American University of Sharjah (AUS) successfully held the AUS Entrepreneurship Day 2014 in collaboration with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on December 15, 2014. The day-long event aimed to serve as a mentorship forum between professionals from academia and community leaders and connected them with AUS graduating students and alumni. It also offered hands-on learning and professional development opportunities with executives, who enhanced the education of the young future leaders in attendance, and helped prepare them for roles as actively engaged entrepreneurs.

The forum was attended by SCCI Chairman His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais and AUS Chancellor Dr. Björn Kjerfve. In his introductory address, His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais emphasized that Entrepreneurship Day showed the need to extend and strengthen bridges of cooperation and communication between academic institutions and businesses in order to promote the successful growth of society in various sectors.

"AUS Entrepreneurship Day aims to invest in human potential, energy, scientific thought and civilization founded on innovation and creativity in building a sophisticated knowledge-based economy. It improves our ability to meet challenges and keep up with developmental changes, both regionally and internationally, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals of the Emirate of Sharjah as a successful model on the way to a bright and prosperous future for the United Arab Emirates," said His Excellency.

Chancellor Kjerfve said that the forum was a powerful platform to display examples of practical experiences and success stories from the business sector. "As a university, we are proud not only of the high quality of our educational offerings, but also of the values we inculcate in our student body, including the importance of hard work, integrity, leadership, setting high targets for yourself, and making a difference in the community you are in. In other words, AUS is aiming for nothing less than to produce the Gulf's next generation of entrepreneurs," he stated.

Chancellor Kjerfve also thanked the platinum sponsors of the event: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), Bee'ah, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), Gulftainer, Habtoor Leighton Group, Jetex Flight Support, Kanoo Group, Petrofac, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club. Support for the event was also received from ADMA, Ahmed Seddiqi and Sons, Air Arabia, Al Buhaira Insurance, ALSTOM, Al Habtoor Motors, Al Maskari Holding, American Business Council, AXA Insurance, Bank of Sharjah, Chalhoub Group, CMC, CPC, Darwish Engineering, DOW Chemicals, EMB Creative, Invest Group Overseas, Kalimati, MAF, MAG, Magnet Mediam NEB, Pepsico, Shell, Technip, Terrazzo and Viablue.

The event included two keynote panel discussions. The first highlighted both the challenges and opportunities in the UAE entrepreneurial scene. Dr. Robert Grosse, Dean of the School of Business Administration, chaired the panel, while the second keynote panel, entitled "Entrepreneurship and Investment Prospects in the UAE," was chaired by Hussain Mohammed Al Mahmoudi, Director General the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).