AURAK Marks its 11th Anniversary

The American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) marked the 11th anniversary of its foundation on April 8. Professor Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, president of AURAK, said the anniversary came at a difficult time for humanity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “On the one hand, COVID-19 has caused not only the closure of schools, a complete lockdown, causing some people to lose their loved ones, and brought the global economy almost to a standstill,” he said. “At the same time, the challenge has invigorated new ways in education, giving online and distance learning more importance as an alternative in times of crisis. On the other hand, it has brought scientists, research centers and academic institutions to the forefront, with people, in search of hope, looking at them as their savior. The coronavirus has promoted the notion of the global village and enhanced interdependence,” Professor Hassan added. Since its founding in 2009, AURAK has grown from a small, unknown academic institution with fewer than a hundred students, a dozen faculty and a handful of non-academic staff, with no proper infrastructure, into one of the leading institutions in the UAE, a regional ranking of 50th and around 1,000 students.