AUS celebrates the Class of Fall 2020

Sharjah, UAE, December 27, 2020—American University of Sharjah (AUS) celebrated the achievements of the Class of Fall 2020 at a special virtual event held yesterday, December 26. The online event brought together graduates and their family and friends from all over the world. It featured a video and a website made for the occasion, commemorating the culmination of the 468 graduates’ university journey.

Graduates reflected on their fond memories from their time at AUS. Jinan Al-Hajjar, a Master of Urban Planning student at the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD), said: “My time at AUS has strengthened my self-confidence and refined my creative thinking. Following the end of this journey, I am very excited to reach for new heights and explore new professional and academic opportunities.”

Noting the importance of the friendships he made and their impact on his university years, Abdel Rahman Naser Hamdan, computer engineering student at the College of Engineering (CEN) and avid athlete, said: “People went to classes and made friends; I went to training every day and made a family. The moment I stepped on the football field, all the stress that built up throughout the day disappeared.”

Similarly, Hera Shabbir, a mass communication student from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), recalled how meeting people on campus made her feel. “My fondest memory of AUS was meeting different people all around campus each day. It added a little bit of color to my everyday routine, so thank you to everyone whose simple, 'Hey, what's up?' put a smile on my face,” she said.

The journey, however, also came with its challenges, which finance major Mohammed Badri reflected on, saying: “I looked forward to this day, and here I am graduating in an unconventional way. I made it. The journey ended but the memories will last forever.”

To many, the AUS experience was an opportunity for self-discovery and maturity. “AUS became my home far from home. I went through a whole journey of self-growth in the years I spent there. I am coming out of the other side proud of the person I am today,” said Azka Tariq, a marketing student at the School of Business Administration (SBA).  These sentiments were also shared by Abdallah Jamshaid, a finance major at SBA, who said: “It's been a pleasure to be an AUSer the past three years and a half. I believe AUS has prepared me better for my future.”

Speaking on the occasion, Professor Kevin Mitchell, Chancellor of AUS, congratulated the Class of Fall 2020 on their success, noting that their perseverance in the face of adversity inspired both confidence and hope.

“AUS graduates are known for their ability to navigate complexity and rise to challenges. The graduating class of Fall 2020 have had to overcome difficulties associated with the onset of the pandemic and the significant changes that were required in terms of teaching and learning. The perseverance demonstrated by members of the graduating class and their commitment to completing their education is admirable. We are proud of their success and look forward to their contributions to making a better world,” said Professor Mitchell. 

With congratulatory messages from the deans of the AUS school/colleges, the event celebrated the academic and extracurricular achievements of the graduates, who contributed to enriching the university during their time as AUS students.

The breakdown of the graduating class is as follows:

College of Architecture, Art and Design: 37

College of Arts and Sciences: 77

College of Engineering: 230 

School of Business Administration: 124

Graduate Student:   74

Undergraduate Students: 394

Male:  230

Female:  238

UAE nationals:  112

For more stories about the achievements of the Class of Fall 2020, please visit www.aus.edu/celebrating-our-graduates.