AUS hosts first IISE student conference in the Gulf, drawing industrial engineers from across the UAE

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) College of Engineering hosted the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) Students Regional Conference under the theme “Beyond Efficiency: Shaping Tomorrow, Today,” giving more than 200 industrial engineering students from universities across the UAE a platform to explore real-world industrial and systems engineering applications, learn from industry leaders and discover future opportunities in the field.

Organized by the AUS Department of Industrial Engineering and the university’s IISE student chapter, the conference aligns with IISE’s role as a global professional society advancing the industrial and systems engineering profession through leadership in application, education, training, research and development. The event marked the first time the conference was hosted and organized in the UAE and the GCC.

“This conference reflected the kind of engineering experience AUS aims to provide, where students engage with real industry thinking and develop the skills that translate into impact,” said Dr. Fadi Aloul, Dean of the AUS College of Engineering. “The theme ‘Beyond Efficiency’ pushed the conversation further—focusing on how engineers create meaningful value by improving systems responsibly, communicating clearly and leading change in a world shaped by intelligence and rapid transformation.”

Speakers from industry and the public sector shared practical perspectives across the day’s sessions. Ahmad Mourad, Chief Information Officer, Transmed, delivered “Beyond the Hype: Building Meaningful Value in the Age of Intelligence,” followed by Musa Faisal, Senior Vice President Operations Research and Effectiveness, Emirates Airline, who presented “Applying Industrial Engineering for Process Excellence in Large-Scale Aviation Systems.” Qabas Shaer, Founder and Lead Consultant, Riforma Consulting, led “Storytelling for Industrial Engineers,” while Tarik Abdulaal, Global Supply Chain Head, IFFCO Group, reflected on “Professional Experience and Career Journey.” 

The agenda also included “Unlocking the future opportunities” by Rishikesh Trivedi, Founder and Market Acceleration Specialist, MarketMate; “The Fusion of Retail and Logistics” by Saeed Almokhtar, Chief Executive Officer, Konnect Logistics; “From Signals to Solutions: Strategic Foresight for Future-Ready Public Services” by Ahmad Jallad, Innovation and Organizational Excellence Expert, Dubai Municipality; and “Supply Chain Career in FMCGs” by Ayman Elrafie, Supply Chain Leader, Nestlé. The program also featured “A learning journey and career path: Public transport and mobility” by Batool Madani, Transportation and Logistics Researcher, UITP.

Two panels anchored the conference’s focus on career development and the discipline’s expanding relevance. Panel I, “From Campus to Career,” centered on early-career transitions and workplace readiness, while Panel II, “Why Industrial Engineering,” explored how industrial engineers contribute through systems thinking, optimization and practical problem solving across industries.

“Industrial engineering is ultimately about improving systems in ways that matter, and that requires more than technical ability,” said Dr. Abdulrahim Shamayleh, Head of the Department of Industrial Engineering at AUS and IISE AUS Chapter Academic Advisor. “By combining industry sessions and panels, the conference gave students a practical environment to test ideas, strengthen professional skills and see how industrial and systems engineering contributes across sectors and career paths.”

“Through this conference, we wanted to show that industrial engineering goes far beyond theory. It is about problem-solving, collaboration and real-world impact. Bringing together inspiring speakers, faculty, industry professionals and students created a space where classroom learning connected with real experiences, meaningful conversations emerged and students gained a clearer perspective on the diverse career paths and leadership opportunities within the field,” said Sabrina Attari, President of IISE AUS student Chapter.

The Department of Industrial Engineering at AUS offers an undergraduate program in industrial engineering as well as master’s and PhD programs in engineering systems management. These programs prepare students to design, implement and control data-driven solutions for complex systems, tackle unstructured problems and evaluate the impact of their solutions within the broader context of an organization or society.

To learn more about the department’s offerings, visit www.aus.edu/cen/department-of-industrial-engineering.