Sharjah: More than 640 students graduated at the Spring 2017 graduation ceremony of the American University of Sharjah (AUS) at University City Hall in Sharjah on Thursday.
Attending the ceremony, His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, said AUS will continue to grow and develop at the academic and research levels to match the best American and international universities.
Dr Shaikh Sultan is the president of AUS.
Thursday’s ceremony was also attended by Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Shaikh Abdullah Bin Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.
A total of 649 students graduated in various majors offered by the university at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
The Sharjah Ruler congratulated the graduates and said: “Science and knowledge are the paths to achieve progress and prosperity in all aspects of life. Education is our weapon against the challenges that face us. It enhances the value of the individual. You, my graduates, are a model of the educated youth, qualified and equipped with science and knowledge. You are our true wealth and our future.”
He also shared with the audience the future plans of the university and said: “The university is now transitioning to a new and important stage in its development. AUS has prepared plans and adopted budgets to become a leading research university in the next five years, while continuing to develop and strengthen our undergraduate programmes in all fields.”
Dr Shaikh Sultan also stressed on plans to develop synergies between academic research at AUS and commercial research in the RTI Park, which has been designed as a free zone to help transform Sharjah into a knowledge-based society and serve as an economic driver.
In his opening remarks, AUS chancellor Dr Björn Kjerfve said: “Taking the environment of inquiry and critical thinking that marked the Golden Age of Islam as our inspiration, we are committed to transforming AUS into an outstanding centre of research and innovation, focusing on research of regional relevance with global impact, which will help develop solutions to the challenges facing the region and the Gulf societies.”
