school; and university preparation courses as well as SAT and TOEFL preparation courses to students from the partner school, as needed.

Also present at the signing ceremony were Kevin Mitchell, Interim Provost; Ali Shuhaimy, AUS Executive Director of Enrollment Management; AUS deans and other senior officials from AUS and Victoria International School.

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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 Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

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