AURAK Hosts the Canadian Embassy

The American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) hosted a meeting with the Trade Commissioner and Regional Education Coordinator of the Embassy of Canada, Mabelle Sawaqed-Hen, to discuss the possibility of establishing international partnerships with Canadian universities.

AURAK Associate Provost for Academic and Student Affairs and Associate Professor of Education, Dr. Denise Gifford, Dean of the Office of Academic Support Services, Professor Steven Zani and a group of senior representatives, met with the Canadian Embassy’s Trade Commissioner and Regional Education Coordinator, Mabelle Sawaqed-Hen, and Senior Trade Commissioner, Kate Starkey, to discuss establishing international partnerships with Canadian universities.

Professor Denise stated with AURAK’s recent accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, “We are at a point of growth and development. It offers us the opportunity to look more aggressively at international partnerships. It’s time to go forward.” Canadian universities would be ideal for such agreements with its universities offering 1,500 programs with cooperative education and internship options, offering AURAK students both long-term and short-term international educational opportunities with a country that was quoted by the World Bank as “the easiest place to start a business.” Participating in study abroad program with professional internships would give students an inside link to establishing various professional connections.

AURAK President, Professor Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, is excited in seeing materialization of future endeavors through collaborations with the Canadian Embassy, "Canadian universities offer a solid, quality education with a diverse cultural and professional atmosphere in which to bolster the educational experience. Supplementing the AURAK education with a student exchange experience with any of its distinguished universities would be advantageous.”