AUS College of Engineering empowers tomorrow's innovators through internships and industry partnerships

Lamis Elsayed and Aya Zabalawi are among more than 330 engineering students at American University of Sharjah (AUS) who put their technical knowledge and transferable skills into practice during their summer internships.  

As part of their graduation requirements, College of Engineering (CEN) students must complete an internship, helping them sharpen their careers, gain real-life experience and hone their skills for the job market. 

Elsayed, a computer science major minoring in business administration, spent her summer as a software intern at Marshall Intech Technologies LLC. A student officer in the Institute  of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society AUS Chapter and the Secretary of the AUS Engineering Honor Society, she contributed to mobile and web application development work during her internship, while also enhancing her teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

"During my internship, I had the opportunity to delve into a wide array of tools embraced by the software development industry, with a particular emphasis on mastering Amazon Web Services tools. Moreover, I honed my ability to interact with web services and Application Programming Interfaces, leveraging my proficiency in both Java and Python programming languages. Furthermore, my hands-on experience in crafting applications within Android Studio significantly developed my expertise in mobile application development," she said.

Zabalawi, a computer engineering student, was a power systems intern at Schneider Electric's Dubai Silicon Oasis office. 

In her work, she focused on automating processes through deep learning and large language modeling to create a chatbot capable of answering technical questions about Schneider Electric's products. 

“I've learned the importance of taking initiative proactively. Waiting for others to make the first move in a professional setting often improves productivity, while a proactive approach is generally well-received. What I found most rewarding in the internship opportunity was the sense of accomplishment it brought. Achieving milestones in the industry not only signifies personal growth but also confirms that I am truly making a meaningful impact,” she remarked.

Elsayed and Zabalawi’s journeys are a testament to CEN's commitment to providing its students with invaluable hands-on experiences.

"Our internship program equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their chosen fields. It bridges the gap between academia and industry, preparing students for success. Our mission is to prepare students for the challenges of the professional world. CEN is committed to providing students with hands-on experience and fostering a culture of innovation," said Dana Saleh, Senior Manager of Internship and Placement at AUS.

The college has been working on digitizing its internship processes to enhance its students' experience. It has recently launched its Internship Portal, an in-house, cutting-edge digital platform that facilitates internship administrative operations. 

"The Internship Portal has truly proven to be a one-stop shop for all matters related to our internship program. The portal has allowed us to centralize the management of internship requests from our students, making it much easier to keep track of all requests and their timely  processing. The portal also facilitated interaction with all stakeholders within AUS including students, internship coordinator, department administrative assistants, CEN senior managers and employers to provide a quality experience to our students and maintain professional ties with the employers," said Dr. Ra'afat Abu-Rukba, Associate Professor and Internship Coordinator for the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at AUS. 

CEN has also been enhancing its industrial outreach and enriching learning student experiences with the launch of the AUS Engineering Al Nukhba Program, which establishes through industry partnerships collaborations in the areas of research, development, training programs, internships, exchange of information and personnel, joint supervision of students’ capstone projects and field trip visits. This mutually beneficial program enables students to gain valuable experience, while industry partners benefit from the skills of dedicated and talented AUS students. 

CEN alumni are the preferred choice for employers in the UAE across all engineering disciplines, according to the QS World University Subject Rankings 2023. 

To learn more about CEN, visit www.aus.edu/cen.