Ruler of Sharjah witnesses MoU signing between American University of Sharjah and the American University in Cairo

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between American University of Sharjah (AUS) and The American University in Cairo (AUC), held on Thursday morning at the AUS campus.

Upon his arrival, His Highness was received by Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of AUS; Mark Turnage, Chair of the Board of Trustees at AUC; along with senior academic officials and representatives from both institutions.

The MoU was formally signed by Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS, and Dr. Ahmad Dallal, President of AUC.

Chancellor Laursen said: “This partnership with AUC represents a strategic convergence of two leading institutions with a shared commitment to advancing higher education through global collaboration. The breadth of this agreement—from faculty and student exchange to joint research, dual degrees and strategic benchmarking—creates a powerful platform for innovation, talent development and academic impact. Together, we are setting a model for how regional universities can shape the future of education through purposeful, cross-border alliances.”

The agreement outlines a strategic framework for academic collaboration and knowledge exchange between the two leading institutions. It includes faculty and student exchanges, joint research initiatives, collaborative applications for research funding and co-supervision of graduate theses.

Additionally, the MoU calls for the development of dual-degree and short-term academic programs, the co-hosting of international conferences, seminars, and workshops and the enhancement of curricula and teaching methodologies. Both universities also agreed to cooperate in training and consultancy services, institutional benchmarking through the exchange of strategic data and reciprocal access to library resources—subject to copyright and licensing protocols.

This partnership marks a significant step toward deepening ties between two prominent academic institutions that share a commitment to educational excellence and global collaboration. Through this MoU, AUS and AUC aim to foster innovation, nurture talent and amplify their academic impact across the region.

On the sidelines of the signing, both parties held discussions to explore further avenues for collaboration in research, education and innovation. The conversation reaffirmed a shared vision to broaden the scope of partnership, raise the quality of academic programs and promote mutual learning and expertise.

His Highness exchanged commemorative gifts with the visiting AUC delegation, who expressed their sincere appreciation for the warm welcome and praised His Highness’s continued dedication to advancing education, academic excellence and scientific research in the region.