CEN 2.0 Graduate: A new chapter for Graduate engineering education at AUS
In an era of rapid technological evolution, engineers are not just adapting to change - they are at the forefront of driving it. Recognising this shift, the College of Engineering (CEN) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) has launched CEN 2.0 Graduate - a revitalised approach to its graduate programmes designed to equip students with the technical and leadership skills and qualities necessary to spearhead innovation in both industry and academia.
As part of this revamp, CEN has introduced a new coursework-only track across all 10 of its master of science programmes, which allows students to choose between a thesis or coursework path. Classes are held during the evening or weekends to accommodate students balancing academics with work or other commitments.
All programmes under CEN 2.0 Graduate now feature new core and elective courses aligned with global trends and market demand. Areas such as AI, digital transformation and sustainability are central to the updated curricula, ensuring that AUS graduates are equipped to lead in fast-evolving sectors such as biomedical engineering, mechatronics, robotics and autonomous systems.
In Fall 2025, CEN will also introduce two new PhD programmes: one in civil and environmental engineering and another in electrical and computer engineering. These additions reflect the university's commitment to advanced research and leadership in fields critical to the region and the world. These new programmes will sit alongside CEN's existing interdisciplinary programmes, such as its PhD in Engineering Systems Management, Master of Science in Mechatronics Engineering and Master of Biomedical Engineering, which blend engineering disciplines with AI techniques, data analytics, sustainability and systems thinking - an approach not widely found elsewhere in the UAE.
'At CEN, we don't wait for the future - we engineer it,' said Dr Fadi Aloul, Dean of the College of Engineering. 'Graduate 2.0 marks a milestone in our commitment to delivering a transformative education - one that equips students to thrive in and lead the world's most advanced industries, institutions and governments.'
The college is home to a vibrant community of over 2,700 students - of which 350 are graduate students - from 70 nationalities. Twenty-one members of CEN's faculty were recently named among the world's top two per cent of scientists by the Stanford-Elsevier ranking. The college also recently announced several new partnerships with top engineering schools, enabling its students to experience a world-class graduate education.
AUS ranks second in the UAE for employer reputation (QS World University Rankings, 2025), and CEN's graduates regularly go on to work for leading companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Schneider Electric, Petrofac, PWC, EY, the UAE Cabinet, the UAE Space Agency and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre.
Applications are open for Fall 2025 for all CEN graduate programmes. All applicants are encouraged to apply for graduate assistantships. These are awarded on a competitive basis and provide students with both financial support and hands-on experience in teaching and research.
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