The field of mathematics was celebrated at American University of Sharjah (AUS) late last week, with over 100 top local high school students and teachers convening to participate in a special MathFest. The event emphasizes the importance AUS places on encouraging students to become critical thinkers and problem solvers.

Organized by the AUS Office of Enrollment Management in collaboration with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, the day-long event comprised individual and team competitions for students as well as a team competition for high school math teachers. MathFest included a 75-minute test that consisted of multiple choice and written questions that each participating student solved individually. The test covered standard math topics from the schools' curricula of up to grade 11, including logic, analytic and plane geometry, and basic algebra.

Dr. Mahmoud Anabtawi, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), welcomed the students and teachers and said that MathFest was an acknowledgement of their abilities in mathematics. "It is a pleasure for us to welcome Sharakah Schools to the annual MathFest for the fourth time. The math department at AUS is one of the best departments in the region in terms of the quality of faculty and education we provide for students."

"Our mission is to inspire and promote mathematics in this part of the world, and we would like to produce critical thinkers and people who can solve complex problems as well as to engage with the community," added Dr. Anabtawi.

Ali Shuhaimy, Executive Director of Enrollment Management at AUS, also welcomed the students to the event. "We are always happy to have students coming from different parts of the country. Our objective is to make sure we give you the opportunity as students as well as teachers to really understand what it means to be in a university," he said.

Dr. Abdul Salam Jarrah, Professor of Mathematics and Statistics and Chair of MathFest, said the event was a great initiative to engage with the local community. "This program engages different schools throughout the country as an outreach activity and brings many talented students and teachers here every year," he said.

Participating schools in the MathFest included Madar International School-Al Ain, Al Ma'arifa International School-Sharjah, Sharjah American International School-Sharjah, Sharjah American International School-Dubai, Alshola Private School-Sharjah, Al Mawakeb School-Dubai, Al Nahda National School-Abu Dhabi, and International Community School-Abu Dhabi.

The students with the highest grade were Mahdi Ali and Youssef Mahrous, Al Nahda National School-Abu Dhabi; and Zhanru Wang, Sharjah American International School-Dubai. Second place winners were Nawar Farid, Al Nahda National School-Abu Dhabi; Begad Bilal, International Community School-Abu Dhabi; and Nada Naser, Sharjah American International School-Dubai. Third place winners were Zahraa Layth, Al Ma'arifa School-Sharjah; and Hossam Sayed, Al Nahda National School-Abu Dhabi. The winners of the teachers' competition were Mazen Jaber and Hanlie Viljoen from Madar International School-Al Ain.

The event was held as part of the Sharakah program under which AUS has signed Memorandums of Understanding with 12 secondary schools in the UAE whereby the university will offer workshops to teachers and students; offer patronage of selected research, cultural, social and sporting activities and events organized by the Sharakah partner school; award partial scholarships to deserving students selected from lists provided by the schools; and offer university preparation courses, including SAT and TOEFL preparation courses, as well as recruitment of outstanding students from varied sociocultural and economic backgrounds to AUS.