Two hundred first-year students who will begin their academic journey at American University of Sharjah (AUS) this semester attended a welcome session held at the university yesterday, Saturday, January 18. The event kicks off orientation week and was aimed at giving the incoming students a comprehensive understanding of the university to acclimate them to life at AUS. The students, who comprise the top 20 percent of their high school classes, will begin attending classes when the spring semester begins on January 26.

Pleased at starting her university journey at AUS, Sidra Ahmad, a first-year student, explained what attracted her to the university:

“I was delighted when I heard that AUS was going to offer psychology as an undergraduate program and that it would be during the same year that I would start university. My family and I visited the campus and spoke to the faculty members and found them to be highly qualified and experienced in their field. We were really impressed and after meeting them, I felt even more comfortable in having chosen this major.

“AUS has such a multicultural campus. I am really looking forward to my time here and to the many academic and extracurricular opportunities the university provides,” she added.

As part of its mandate, AUS provides the incoming students with a challenging and stimulating environment along with financial support in the form of grants and scholarships to help them through their academic journey.

The university organizes a week-long schedule of on- and off-campus activities and events for the new students which includes Sharjah and Dubai city tours, games at the Student Center, a dinner reception and library tour, and awareness sessions for parents and students.

During the Welcome Session, AUS Chancellor Professor Kevin Mitchell, welcomed the new students to the university and wished them success on their academic journey. He said:

“The incoming Spring 2020 class has a very strong academic profile and we have great expectations for the contributions that you will make to the university through engagement with academic life and the many extra- and co-curricular opportunities that will be available to you.”

Chancellor Mitchell also addressed the families of incoming students:

“I extend a special welcome to the families of new students. We realize that higher education is a significant investment, and we appreciate your confidence in the value of an AUS education.”

In his remarks, Dr. Juan Sanchez, Provost and Chief Academic Officer of AUS, spoke to the incoming students about what they could expect during their time at AUS: 

“You will encounter new methods of teaching, experience an environment in which your independent and analytical thinking is highly valued, there will be increased demands on your communication skills and, in addition to all of that, you will have to responsibly manage a number of competing demands on your time.”

He also encouraged students to take advantage of all the resources the university has to offer to achieve their personal and professional goals and aspirations.

Conducting the Welcome Session, Ali Shuhaimy, Executive Director for Enrollment Management, congratulated the students on beginning the next phase of their academic career. Addressing the parents, he said:

“I want to assure you that you have made the right choice. AUS is not just another university. We are an institution that prides itself in being recognized as a leading university in the region. Our commitment to the success of our students is evidenced by their achieved stature in the community. Our graduates enjoy the advantage of being in the forefront of employers’ selection. Moreover, their demonstrated competencies at the workplace resonates well with the remarkable ranking position AUS achieved in a short period of time.”

The university has been ranked among the top 10 universities in the Arab world for the past five consecutive years by QS World Rankings and is known throughout the region for its multicultural campus environment, with approximately 90 nationalities comprising its student body. This semester, the university welcomed 35 international exchange students, from dozens of universities across the United States of America, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Italy, Jamaica and Cote d’Ivoire.

The orientation weeks ends January 23.