ICT Fund hosts orientation session at AUS

Representatives from the Be'tha Program of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Fund visited American University of Sharjah (AUS) yesterday, October 3, to conduct an orientation session for AUS students being sponsored by the fund.

The partnership between AUS and ICT Fund dates back to July 20, 2009 and involves qualified students in electrical engineering, computer science and computer engineering being sponsored by the fund.

Dr. Eesa Bastaki, CEO of ICT Fund, hosted the session and outlined the conditions pertaining to the sponsorship program and explained how the students could benefit from the program. He urged the students to focus on innovation and creativity and make them a daily part of their academic life. He said that in order to build a strong knowledge-based economy in the country, it was crucial to build the students' skills and help them discover their hidden talents so that they could become innovative entrepreneurs of the future.

Addressing participants at the session, Dr. Bastaki said, "It gives us great pleasure to partner with AUS in this endeavor. The quality of instruction provided at this university is one of the best in the region and this blends in perfectly with the ethos of striving for excellence that we emphasize at ICT Fund. We place great importance on assisting talented and qualified students in the pursuit of their dreams so that they may play a significant role in the development and progress of our country."

In Fall 2010, AUS recruited 14 students to be sponsored by ICT Fund, with the number increasing to 17 in Fall 2011. Students were selected based on their high school grades and the suitability of their majors.
"We are pleased to have ICT Fund join hands with us to train some of the brightest young minds in the country," said Ali Shuhaimy, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management. "The cohort being sponsored by ICT Fund to study communications engineering at AUS this year is bigger than last year's and we are confident that our partnership will grow and prosper in the years to come."

The session was organized to open the communication channels between the sponsored students and ICT Fund and to discuss any issues or concerns the students may have.

ICT Fund attendees at the event also included Shaikha Mohamed, Executive Coordinator; and Kholoud Al Abdullah, Communication and Marketing Manager; while AUS was represented by Ali Shuhaimy, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management; Mariam Farag, Director of Enrollment Services; and Maha Shushaa, Sponsorship Liaison Officer.
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