American University of Sharjah (AUS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai International School (DIS) early this week, to provide a framework of cooperation and facilitate collaboration between the two educational institutions on a non-exclusive basis, in areas of mutual interest in the United Arab Emirates. The signing ceremony took place at the university.

The MoU, which was signed by Dr. Peter Heath, Chancellor of AUS and Salah Shararah, DIS Director, is part of Sharakah program, a new strategic initiative by the Office of Enrollment Management at AUS in collaboration with selected schools from across the United Arab Emirates which serves as an important tool to help the university engage with educational institutions at the local as well as national level.

"The Sharakah program is one of our major strategic initiatives and we hope that the schools will help us understand better the state of education in the UAE from their perspective," said Dr. Heath. "We also hope that this program will help us to follow the career paths of these students."

"AUS provides the kind of quality education that our students and their parents are interested in, that is why our statistics show that more of our students join AUS," said Shararah, on the occasion. "We are glad to formalize this agreement which will develop the interaction between us and we look forward to a successful partnership ahead. Our graduates will benefit a lot from this relationship and we will continue to encourage our graduates to apply to AUS," he added.

The agreement aims to enhance the role of AUS in providing the necessary tools for secondary students to prepare for the university journey as well as the right base approach to guarantee success.

According to the MoU, AUS will offer workshops to DIS teachers and students, offer patronage of selected research, cultural, social and sporting activities and events organized by the school, award partial scholarships to deserving students selected from lists provided by the school and offer university preparation seminars as well as recruitment of outstanding students from varied socio-cultural and economic backgrounds to AUS. The university will also offer TOEFL preparation courses for DIS students when needed.

"As part of this agreement, we have discussed with AUS deans to encourage their faculty to share their time with the schools in identifying talent and helping in other academic areas," said Ali Shuhaimy, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at AUS.

Also present at the signing ceremony were the deans of all four AUS colleges, two AUS students who are DIS alumni, other senior university officials, as well as other DIS officials.