American University of Sharjah (AUS) has launched four interdisciplinary, PhD-granting research institutes in response to the region’s needs and in keeping with the university’s mandate to become a leading research based university in the next five years, said His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of AUS, at the university's Spring 2018 commencement ceremony held May 31, at University City Hall, Sharjah.

The ceremony was attended Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah; Shaikh Abdullah Bin Salim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. A total of 610 students graduated in various majors offered by the university at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

During his address, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, congratulated the graduates on their special day. His Highness also spoke about the next phase of AUS’s development as it establishes itself as a research university:

“I am delighted to inform you that the development of education and research at American University of Sharjah is progressing at a steady pace. After succeeding in developing a comprehensive and advanced university curriculum, AUS has now started to implement stages to transform itself into a comprehensive research university while preserving the high academic standards of its various programs.”

Elaborating on this, His Highness spoke of the new research institutes at established at the university: “In response to the needs and aspirations of the country and the region, we have created four interdisciplinary, PhD-granting research institutes. These are the Biosciences and Bioengineering Research Institute (BBRI), Gulf Environments Research Institute (GERI), Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) and Materials Science and Engineering Research Institute (MSERI). To support research within the four institutes and across campus and to ensure the research conducted is regionally relevant and contributes towards finding innovative solutions to serve society and develop and augment a knowledge-based economy, we have created two advanced research centers. These are: High-Performance Computing Center (HPCC) and the Geospatial Analysis Center (GAC).”

Concluding his speech, Sheikh Dr. Sultan urged the new alumni to remain connected to their alma mater. He said: “As for you dear graduates, I call upon you to maintain contact with your alma mater and to interact with AUS in its efforts to become a research university and to support it so that it achieves its objectives.”