CNAM Visits AUS

Thirty students from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM), France, visited AUS along with Professor Gilles Perrenot and Mohamed Lachi from the civil engineering department. They met with Dr. Linda Angell and Lille de Guzman from IXO, and then proceeded for a quick campus tour before attending two engineering class lectures. 

Student group from CNAM at AUS

 

Great Publicity Recently

IXO received a lot of great news last month!

AUS was ranked as the most diverse student body in the world by Times Higher Education: https://tinyurl.com/k59juko

US News voted the UAE as the number one destination for study abroad: https://tinyurl.com/mhlh5hs

Sharjah was recognized as a top 100 student-friendly city by QS World Rankings: https://tinyurl.com/k549sbz

The UAE was shown to be the second safest country in the world by World Economic Forum: https://tinyurl.com/mo8ubxg

In response, Dr. Linda Angell contributed an AUS blog posting about why AUS is the best place to study abroad within the UAE: https://tinyurl.com/m7f6gaj

Jodi Hicks Visits IXO

Jodi Hicks, Assistant Director of Overseas Programs from Chapman University in California, visited IXO on March 15. She met with Administrative Assistant Lillie de Guzman and the IXO team during her visit. Chapman University is also a listed ISEP Exchange Partner university.

Left to Right: Jodi Hicks and Lillie de Guzman

NDSU Visits IXO

Tanya Kramer, Assistant Director of Study Abroad/International Student and Study Abroad Services, along with her colleague Matthew Dunham, brought 11 students from North Dakota State University (NDSU), USA, for a Friday visit to AUS last month. They were given a campus tour and engaged in conversation with our peer advisors at the IXO lounge.

We thank those in IXO who facilitated the tour and discussions, especially given that this visit took place during the weekend.

NDSU students with the IXO team

Dr. Hamade returns to IXO

Dr. Mona Hamade, a previous visiting scholar at AUS, returned recently to follow up on her research and discuss her forthcoming book, expected to be released shortly. She came to AUS from Cambridge University, UK, about three years ago to undertake her PhD research focused on Emirati women and entrepreneurship. She has since completed her PhD and has established organization Unity for Global Development in London (www.ugd.org.uk).

IXO congratulates Dr. Hamade on her achievements!

 Dr. Angell and Dr. Hamade at IXO

Dr. Russell Lucas, MSU at IXO

Dr. Russell Lucas, Director, Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities, Michigan State University (MSU) met with Dr. Linda C. Angell, Director of IXO, Dr. Jeniece Lusk, Department of International Studies, and Dr. Rana Raddawi, Department of English, about engaging in survey research. Earlier this year, Dr. Lucas brought to AUS a group of students who are enrolled in Global Studies and Muslim Studies programs at MSU and showed great interest in pursuing the graduate programs here at AUS.

Dr. Russell Lucas

 

Monash University Visits AUS

Delegates from Monash University in Australia visited AUS on February 2. The delegation included Dr. Abid Khan, Vice President and Deputy Vice Chancellor of International Engagement; Dr. Sarah Newton, Deputy Dean, External Relations; and Dr. Nizar Farjou, Associate President-ENACA; who met with AUS representatives Dr. Linda C. Angell, Director of IXO, and Kevin Mitchell, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs and Instruction, after a tour of our campus.

 

 Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

 

Marymount University

IXO was recently visited by 24 delegates from Marymount University in Arlington, VA, USA. This delegation was hosted by Abu Bakr AlAni, Resident Director of the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). The delegates toured the AUS campus and facilities. They also met with Suzy Sikorski, IXO’s Fulbright Scholar who studied abroad at AUS in Fall 2014. Sikorski gave a presentation about the Emirati art scene.

 Suzy Sikorski with delegates from Marymount University

Michigan State University

IXO was visited last month by delegates from Michigan State University (MSU). The delegates included: Dr. Tessa Dunseath, Executive Director, Michigan State University, Dubai; Dr. Russell Lucas, Faculty, Michigan State University, USA;     Dr. Camelia Suleiman, Faculty, Michigan State University, USA; and fourteen MSU students. These delegates toured the AUS campus and met with Dr. Linda Angell, Director of the Office of International Exchange Programs. Dr. Angell discussed general topics about the UAE and its culture. 

 MSU Delegates with Dr. Linda Angell

University of International Business and Economics

Delegates from the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in China visited AUS this summer. UIBE is interested in collaborating and partnering with AUS. They came for discussions about scientific research cooperation, communication and exchange of teachers and students in the form of academic conferences and other possible collaborations that meet mutual interests. 

Delegates from UIBE and AUS 

CIEE Amman

IXO recently hosted a visiting delegation from Amman, Jordan led by Abubakr Alani, Resident Director of the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). The group was primarily interested in touring our campus, and learning about the amenities we enjoy here. 

Delegates from CIEE Amman 

University of Texas, Austin

Dr. Caroline Faria, a delegate from the University of Texas, Austin, recently visited AUS. She was hosted by Dr. Mohammad Ibahrine, a fellow faculty member at the Department Mass Communications. Faria was interested in touring the campus and familiarizing herself with the academic studies in mass media. 

Dr. Caroline Faria, a delegate from UT Austin 

Recent Visitors

AUS was visited by representatives from Boston College and the University of Vermont (UVM), both located in the Northeast region of the USA. Boston College recently signed a bilateral exchange agreement with AUS, and UVM is a very popular destination for AUS students studying abroad through International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP). 

Dr. Linda Angell, IXO Director; Sabine Bruggemen, an intern at IXO; 

and Gayle R. Nunley, a delegate from the University of Vermont (Left to Right)

Grinnell College

IXO hosted a mixer between exchange students and Mervat Youssef, an Arabic professor from Grinnell College in Iowa, USA. Youssef and the students discussed why students from Grinnell College should study abroad at AUS, including our wonderful diversity, facilities on campus, and safety at AUS and in the UAE as a whole. 

Delegate from Grinnell College Dr. Mervat Youssef and Osama Mafraji, IXO Advisor (Left to Right) 

Suzy Returns

IXO Fall 2014 alumni Suzy Sikorski recently visited IXO. She returned to the UAE to participate in the Art Dubai Fair. 

IXO Advisor Osama Mafraji and Suzy Sikorski 

Recent Visitors

AUS was visited by representatives from the University of Colorado, Denver, and the ESC Rennes Business School. Both universities are interested in the possibility of hosting AUS students to study abroad at their university. 

Delegates from the University of Colorado, Denver 

Linda Angell and Joakim Sinniamourd, ESC Rennes 

Fulbright Scholarship

Jodi Sanger-Weaver, the Fulbright Scholarship Manager from AMIDEAST, UAE, and Reem Deeb, AUS Sustainability Administrator and prior Fulbright Scholar, conducted a presentation at AUS in mid April. The prestigious Fulbright Scholarship program in the UAE enables Emirati students to study abroad at US universities, typically for a year of more. 

Jodi Sanger-Weaver, AMIDEAST UAE, and Reem Deeb, AUS Sustainability (Left to Right) 

New Bilateral Partners

AUS has recently signed new exchange agreements, as follows:

• Boston College: specific to SBA and CAS majors
• University of Texas at Austin: specific to CEN majors

Apply now to study abroad at these universities! 

For more information, visit www.aus.edu/ixo.

North Dakota State University

IXO recently hosted another visiting delegation from North Dakota State University (NDSU). NDSU travels annually with a group of students to the Middle East, as a part of their spring break.This trip allowed students from NDSU to experience and explore AUS, and Sharjah, before studying abroad in the future.

North Dakota State University visits AUS

University of Strathclyde

AUS was recently visited by representatives from the University of Strathclyde, UK, who wanted to learn more about the engineering and architecture programs at AUS. They are also interested in the possibility of developing a partnership with AUS to engage in international student exchange and research collaborations.

University of Strathclyde visits AUS