Over 110 corporate leaders gather at American University of Sharjah for Corporate Appreciation Day

American University of Sharjah (AUS) recently held its Corporate Appreciation Day, organized by the Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (OAAA), to recognize and celebrate the support of corporate partners who have contributed to advancing the university’s goals. The event took place on the AUS Plaza, with over 110 business leaders and senior executives from local, regional and international companies in attendance. The gathering highlighted the contributions made by corporate partners throughout the Academic Year 2023–2024.

Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS, thanked the corporate partners present for their continued support: “Your engagement with American University of Sharjah has been indispensable in our ongoing transformation. Partnerships like these enable us to remain at the forefront of higher education. Whether it be advancing our research initiatives, supporting graduate employability or ensuring that we can offer state-of-the-art facilities to the AUS community, so much of what we accomplish at AUS is made possible through your support. We are deeply appreciative of your continued belief in AUS’ vision and mission.”

The event included the presentation of several awards to recognize corporate partners’ contributions. These awards included the Leaders of Excellence award recognizing companies that have gone above and beyond in supporting the success of AUS advancement efforts, aligned with the university’s mission. This award was given to Alef Group, Arada, BEEAH Group, GIBCA Limited, Petrofac, Sharjah Driving Institute, Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) and Al Rawabi. It also included the Leader of Impact award, recognizing individuals who have championed collaboration and significantly supported the university’s goals. This award was given to His Excellency Obaid Al Tunaiji, Director General of Sharjah Municipality; Issa Ataya, CEO of Alef Group; Her Excellency Najla Almidfa, Vice Chairperson, Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center; and Hind Seddiqi, Vice President of Marketing and Communication, Seddiqi Group. Lastly, over 100 companies were recognized in the Corporate Partners & Community Builders categories. 

Reem Bardan, Executive Director of OAAA, reflected on the impact corporate partners have had on the advancement of AUS: “Our corporate partners are integral to advancing AUS’ ambitions. Whether through supporting initiatives like AUS Giving Day, funding scholarships for students from diverse backgrounds, fostering research or enhancing graduate employability, their contributions touch almost every aspect of our work. The consistency of their support year after year is a testament to the strength of our partnerships. We are continually inspired by our partners’ generosity and moved by how our partners invest so much of their time, energy and resources into making a lasting difference to the education of generations to come.” 

“At Sharjah National Oil Corporation, we believe that supporting educational institutions like American University of Sharjah is an investment in a brighter, sustainable future. The caliber of talent nurtured at AUS reflects the university’s unwavering commitment to excellence. Through this partnership, we continue to align our efforts to empower future leaders, drive innovation, and contribute to the region’s long-term development,”  said Hatem Al Mosa, CEO of SNOC. 

For more information on AUS' Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs, go to Instagram or contact OAAA via email.