Sharjah Ruler attends AUS Alumni Silver Jubilee Reunion

The celebration of the 25th anniversary of American University of Sharjah (AUS) brings back memories of years of hard work and diligence. This is a moment of reflection on the dedication and determination that built the university’s high academic reputation and made it flourish, said His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed AlQasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Sharjah and President of AUS.

His highness was speaking at the AUS Annual Alumni Reunion Dinner on Saturday, which was an opportunity to officially commemorate the university’s Silver Jubilee. His Highness noted the many efforts that were exerted, the educational and administrative plans that were implemented, and the many solutions that were developed to overcome challenges towards the establishment of the university.   

“Some may feel that the past period went by in a blink of an eye, but the truth is it was a laborious time during which AUS transformed from a mere idea into an institution of high regard. This university did not advance and rise by chance, but rather by hard work and conviction,” said His Highness.

He added: “God helped us establish this university on this piece of land, to implement a strong educational curriculum, hire qualified professors, and to have a  Board of Trustees to oversee its affairs. We have all come together like one family.”

He also noted that the AUS management had to navigate several challenges along the way, making sure to never jeopardize the university's journey and aspirations.

His Highness thanked everyone who worked at the university, including faculty members, members of the Board of Trustees, and university directors. He emphasized the university’s exceptional administration, saying: “We thank God Almighty who has helped us along this long journey to reach where we are today. Throughout this process… I gained knowledge, an opportunity to oversee the university, friendships and affection, and these are all the reasons behind the university’s success.”  

His Highness highlighted the university’s research efforts and the dedication of its community, which led AUS to rank internationally.

“Twenty-five years are not a fleeting memory, but rather a beautiful time that illustrates how dedicated every single person was within the university’s community, making real academic contributions… Everyone worked hard for this university. When AUS became five years old, its trajectory, while conservative, was not surprising as it began to focus on scientific research. When the Board of Trustees made the decision to develop a program for research, we realized it required infrastructure including buildings, equipment, programs and faculty members. We gave all we had and got to work. The equipment and construction cost 267 million dirhams for the Research Center in the College of Engineering (CEN). Today, this center is the heart of this university, and through it, we carried out important research that was attributed to AUS,” said His Highness.

He added: “Today, the university is looking to explore new avenues and to forge friendships with other universities to raise its ranking among other institutions. While we are at the forefront of universities, we are not satisfied with where we are. Our ambition for AUS is to be at the top. This can only be achieved by continuous work.”

His Highness recalled the early days following the establishment of AUS.

“Praise be to God. Twenty-five years are never to be taken lightly. I started from this place (the site of the celebration). The first structure erected in University City of Sharjah was AUS, followed by other universities. I had an umbrella under which I used to sit and watch the work, until this university came into fruition in less than 11 months. We succeeded and started classes by the new academic year. We opened CEN and our students numbered 18 only. I was advised to start the university later because costs were high, but I said we will start even if we had one student only. Indeed, classes started and praise be to God, the number of CEN students is the highest at AUS. We hope to continue this path to growth,” he said.

His Highness ended his speech wishing success to alumni and new cohorts joining AUS.

Dr. Susan Mumm, Chancellor of AUS, said on the occasion:

“This year’s alumni reunion has special meaning for our community as we celebrate our Silver Jubilee. To date, AUS has graduated more than 18,000 students who form our important alumni family. Speaking to many of those who constitute this community, I know that it is the distinctive educational experience that AUS provides that ensures the success of our graduates as they go on to contribute to the sciences, humanities, design, business, engineering, government or whatever field in which they choose to use their talents. Central to the AUS experience, and hand-in-hand with our emphasis on the liberal arts, is the weight given to diversity, inclusion, openness and respect. These values empower our students to use their voices, skills and knowledge wherever they may find themselves, allowing them to drive change and innovation across the world.”

The event commenced with the UAE national anthem and a recitation from the Holy Quran, after which His Highness officially officiated the grand opening. The event included a light show that showcased the architectural beauty of the campus and fireworks display.

His Highness went up the stage in the center of the AUS plaza to watch a vocal performance, entitled “Pearl, home of the achievers,” followed by a speech by Ali Lootah, President of the AUS Alumni Association, who noted the many achievements AUS realized throughout the past 25 years, thank His Highness for his vision and leadership. Lootah said His Highness is a fatherly figure, supporting AUS students. He quoted His Highness’s speech on his graduation day as he urged all alumni to be true AUS ambassadors and contribute to its great reputation. Lootah said AUS students have truly become the best ambassadors of their university all around the world.

Alumni, faculty and staff at the event enjoyed a short film showcasing the many achievements AUS has accomplished throughout the years, featuring interviews with alumni who spoke about their own journey after graduation.

His Highness also recognized several outstanding members of the AUS alumni community for their achievements and contributions to the community, which included alumni inducted in the AUS Hall of Fame 2023, and winners of the AUS Alumni Volunteer Service Award 2023 and Most Active Council Member Award 2023.

His Highness recognized AUS’ main corporate supporters, including Alef Group, Arada, Bee’ah, Crescent Petroleum, Emaar, Etisalat, Invest in Sharjah, Petrofac, Sharjah Media City (Shams), Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sharjah Islamic Bank, Sharjah National Oil Corporation, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority and Talabat.

At the conclusion of the event, His Highness received a commemorative shield from the President of the AUS Alumni Association bearing verses from the Quran and designed by AUS alumni. His Highness also inaugurated the AUS Gratitude Park, a space designed by AUS alumni to recognize the valuable contributions of AUS friends and alumni. His Highness also signed the plaque placed at the entrance to the garden.

The Alumni Reunion Dinner is just one of many initiatives organized by AUS as it celebrates its Silver Jubilee. As part of the celebrations, AUS collaborated with the Central Bank of the UAE to issue 1,000 commemorative Silver Jubilee coins. Within 24 hours of announcing this initiative, the coins were sold out to fund 25 scholarships for 25 students. AUS is one of the top 10 universities in the Arab World and is known for its academic excellence, diversity and state-of-the-art facilities.

The event was attended by high-profile visitors including Sheikh Saud bin Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Director of the Sharjah Digital Office; Sheikh Tariq bin Faisal Al Qasimi; Abdullah Sultan Al Owais; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Muhammad Obaid Al Zaabi, Chairman of Department of Protocol and Hospitality; Salem Yusef Al Qasir, Chairman of Labor Standards Development Authority; Dr. Khaled Omar Al-Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Media City “Shams”; members from AUS Board of Trustees; faculty and administrative staff and 3,500 AUS alumni.