AURAK Receives Visit from Association of Arab Universities

The American University of Ras Al Khaimah’s (AURAK) has received a visit from a committee from the Association of Arab Universities (AARU).

The delegation consisted of Dr. Ghalib Al Rifai and Dr. Turki Obaidat, and Dr. Sultan Abu Oraibi, secretary general of the AARU, who was also guest of honor at the university’s graduation ceremony in June 2015.

During their visit, they met with AURAK’s senior management, including Prof. Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, president, the vice presidents, deans, directors and managers, in order to explain the AARU’s vision and strategic goals.

In the current political and social climate, Dr. Abu Oraibi focused his talk on the importance of fostering cross-cultural understanding, emphasizing that a university education is highly formative in a young person’s development.

Through the AARU, he stated, “I cannot put enough focus on the value of study abroad and exchange programs. This is where you gain exposure to new cultures, people, religions and ideas, and this is how you grow and develop as a person.”

One opportunity for collaboration, Dr. Abu Oraibi pointed out, is the fourth edition of the Arab-Euro Conference on Higher Education (AECHE) which is taking place in Rabat at the end of April, which AURAK will be attending. AURAK currently has eleven North American and seven European partners, in countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Poland and Hungary.

In turn, the visit was an opportunity for the committee to learn more about AURAK and its progress. Through a series of presentations, they learnt about AURAK’s schools and programs, research activities, community service, and the university’s vision for the future in terms of campus development and international accreditation. The committee praised the university’s progress, noting that it possesses a burgeoning reputation throughout the region.

Addressing the committee, Prof. Al Alkim thanked them for their visit, highlighting, “We are honored to be participating in this visit, and have been very excited to demonstrate the great steps we have taken in a relatively short period. I hope to see enhanced cooperation with our fellow Arab universities and contribute to the overall development of the region.”

Due to the visit’s success, AURAK, which is currently an associate member of the AARU, is expected to be named a full member in the near future.