Monday 14 December 2015

Alianza Universidades

IXO recently hosted a high-level delegation from the organization “Alliance of 4 Spanish Universities (4 Alianza Universidades).”

This alliance reflects a strategic partnership reinforcing the “Axis Madrid-Barcelona,” which is one of the most intensive research and development groups in Europe. The delegates visited AUS to explore the possibility of collaboration and strategic partnerships between the Alliance and AUS.



AUS signs Agreement with University of California, Davis

On October 14, American University of Sharjah signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of California, Davis. The memorandum provides and supports a framework of collaboration in mutual areas of interest with regards to faculty and student research, faculty and student exchanges, institutional teaching and research and development programs.

Dr. Linda P.B. Katehi, Chancellor of the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Björn Kjerfve, Chancellor of AUS, signed the agreement.

Study Abroad in Sweden and the USA

Hayat Ahmed is an international studies student at American University of Sharjah who, while studying abroad in the 2014- 2015 academic year, was able to study in both Sweden and the United States and completed her year abroad with an internship in San Francisco.

Starting her journey in Sweden during Fall 2014, Ahmed studied at Linnaeus University. She said she enjoyed the immersive experience of staying with a host family and experienced completely new seasons, especially when sunset would be around 3 p.m. in December. Studying in Sweden was very different from what she was accustomed to, as the academic system involved one course per month. Ahmed explained that studying in Sweden was highly beneficial due to its distinct socioeconomic policy and political position in the world.
 While in Europe Hayat Ahmed travelled to destinations such as Paris, Spain and Geneva. The United States was up next on her study abroad adventure, where she studied at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York for Spring 2015. The system there was more familiar. Ahmed said she enjoyed her courses, explaining that they helped broaden her horizons in the field of international studies.

While in the United States, Ahmed travelled to Boston, Minnesota, Chicago and Washington, DC, and, upon completing her semester in New York, spent Summer 2015 doing her internship in San Francisco for Human Rights Watch.




Students studying abroad from AUS during Fall 2015

Currently there are 25 students from American University of Sharjah studying in the United States, the Netherlands and Japan. Students in the USA are studying in 13 different states.



Wednesday 16 September 2015

IXO Fall 2015 Orientation

IXO held a full-day orientation session for the Fall 2015 incoming study abroad students on Saturday, August 29. Students were informed about AUS policies, facilities and the UAE culture.

Fall 2015 incoming study abroad students at IXO
orientation
 

Welcome Session Fall 2015

IXO participated in the welcome session for new AUS students and their parents held during the Fall 2015 orientation. New Peer Advisor Ritika Rajan joined Pallavi Bichu in staffing IXO’s booth, ready and prepared to answer questions about study abroad opportunities at AUS.

 
Ritika Rajan and Pallavi Bichu (left to right) at the
Fall 2015 welcome session.



Delegations from University of South Carolina & Brigham Young University

On the September 4, AUS received three delegates through the Office of International Exchange Programs to the School of Business Administration.
 

The delegation included Dr. Mike Shealy, (Director of the Center for International Business Education and Research) and Dr. Rob Rolfe (Professor of International Business) from the Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina (USC), USA.
 

From Brigham Young University (BYU), USA, was Dr. Jonathan Wood, Managing Director of the Global Management Center at BYU.

AUS School of Business Administration Dean, Dr.
Robert Grosse (second from left) welcomes (left
to right) Dr. Robert Rolfe, Dr. Jonathan Wood and
Dr. Mike Shealy.
Another upcoming visit this January is planned, whereby 20 to 24 faculty members, 17 of which represent univiersities in the Center for International Business Education and Research, will visit AUS. This upcoming visit will include a lecture on Islamic finance, a meet and greet with SBA faculty, and a tour of Sharjah, including a visit to the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization.

Tuition Exchange Program

The American University of Sharjah is sending two new students from the AUS community to study abroad in the USA through the Tuition Exchange Program, a program administered by the Office of International Exchange Programs.
 

Jasmina Jamaleldin Abdalla, daughter of Dr. Jamaleldin Abdalla, Department of Civil Engineering, is a freshman at th George Washington University, USA.
 

Yousr Dhaouadi, daughter of Dr. Rached Dhaouadi, Department of Electrical Engineering, will be studying at Syracuse University, USA, as a transfer student from AUS.
 

IXO wishes these students all the very best with their studies. For more information about AUS’s Tuition Exchange Program, please contact Dr. Linda Angell, ext. 4008, langell@aus.edu.

Fall 2015 Incoming Study Abroad Students

As we start this semester, we hope you will join IXO in welcoming the Fall 2015 incoming study abroad students to AUS. IXO has received a total of 45 students this semester, from many countries including the US, UK, Mexico, Sweden, Finland, France, Germany, Bolivia, Brazil and Japan.

Fall 2015 incoming study abroad students and IXO
team


Graduate Scholarship at Oxford

The Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Graduate Scholarships in the Humanities offer a great opportunity for AUS seniors contemplating graduate study at Oxford  University, UK.
 

Benefits of this program:
• payment of all tuition and college fees
• generous living stipend
• exclusive use of Ertegun House for the Study of the Humanities


At least 10 scholarships will be available in 2016, for either one- or two-year fulltime master’s degrees, or three-year fulltime doctoral study. For additional information, visit: http://www.ertegun.ox.ac.uk. To apply, visit: http://www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ertegun

Study Abroad Fall 2016

Applications are now open for AUS students who want to study abroad in the Fall 2016 semester.
The deadline for all applications is December 5, 2015.  


Visit the Office of International Exchange Programs (MG43) to talk to a Peer Advisor about your options. To apply, and or for more information, visit www.aus.edu/ixo or contact us at ixo@aus.edu.

Fall 2015 at AUS


The Office of International Exchange Programs (IXO) wishes the entire AUS community a warm welcome back. We also welcome all new students to their first semester here at AUS and wish
them a successful Fall 2015 semester! 


As Dr. Linda Angell, the Director of IXO, mentioned to you during orientation last week, we encourage you all to come  and talk to our Peer Advisors in the first semester of your sophomore year so that we can begin to plan your study abroad
experience.




Sunday 24 May 2015

IXO Spring 2015 Demographics

For Spring 2015, IXO hosted 44 incoming students from various parts of the world. Here is a breakdown of the various countries and programs students came through and their fields of study.





Thursday 21 May 2015

Trip to Abu Dhabi

CIEE in collaboration with IXO also recently hosted a trip to Abu Dhabi for the Spring 2015 exchange students where they got to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.


Spring 2015 exchange student Ryeland Allenson at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque



Overnight Desert Safari

The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), in collaboration with IXO, recently hosted an overnight desert safari during which the students enjoyed camel riding and dune bashing. 

Students also got to hold the UAE’s national bird, the falcon, and overall had a wonderful experience.

Spring 2015 exchange student Mikaela Boston carrying a falcon




Study Tour

Dr. Kevin Gray, Assistant Professor and International Studies (INS) Coordinator, recently led a study tour participating in Jessup Moot Court in Washington, DC, USA.

“The Jessup Moot Court advanced the mission of the Department of International Studies and AUS as it provided the opportunity for an advanced study in International Law and Politics. In INS 350, students are introduced to legal advocacy, and this study tour was a great opportunity for them to travel and compete in a worldwide international law advocacy competition,” said Dr. Gray.

International Studies students in Washington DC, USA
Dr. Kevin Gray (extreme right) with INS faculty and students



Sustainability Panel

IXO teamed with AUS Sustainability to host a Sustainability Panel discussion in which Spring 2015 exchange students Ruthie Ed, Melissa Ruff, Cameron Gilbert and William Weeks recently presented.

Each of them talked about sustainablility policies and initiatives at their home universities in the US. They also spoke about different ideas and strategies that AUS could implement to increase its sustainablity.


Spring 2015 exchange students and AUS students presenting at the Sustainability Panel



University of California, Irvine, USA

University of California (UC), Irvine, California, USA, recently held a presentation encouraging AUS students to study abroad at UC. UC is recognized globally for its excellence in academics and research.

Summer 1 Semester, 2015:

June 22-July 30

To apply or for more information, visit: https://summer.uci.edu/.


AUS students attending UC, Irvine Summer Session



International Summer Programs



There are many opportunities and programs available to study abroad in the summer.
Some of the options include:

• Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
• Manchester Metropolitan University,England
• Utrecht University, Utrecht,Netherlands
• ESC Rennes School of Business, France

Summer Application Requirements:
CGPA of 2.0 and above
• Good standing

Come to MG50 to take a look at our summer brochures. For more information on our summer application process, visit: www.aus.edu/ixo.

Dutch Sports Tournament Open to SBA Students

The School of Business and Economics at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, a partner university of AUS, is hosting The Royal Cup, a sports tournament for business and economics students from all over Europe, June 12-14.

This international sports event enables students to get in touch with peers from different European universities or business schools in order to expand their network.

Students will compete in many different disciplines, such as football, basketball, cheerleading, handball, hockey, relay racing, rowing and volleyball. Additionally, the event will provide the
participants with the opportunity to get to know interesting companies in an informal atmosphere. The students of Maastricht University have planned a company fair during the sports competition, so the spirit of athletic competition is combined with their vision to support students’ future careers.

The participation fee is €75, which covers accommodation, food (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and evening activities.

To learn more about this event, visit http://royals-cup.com/If interested, contact: university-contact@royals-cup.com.

Thursday 15 January 2015

University of Tampere Visitors

IXO recently hosted visitors from the University of Tampere, Finland: Dr. Jukka Lahtinen, School of Management, and CEO of Avaintulos Oy; and his daughter Susanna Lahtinen, Education Manager, Avaintulos Oy

Susanna Lahtinen, Dr. Linda Angell and Dr. Jukka
Lahtinen (left to right)
 

Welcome Back Fall 2014 Study Abroad Students!

For the Fall 2014 semester, 19 students studied abroad in various places. Among them were: Zaid Kazali, who studied abroad at the University of Memphis in  Tennessee; Fatima Deryan, who studied abroad at California State University in Easy Bay; and Hossein Niakan, who studied abroad at University of North Carolina, Charlotte.

Welcome back, Zaid Kazali

Welcome home, Fatima Deryan and Hossein
Niakan



Happy New Year

IXO wishes the entire AUS community a Happy New Year and warm welcome back from the winter break with great success for the rest of the Fall 2014 semester. IXO now prepares to welcome the Incoming Spring 2015 exchange students to AUS while waving goodbye to the Outgoing Spring 2015 AUS students, wishing everyone a wonderful semester at their study abroad destinations.




Amgen Scholars Program

The Amgen Scholars Program is an internationally recognized undergraduate research initiative offering undergraduates the opportunity to  collaborate with faculty at top institutions on cutting-edge scientific research.


University of Tokyo

Amgen Scholars have represented over500 colleges and universities to date. AUS students can now apply to be Amgen Scholars at leading institutions in Japan: Kyoto University and The University of Tokyo. This is a unique opportunity for students to gain valuable exposure to Japan’s academic and research culture.
 

The deadline to apply is February 2, 2015. Eligibility requirements and site-specific programming information are available via www.amgenscholars.com. Click here to learn more about the Amgen Foundation’s commitment to advancing STEM education in the US, Europe and now Japan.

The John M. Gunn International Scholarship

Washington and Lee University (Lexington, Virginia, USA) is pleased to offer the John M. Gunn International Scholarship for one full year of study to AUS students of exceptional academic, personal and professional promise. Students must demonstrate financial
need in order to qualify for full funding.
 

Students should have an outstanding academic record and be able to articulate a clear purpose in their application. While at the university, students will focus their work in the Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics.
 

Students with a background in international business, economics and development will be given greater preference. Students may also take courses in other areas of the arts and sciences to round out their program of study.
 

A scholarship application may be requested through the Director of W&L’s Office of International  Education  (wklingel@wlu.edu). Requests for  applications should include a brief letter  of introduction from the prospective candidate.
 

The deadline to submit completed applications for Academic Year 2015– 2016 is March 15, 2015. The application must include a financial statement to determine the level of financial need of the candidate. Announcements will bemade by April 15. For more information  visit: www.wlu.edu

Friday 2 January 2015

IXO's 5th Birthday!

The International Exchange Office (IXO) was founded on January 2, 2010 by our director, Dr. Linda C. Angell. IXO began as a small unit with only seven international study abroad students and a few parttime student workers. 

IXO’s first advisor was Anna Ray, who worked at IXO from Fall 2010 to Fall 2012. IXO’s first student workers were Shahin Hoda, an AUS student who studied abroad before IXO was even
born; Khadija Mahmood, who came with Dr. Angell from the School of Business Administration; and IXO’s current advisor Osama Mafraji, who was one of the first students to study abroad through IXO.
The beginning of IXO
“Over the past five years, IXO has become an integral part of the university, providing a wide range of opportunities across the entire AUS community. We have developed hundreds of exchange partners around the world,” said Dr. Angell.