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Sultan gives preliminary approval to two doctoral programs at AUS
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), expressed his satisfaction at the progress of the university and granted preliminary approval for the university to commence work on two doctoral programs as part of its ambitious plans to become a leading research institution in the region. His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan delivered these remarks during the university's Board of Trustees meeting held yesterday, March 9, in Panama.
As Chairman of the AUS Board of Trustees, the Sharjah Ruler reviewed and approved plans and fiscal parameters related to the 2015-2016 budget, chief among them the preliminary sanctioning of two proposals for PhD offerings in business administration and engineering, which would be the first PhD programs offered by AUS, and a master's degree in finance. The Sharjah Ruler said that the addition of new graduate programs would be in synch with the direction and course envisaged for the university since its inception with more emphasis on research. He added that AUS was committed to upholding standards of excellence at every level of education that it provided.
The board also discussed and approved a number of issues pertaining to the smooth functioning of the university, including property development; the Research, Technology and Innovation Park; and safety and security on campus.
Dr. Björn Kjerfve, Chancellor of AUS, thanked the Ruler of Sharjah for his continued great support of AUS and further expressed his commitment to leading AUS into its next phase. "By enriching the academic offerings to include new specialties and doctoral programs, we envisage encouraging research that will contribute to the UAE and the regional economic development," said Dr. Kjerfve. "With Sheikh Dr. Sultan's wisdom and support and the insight of a world-class board of trustees, AUS could well be on its way to becoming a leading research institution in the MENA region and beyond," he added.
Members also observed a minute of silence in memory of Dr. Richard Gassan, a faculty member from the College of Arts and Sciences, and John Swanstrom, a faculty member from the College of Architecture, Art and Design, who passed away last week.
The meeting was also attended by a number of other board members, including Khalid Al-Falih, President and Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), KSA; Joseph L. Brand, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs LLP, USA; Professor Lord Alec Broers, Member of the British House of Lords, UK; Charles Cotton, Director of Cambridge Enterprise, UK; Professor Dame Sandra Dawson, DBE, KPMG Professor Emeritus of Management Studies, University of Cambridge, UK; Hamid D. Jafar, Chairman and CEO, Crescent Petroleum Company, UAE; Dr. Cornelius Kerwin, President, American University, USA; Dr. Dale T. Knobel, President Emeritus, Denison University, USA; Varouj Nerguizian, Executive Director and General Manager, Bank of Sharjah, UAE; Dr. S. Georgia Nugent, Former President, Kenyon College, USA; Baroness Onora O'Neill of Bengarve, CBE PBA FMedSci, Member of the British House of Lords, UK; Dr. Andrew Clennel Palmer, Professor in Civil Engineering, National University of Singapore, and Managing Director, Bold Island Engineering, Singapore; Riad T. Sadek, Chairman, Al Habtoor Leighton Group, UAE; Maroun Semaan, Chair, Alcazar Capital Limited, UAE; and Dr. Anthony George Coates, Director, Museum of Biodiversity, Bridge of Life, Republic of Panama, and Senior Scientist Emeritus, Smithsonian Institution, USA, who arranged for the board meeting to take place in Panama.