AUS and Emarat announce strategic partnership to strengthen academia and industry collaboration in the UAE

Partnership establishes a framework for student projects, executive training and career opportunities with Emarat

American University of Sharjah (AUS) and Emirates Petroleum Company PJSC (Emarat) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that paves the way for wide-ranging collaboration between the two institutions. The agreement deepens ties between academia and industry by connecting AUS students and faculty with real-world projects, professional development opportunities, under the umbrella of executive education and emerging research themes relevant to Emarat’s operations and strategic priorities.

The MoU was signed during a ceremony held on November 24 at the AUS campus by Dr. Tod A. Laursen, Chancellor of AUS, and His Excellency Ali Khalifa Al Shamsi, CEO of Emarat, in the presence of senior officials from both institutions.

"This agreement reflects our approach to partnership as a driver of innovation and talent development. By engaging our students in projects that study and reimagine service stations, supporting their professional growth and investing in executive learning for Emarat teams, we are aligning academic strength with real sector needs in a way that serves both our students and the UAE," said Chancellor Laursen.

His Excellency Ali Khalifa Al Shamsi, CEO of Emarat, said: “I am pleased to establish this partnership with AUS, which brings together Emarat’s operational expertise and AUS’ academic strength to develop the next generation of talent for our country. By opening our network of service stations, and our customer-focused innovation agenda to AUS, we are turning real business challenges into learning and research opportunities that can shape the future of retail energy and mobility in the UAE. This collaboration will also support the continuous development of our own people through executive education, while creating meaningful internships, career pathways and community initiatives that reflect Emarat’s commitment to the nation’s youth and to the UAE’s long-term vision.”

The collaboration includes the development of a sponsored studio at the AUS College of Architecture, Art and Design in which students will study, explore and present concepts related to how future Emarat service stations might operate, serve communities and respond to changing customer expectations.

The MoU creates a framework for AUS and Emarat to explore further areas of collaboration. These include student-led marketing initiatives that could be showcased at Emarat service stations, tailored executive and professional development programs for Emarat staff, meaningful internship and employment pathways for AUS students and alumni, and Emarat’s potential participation in key AUS advancement events and initiatives.

As part of the agreement, Emarat will provide a complimentary upgrade to Gold tier status in the Emarat Emcan Loyalty Program for all AUS alumni, students, faculty and staff who sign up for, or are already members of, the program.

The MoU reflects AUS’ commitment to building purposeful partnerships with leading national institutions and Emarat’s focus on innovation, customer experience and community-oriented collaboration across its network of service stations. To learn more about AUS partnerships, visit www.aus.edu.