American University of Sharjah (AUS) and Ajman Private School (APS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today, November 22, marking a partnership between the two entities. The agreement states that AUS will provide Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) preparation courses from 2011 to 2013 to APS students, grades 10-12, to help them prepare for college.

The partnership comes after the AUS Achievement Academy Outreach Program held a successful preparation course for the iBT in Spring 2011 for 18 female students from Ajman Private School. The seven-week course provided students with tips and strategies to help them achieve their target TOEFL score.

Based on the positive feedback received from the students' evaluation of the course, AUS was invited by the school's administrators to provide TOEFL preparation classes for 500 students in grades 10-12.

The MOU was signed by Dr. Peter Heath, Chancellor of AUS, and Saeed Noori Al Tarifi, on behalf of Nemah Abu Samra, Head of APS.

Speaking on the occasion, Chancellor Heath said, "Partnerships such as these enhance the role of AUS in providing the necessary tools for secondary students to prepare for university. We hope this partnership with APS sets a successful benchmark for future collaborations with schools in the UAE."

"We are very pleased to be associated with AUS and look forward to our students benefitting from the university preparation courses that will be offered to them," said Al Tarifi.

The MoU allows for current and future collaborations between Ajman Private School and AUS. This involves helping the school move from its existent British English curriculum to an American-based model, and also includes AUS providing training for English teachers at the school.

The ceremony was also attended by Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, Provost, along with other senior officials from AUS and Ajman Private School.