Dr. Fadi Ahmed Aloul, Professor of Computer Engineering at American University of Sharjah (AUS), has been shortlisted as one of the three nominees of the 2015 Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC) Airbus Diversity Award. This is the first time for someone from the Middle East to be shortlisted for the award.

Airbus Group, a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services, in partnership with GEDC, a leading global organization whose members are individuals responsible for setting the agenda for higher education in engineering in their countries and universities, instituted the Diversity Awards in 2012 to recognize the grassroots initiatives and the people behind them that enable students from all backgrounds and profiles to study and succeed in the field of engineering-both as students and when they join the workforce.

This year, out of a total of 29 candidates from 13 countries who participated, the award organizers shortlisted Dr. Aloul, UAE national, along with one from a university in the United States, and another one from a university in Germany.

"The three finalists have been recognized for their ability to channel their passion for engineering into real, measurable change through initiatives that have the potential to be replicated elsewhere. On November 30, 2015, they will have the opportunity to present their ideas to a jury led by Charles Champion, Airbus' Executive Vice President, Engineering at the annual GEDC conference in Adelaide, Australia," read a statement from Airbus.

"We are pleased that Dr. Fadi Aloul has been shortlisted for this year's GEDC Airbus Diversity Award. This is a testament of the high quality of education that American University of Sharjah and our College of Engineering specifically offers," said Dr. Leland Thomas Blank, Dean of the AUS College of Engineering. "This nomination is also evidence that AUS is not only a leading university in the region, but also that the quality of education AUS offers can be highly competitive in the global arena."

According to Dr. Aloul, "This is the first time for someone from the Middle East to be shortlisted among the top three finalists. The competition reflects the need for diversity in the workforce, as it is the key driver of success, innovation and creativity and is imperative for the survival and growth for companies. One of the reasons behind the UAE's innovation and success is the ability for the 200+ nationalities living in the UAE to happily and successfully co-exist. At AUS, we train students from day one to learn about diversity, work in multidisciplinary teams, and appreciate the importance and the need for diversity."

Dr. Aloul, who is also the Director of the HP Institute at AUS, the only HP Institute in the Middle East, received his PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. A Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), his research interests include cyber security, mobile applications, and design automation. cyber security, design automation and optimization. His previous honors include the His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Award for Higher Education for excellence in teaching, research, and service; the Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Young Arab Researchers in the Mathematics and Information Technology category; and the Sheikh Rashid's Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement in 2014 and AUS excellence in teaching award.