American University of Sharjah (AUS) is among four quality universities in the region selected by the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education to help implement its AED 4 billion educational program. The Foundation is one of the largest privately funded philanthropic education initiatives in the world.

Dr. Bjorn Kjerfve, Chancellor of AUS, represented the university at a signing ceremony held recently in Dubai to announce the launch of the program in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Three scholarship programs were announced at the event, each designed to support underprivileged Arab students. The Al Ghurair Young Thinkers Program aims to sponsor college-ready Emirati students, providing teaching in English, math, science, and innovation. The STEM Scholars Program will offer undergraduate and graduate scholarships to high-achieving Arab students to enroll in top universities to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Open Learning Scholars Program will provide access to high-quality education through online learning degrees and programs offered by some of the best universities in the United States.

In February, His Excellency Abdulaziz Al Ghurair, Chairman; Maysa Jalbout, CEO; and the leadership team of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation, for Education visited AUS as part of fact-finding visits to some of the leading universities in the Arab region. During the visit, they met with Chancellor Kjerfve as well as other senior university leaders, a group of students, and toured the campus facilities. AUS will benefit from the receipt of 38 scholarships for each of the next 3 years.

The other three universities selected from the region include: the American University of Beirut (AUB), the American University in Cairo (AUC), and Khalifa University. The special MoU was also signed by chancellors/presidents and provosts of the other three institutions.