Sharjah, Wednesday, May 16, 2012

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), expressed satisfaction at the university hosting the Arab International Women's Forum (AIWF) Annual Conference this year. His Highness made this statement after the opening ceremony of the AIWF conference held at the university's Main Auditorium today, May 16.

"I am very happy that this conference is taking place in the emirate of Sharjah; an emirate that is distinguished by its constant efforts in the betterment of institutions pertaining to the family," said the Sharjah Ruler. His Highness said that over the last 25 years, Sharjah has constantly worked at enhancing and developing institutions dedicated to future generations. He also thanked Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani, Chairman of the AIWF, and the conference organizers, for their efforts and wished them success.

Themed "Emerging Economies, Emerging Leaderships: Arab Women and Youth as Drivers of Change," the two-day conference brings together Arab and international global leaders to AUS, renowned as one of the leading centers of academic excellence in the Arab world.

During the conference, eminent guest speakers and high profile participants will examine the role of women and youth as drivers of change in emerging economies. In addition to exploring strategies to implement policy recommendations already identified at AIWF's 10th anniversary conference held in London in May last year, the conference will identify enablers for job creation in the region and other emerging economies around the world, taking the unique opportunities presented within the region to help shape future Arab policy, reinforcing the message that gender equality is absolutely vital to sustainable development in the future Arab world.

AUS Chancellor Dr. Peter Heath said in his opening remarks: "I wish to thank the AIWF for the opportunity to work together to find ways to include women and young workers more fully into the private sector as the way forward. AIWF's networking of women entrepreneurs for our national development is more than timely. Many deem it a necessary step." He said that promoting women's entrepreneurship seeds broader and deeper economic progress. "There isn't any way we can increase prosperity and stability throughout the region unless women are full partners in the community, the country, the region and in the world economy," he added.

The opening session was also addressed by Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani, Chairman, AIWF, and Noura Al Noman, Director General of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qassimi's Executive Office. "If we are to achieve gender equality in the region, the Arab community must embrace a sustainable development policy and strategy with a rights-based focus on the Arab world's most precious resource - its people, and especially its women and youth," said Al Kaylani.

In her presentation, Al Noman spoke of the different initiatives and organizations led by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, the wife of the Ruler of Sharjah. "The common denominator between all of these organizations which employ more than 2,000 staff to serve the emirate of Sharjah and beyond isn't only the great role they play in developing society; but also the fact that they are all led by women leaders from Sharjah," said Al Noman. "His Highness' conviction that the education of women should be reinforced by entrusting them with the running and operation of leading organizations is most visible in Sharjah and in Her Highness' organizations," she said.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs, said,

"It is my firm belief that our deliberations during the forum's next two days will conclusively demonstrate just how solid the pioneering foundations of Sheikh Dr. Sultan, empowering women and the youthful professionals have proven in building a new Arab Renaissance and this is only normal for such an enlightened Ruler and a well-read scholar and author in his own right."

The conference also included a number of prominent speakers from a diverse field that comprised both the public and the private sectors.

Since its inception, AUS has played a formidable role in providing a forum to highlight and discuss important issues pertaining to gender studies. This significant event crowns the university as a regional hub for women's studies. The university regularly hosts national and international symposia that focus on issues related to academic studies on women's empowerment and growth. It also played a pioneering role in the creation of the UAE Gender and Women's Studies Consortium, the last meeting of which drew renowned scholars from 70 universities across the world to AUS.

Known for its academic excellence and multicultural campus life, one of the core aims of AUS has been the active promotion of women's rights. More than just offering its students a minor in women's studies, AUS faculty members manifest the values of women's empowerment the university encourages among its students," Well known for their active organization of forums on feminism and women's leadership and their robust academic research, AUS faculty continue to author and edit books, monograms and research papers, and have carved a distinct niche for themselves in the field.

Such encouragement has resulted in many of the university's women students and alumnae setting standards of excellence in numerous fields, both at home and abroad. From winning laurels for their innovative industrial designs to being lauded at international film festivals for their poignant and sensitive portrayal of local women's issues, AUS students have been celebrated for their work. Recently, eight women students and alumnae of our College of Architecture, Art and Design were selected to participate in the prestigious SaloneSatellite exhibition held in Milan, Italy. AUS was the first and only design school from the Middle East selected to participate at the event. The university's faculty, students and alumnae are committed to becoming the harbinger of positive change for the empowerment of women not just within the UAE but in the region and beyond.

The AIWF Conference being held at the university examines enablers for job creation in the region and other emerging economies around the world. It will also advance the call for new levels of competency and competitiveness which will contribute to new societal frameworks to empower Arab citizens and shape future Arab policy.

A range of prominent guest speakers will speak at the event, from various countries representing portent international private and public sectors.

The conference seeks to identify and promote factors that have the potential to create real opportunities for women and youth in the Arab world to better their futures, reinforcing the message that gender equality is essential to sustainable development in the future Arab world. Plenary sessions today include "Women's Contribution to Public Life," "Empowering SMEs: Economic Development and the New Arab World," and "Linking Education & Stable, Sustainable Socio-Economic Development."

Plenary sessions tomorrow will cover "Innovators and Entrepreneurs in Emerging Economies: Reaching a New Level of Entrepreneurial Excellence;" "Developing Youth: The Role of Governments and the Private Sector;" "Hidden Potential: New Perspectives on the Role of Women and Youth;" and "How Are Students and Young Entrepreneurs Leveraging Technology and Social Media to Promote a Sustainable Future?"

The conference, organized by the AUS Office of Development and Alumni Affairs (ODAA) and the Arab International Women's Forum (AIWF) in collaboration with the World Bank and MENA OECD Business Council, will continue until tomorrow, May 17.

The conference coincided with the inauguration by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah of an art exhibition.

After the opening ceremony, His Highness also inspected the AUS Student Council elections for the academic year 2012-2013, which were taking place at the Student Center. Encouraged by Sheikh Dr. Sultan himself, the elections give students an opportunity to vote for leaders of their choice who will voice their needs and work directly with the university administration. He toured the elections area and was briefed on how the electronic election is taking place; he then asked to see the actual process and inspected students conducting the elections.

Last year, more than 1,700 students cast their votes for the 30 students who filed their candidacies to fill in the 13 available posts. Prior to the elections, the candidates conducted intensive campaigns around campus to win the support of their fellow students.

"Since the Student Council office was moved to a more accessible location in the Student Center's ground floor, more students have become involved with the Student Council. Last year, 36 percent of the undergraduate student body turned up to vote as compared to 24 the year before. This trend is a good indication of our students' growing interest to discuss and effectively address their concerns about campus life at AUS," said Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

Students who aspire to be elected as members of the AUS Student Council Board are required to lead an active campus life as well as have good academic and social standing. Experience of serving on the executive boards of clubs and active participation in extracurricular events and activities is also essential.

The Student Council aims to initiate programs and projects that cater to the demands of the student body as well as promote leadership and teamwork. The Student Council election was organized by the Student Activities Office of the AUS Office of Student Affairs.

The opening was attended by numerous government officials, international delegates, senior AUS officials including Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, Provost; Salem Al Qaseer, Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs; Dr. Olin Cleve McDaniel, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration; faculty and staff members, as well as members of the public and the national media. (... please use WAM's official name list of attendees ...)

-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 25 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 and Management. 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 also accredited in the United States of America by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA, Tel +1 215 662 5606) and by the Department of Education of the State of Delaware. All six of the bachelor degree programs in the AUS College of Engineering are accredited by ABET, http://www.abet.org. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration as well as the Master of Business Administration and Executive Master of Business Administration degrees offered by the School of Business and Management are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), www.aacsb.edu. 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, www.naab.org.

For more information, please contact:
Miriam Kiwan
Director of Strategic Communications and Media
+971 6 515 1040
mkiwan@aus.edu

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

© Press Release 2012