Culture & Education | Wednesday 29 April, 2015 1:45 am |

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), AUS held its annual Awareness Day to raise the public’s awareness regarding issues of health, social, environmental and safety concerns. The event was opened by Dr. Björn Kjerfve, Chancellor of AUS.

Twenty-three governmental and private organizations participated in the event, which was organized by the Community Services Division of the Office of Student Affairs and attended by members of the AUS community, students from schools across the UAE, and the public.

“As part of our community engagement initiatives, we bring on campus prominent government and private organizations from various sectors of the community to reach out to more students and promote awareness about health, social, environmental and safety issues. It is the aim of the Community Services Division to boost student involvement in community work so that students learn, benefit and participate in volunteering activities,” said Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Dean of Students.

“The event serves as a platform to showcase to our students the various volunteering opportunities available to them and empower them with the requisite skills and values that will aid in their growth and development as responsible citizens of the society,” she added.

With booths and banners set up at the university’s Student Center, the participating organizations educated attendees about issues ranging from health issues, such as the effects of smoking and driving safety, to volunteering opportunities for those interested in giving back to the community.

Commenting on his department’s participation, Customer Service Agent Salim Badir Jany said, “We want to educate students about the various services and procedures the Sharjah Economic Development Department offers. We are here to give information on matters such as licensing, acquiring work permits, and customer complaints.”

Dubai Health Authority also hosted a blood drive for attendees to donate. Staff encouraged people to donate blood as it saves lives, its good for their blood circulation, and is completely safe.

“Awareness Day talks about several health issues and aspects that you might not know about. It’s important that people come [to increase awareness]. It is not just blood donation, it is about learning more about cancer and other topics that are really helpful not just for you, but for other people, too,” said Zakaria Alrifai, AUS mechanical engineering junior and active Community Services volunteer. “I really enjoy being a fruitful part of the community and helping others, and it’s always for a good cause,” he added.

“Awareness Day is great campaign to learn about different safety methods. AUS has contributed in providing students with new things to learn from and I’m enjoying the event,” said Fatima Al Zahra, an eighth grade student from the Ajman-based Abu Obaida Bin Aljarah Private School.

The participants included Al Qassimi Hospital, Big Heart, Ministry of Health from the Sharjah Medical District, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, Sharjah Civil Defense, Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah Museums Department, Sharjah Police, Sharjah Project for Oral and Dental Health, Sharjah Red Crescent, Sharjah Sports Council, Sharjah Economic Development Department, Supreme Council For Family Affairs (Health Promotion), Al Ihsan Charity Association, Dubai Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation, Dubai Police, Emirates Foundation for Youth Development (SANID), Emirates Society For Consumer Protection, Emirates Volunteers Association, Environment and Protected Areas Authority, National Prohibition Center, Abbott Laboratories, S.A., and Right Bite.

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About AUS

American University of Sharjah (AUS) was founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The university was envisaged by His Highness as a leading educational institution in the Gulf region. Located in University City, Sharjah, AUS is a not-for-profit, independent, institution of higher education formed on the American model.

It offers 26 majors and 52 minors at the undergraduate level, and 14 master’s degrees through the College of Architecture, Art and Design; the College of Arts and Sciences; the College of Engineering; and the School of Business Administration. These programs are designed to meet the challenges of a competitive and dynamic business and industrial environment.

As a provider of quality higher education in the Gulf, AUS is licensed and its programs are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the United Arab Emirates. AUS is accredited in the United States of America by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The bachelor of science degree programs in chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering offered by the College of Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (www.abet.org). The bachelor of science degree program in computer science offered by the College of Engineering is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET (www.abet.org). The Bachelor of Architecture program of the College of Architecture, Art and Design is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) of the United States. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) as well as the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degrees offered by the School of Business Administration are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).