AUS boot camp empowers high school students with mechanical engineering skills

High school students from across the UAE recently embarked on an enriching journey at a four-day mechanical engineering boot camp hosted by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at American University of Sharjah (AUS). 

Sponsored by Petrofac, the boot camp attracted 32 students from 22 schools. Among them was Anna Maria, a Grade 10 student at the International School of Choueifat, Sharjah, who wants to join one of AUS’ engineering programs.

"Attending this boot camp greatly enhanced my technical skills, problem-solving abilities and teamwork. It provided valuable insights into the tech industry. I highly recommend that my friends and other high school students attend the camp, as I found it beneficial for learning about future career paths as well as my own personal development. I think that joining AUS could open the door to new creativity and help me to embark on a fulfilling and enriching educational path," she said.

The boot camp featured a series of modules designed to provide participants with hands-on experiences in various aspects of mechanical engineering. In the Design/Build and 3D Printing module, attendees learned various 3D modeling tools to create parts and assemble them. They then took the modeled parts and 3D printed them for prototyping, refining their designs for optimal performance. During the Let’s Make Our Own Products module, participants transformed virtual designs into tangible items using hand tools, applying their newfound skills in real-world manufacturing scenarios. The Crash Course on Mechatronics immersed participants in computational thinking and practical robotics using the Arduino Inventor Kit, while also exploring the interdisciplinary field of mechatronics. Finally, in the Renewable Energy and Automotive Engineering module, participants experimented with wind turbines and explored engine design and operation by assembling a model kit. They also ran the lab scale engine and measured its performance.

"We are proud to have inspired these budding mechanical engineers and look forward to seeing their continued growth and contributions to the field," said Dr. Mamoun F. Abdel-Hafez, Head of the AUS Department of Mechanical Engineering.

“At Petrofac, we want local communities to benefit from our presence. The boot camps we have partnered with AUS to deliver allow young people from UAE schools to explore exciting new areas and consider future careers across the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM),” said M. Narasimham, Head of Discipline–Mechanical Engineering at Petrofac.

The AUS Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a bachelor’s degree program, a master’s degree program and a minor in mechanical engineering. The department is also heavily involved in the Master of Science in Mechatronics Engineering and the PhD in Materials Science and Engineering. The department’s state-of-the-art labs offer students hands-on experience and practical knowledge in a variety of specializations. 

For more information about these programs, please visit: www.aus.edu/cen/bsme.