AUS signs agreement with SAP allowing students to graduate with industry certification

American University of Sharjah (AUS) and SAP Training and Development Institute (SAP) will work together to establish a Dual Study Program that will allow AUS students to be certified in SAP software and graduate with industry credentials. Officials from AUS and SAP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today, February 24, 2014, by which AUS students will be provided with the opportunity to gain theoretical and practical knowledge and experience of SAP technology in preparation of future work placement.

Signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were Dr. Thomas John Hochstettler, Acting Chancellor, AUS and Marita Mitschein, Senior Vice President, Managing Director, SAP Training & Development Institute FZCO.

"I am delighted with this partnership," said Dr. Hochstettler. "I have used SAP products while working in different positions in Europe and the Middle East, and I think this agreement gives our university a welcome opportunity to put our resources to work for Sharjah, the UAE and the region as a whole."

"AUS is the first university we are partnering with in the UAE for the Dual Study Program," said Mitschein. "We are looking forward to offering the first internship that will be set up and we are very pleased with this partnership."

SAP is a leading provider of business software that helps enterprises and governments around the world to improve customer relationships, enhance partner collaboration, create efficiencies across their supply chains and business operations, and improve access to information. SAP solution portfolios support the business processes of oil and gas and other industries including high technology, financial services, healthcare, education and public services.

AUS has already signed up as a participant for the SAP University Alliance Program, which a prerequisite for AUS to avail of the facilities provided by SAP under this MoU.

Following the signing of the MoU, certificates were awarded to AUS students who have completed the SAP course TERP 10, the initial certification all SAP consultants receive, and to those who passed the exam.

Also present at the signing were Dr. Malcolm Richards, AUS Acting Provost, and other senior AUS and SAP officials.