
Excellence of AUS engineering graduate programs reaffirmed with renewed CAA accreditation
Sharjah, UAE – The College of Engineering (CEN) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) has received renewed accreditation from the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) for 10 of its graduate programs through October 31, 2031.
The CAA is responsible for licensing higher education institutions and evaluating their academic programs for accreditation. It works with both international and local authorities to safeguard academic standards and enhance the learning experience for students in higher education institutions.
The 10 programs that received renewed accreditation include the master of science degrees in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, construction management, computer engineering, electrical engineering, engineering systems management, mechanical engineering and mechatronics engineering, as well as the PhD in Engineering - Engineering Systems Management.
The renewed accreditation comes at a time of significant advancement for graduate engineering education at AUS, marked by the launch of CEN 2.0 Graduate—a comprehensive enhancement of all graduate programs within the college. This new framework introduces coursework-only tracks across all master's programs, providing students with the flexibility to choose between thesis and non-thesis options. To accommodate working professionals, classes are offered in the evenings and on weekends. Core and elective courses have also been updated to reflect global trends and market demand, with an emphasis on areas such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation and sustainability.
Dr. Fadi Aloul, Dean of CEN, said: 'This renewed accreditation affirms the strength and strategic direction of our graduate programs and their alignment with national development priorities and global innovation trends. It reflects the trust placed in AUS as a hub for advanced engineering education and research excellence. Through our rigorous academic frameworks and industry-relevant curricula, we are preparing future leaders who will shape the technologies, infrastructure and sustainable solutions of tomorrow.'
CEN will further expand its graduate offerings with the introduction of two new doctoral programs in Fall 2025—one in civil and environmental engineering and another in electrical and computer engineering—strengthening the college's interdisciplinary and research-driven approach.
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 2 percent of scientists by the latest 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 programs. 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.
To learn more, visit aus.edu/cen.
For more information, please contact:
Samar Saeed, PR and Media Specialist, Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing at AUS, smahmoud@aus.edu
About AUS
American University of Sharjah (AUS) was founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah. Sheikh Sultan articulated his vision of a distinctive institution against the backdrop of Islamic history and in the context of the aspirations and needs of contemporary society in the UAE and the Gulf region.
Firmly grounded in principles of meritocracy and with a strong reputation for academic excellence, AUS has come to represent the very best in teaching and research, accredited internationally and recognized by employers the world over for creating graduates equipped with the knowledge, skills and drive to lead in the 21st century.
AUS values learners not driven only by academic success, but by those that embrace our dynamic campus life and embody our ideals of openness, tolerance and respect. This combination of academic excellence and community spirit ensures AUS is filled with world-class faculty and students, poised to become the innovators, thinkers, contributors and leaders of tomorrow.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Sharjah 24
13 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
AUS engineering graduate progs reaffirmed with CAA accreditation
The CAA is responsible for licensing higher education institutions and evaluating their academic programs for accreditation. It works with both international and local authorities to safeguard academic standards and enhance the learning experience for students in higher education institutions. The 10 programs that received renewed accreditation include the master of science degrees in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, construction management, computer engineering, electrical engineering, engineering systems management, mechanical engineering and mechatronics engineering, as well as the PhD in Engineering - Engineering Systems Management. The renewed accreditation comes at a time of significant advancement for graduate engineering education at AUS, marked by the launch of CEN 2.0 Graduate—a comprehensive enhancement of all graduate programs within the college. This new framework introduces coursework-only tracks across all master's programs, providing students with the flexibility to choose between thesis and non-thesis options. To accommodate working professionals, classes are offered in the evenings and on weekends. Core and elective courses have also been updated to reflect global trends and market demand, with an emphasis on areas such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation and sustainability. Dr. Fadi Aloul, Dean of CEN, said: 'This renewed accreditation affirms the strength and strategic direction of our graduate programs and their alignment with national development priorities and global innovation trends. It reflects the trust placed in AUS as a hub for advanced engineering education and research excellence. Through our rigorous academic frameworks and industry-relevant curricula, we are preparing future leaders who will shape the technologies, infrastructure and sustainable solutions of tomorrow.' CEN will further expand its graduate offerings with the introduction of two new doctoral programmes in Fall 2025—one in civil and environmental engineering and another in electrical and computer engineering—strengthening the college's interdisciplinary and research-driven approach. 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 2 percent of scientists by the latest 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 programs. 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.


The National
14 hours ago
- The National
Vegetation in UAE deserts grew by 40% after 2024 floods
The flood that hit the UAE in April last year caused an increase in greenery in the country's desert landscapes, research has found. Vegetation in some areas increased by up to 40 per cent compared to the same time in 2023 and this has had a lasting impact, which is 'very surprising', climate scientist Dr Diana Francis told The National. 'If you drive through the desert now, you'll see green patches growing on the dunes. That's not something we are used to seeing in the UAE,' she added. Dr Francis, head of the environmental and geophysical sciences lab at Khalifa University, co-wrote the paper published in the npj Climate and Atmospheric Science journal. She said it provided evidence that extreme weather was beginning to reshape ecosystems and alter local climates. 'Of course, this has an impact on the ecosystem, on the biodiversity, the small animals that live there, and also in the long term,' she said. Boosting biodiversity Dr Andrew Gardner, associate director of biodiversity conservation at Emirates Nature-WWF, agreed that weather events such as the 2024 floods can have a profound impact on local ecosystems. 'Such rare bursts of vegetation can temporarily boost biodiversity. Insects become more abundant, which supports lizards and, in turn, predators like snakes,' he said. 'In May [2024], for instance, we witnessed a dramatic emergence of snout moths, whose caterpillars feed on these desert plants,' he said. This biodiversity also supports small mammals such as gerbils and their predators, including falcons and desert monitor lizards. However, Dr Gardner warned that such ecological responses are fascinating but 'they are short-term and cannot offset the broader risks and disruptions posed by increasingly erratic climate patterns'. Shifting tropical boundaries Such weather could potentially cause climate zones to shift, Dr Francis said. 'More vegetation means more moisture exchange and can even shift the boundary between arid and tropical zones.' She said her study, which was published in May, aligns with earlier work suggesting the tropics are expanding, bringing more humid conditions to traditionally dry areas. That could fundamentally alter ecosystems and biodiversity in the Middle East. Dr Gardner added that, in the Abu Dhabi desert, a flush of ephemeral plants – which grow only briefly when conditions are favourable – was observed. 'Remarkably, some of this vegetation has persisted even in the absence of further rainfall into 2024,' he added. While 2024 was the wettest year on record for the UAE, 2025 has so far has been the driest, with April and May breaching temperature records. Such fluctuations are driven by climate change, Dr Francis said. Climate concern The study confirmed that human-driven climate change made last year's rainfall in the UAE, the heaviest in 75 years, far more likely in the future. The research used cutting-edge climate attribution science to examine the rainfall, Dr Francis explained. 'We compare simulations of the actual event with a hypothetical version under pre-industrial conditions. What we found was that anthropogenic [human-influenced] climate change dramatically increased both the intensity and likelihood of this event,' she said. Is extreme weather the new normal? Dr Francis said fluctuations between extreme heat and extreme rainfall showed 'the fingerprint of climate change'. 'The Arabian Sea is warming rapidly, and with warmer oceans comes more evaporation, which fuels heavier rainfall events,' she added. A key finding of the study was the role of a weather pattern that meant saturated air from the Arabian Sea lingered over the UAE for 12 hours, significantly compounding the severity of last year's storm. 'Such events usually pass within hours,' Dr Francis explained. 'But this one was sustained due to unusual atmospheric and oceanic conditions. With ocean surface temperatures rising, similar set-ups are increasingly likely.' Need for resilient cities The study includes an analysis of the effect of the flooding on urban infrastructure. The findings suggest existing drainage systems and land use policies need to be enhanced to cope with such extreme weather. 'Our cities are not designed to absorb these volumes of water,' Dr Francis said. 'If we keep covering land with impermeable concrete, water has nowhere to go. We need to rethink urban planning with more green space and better drainage to reduce future damage.' Plans are already under way. In Dubai, a Dh30 billion ($8.16 billion) drainage plan was approved last year. The system aims to increase rainwater drainage capacity by 700 per cent, meet the emirate's needs for 100 years and ensure the city is ready to face 'climate-related challenges'. Hot topic Dr Francis and her team are turning their attention to extreme heat. 'We're studying past heatwaves from a public health perspective, and we're also integrating artificial intelligence into weather models,' she said. 'AI might help us improve the short-term forecasting of extreme events.' She also said more vegetation in the desert would affect its ability to reflect solar radiation back into the atmosphere, potentially leading to hotter conditions. 'Instead of being all yellow, it is now yellow and green,' she said. 'It's not the same energy that is being absorbed by the surface of the desert.'


Zawya
15 hours ago
- Zawya
Excellence of AUS engineering graduate programs reaffirmed with renewed CAA accreditation
Sharjah, UAE – The College of Engineering (CEN) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) has received renewed accreditation from the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) for 10 of its graduate programs through October 31, 2031. The CAA is responsible for licensing higher education institutions and evaluating their academic programs for accreditation. It works with both international and local authorities to safeguard academic standards and enhance the learning experience for students in higher education institutions. The 10 programs that received renewed accreditation include the master of science degrees in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, construction management, computer engineering, electrical engineering, engineering systems management, mechanical engineering and mechatronics engineering, as well as the PhD in Engineering - Engineering Systems Management. The renewed accreditation comes at a time of significant advancement for graduate engineering education at AUS, marked by the launch of CEN 2.0 Graduate—a comprehensive enhancement of all graduate programs within the college. This new framework introduces coursework-only tracks across all master's programs, providing students with the flexibility to choose between thesis and non-thesis options. To accommodate working professionals, classes are offered in the evenings and on weekends. Core and elective courses have also been updated to reflect global trends and market demand, with an emphasis on areas such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation and sustainability. Dr. Fadi Aloul, Dean of CEN, said: 'This renewed accreditation affirms the strength and strategic direction of our graduate programs and their alignment with national development priorities and global innovation trends. It reflects the trust placed in AUS as a hub for advanced engineering education and research excellence. Through our rigorous academic frameworks and industry-relevant curricula, we are preparing future leaders who will shape the technologies, infrastructure and sustainable solutions of tomorrow.' CEN will further expand its graduate offerings with the introduction of two new doctoral programs in Fall 2025—one in civil and environmental engineering and another in electrical and computer engineering—strengthening the college's interdisciplinary and research-driven approach. 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 2 percent of scientists by the latest 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 programs. 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. To learn more, visit For more information, please contact: Samar Saeed, PR and Media Specialist, Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing at AUS, smahmoud@ About AUS American University of Sharjah (AUS) was founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah. Sheikh Sultan articulated his vision of a distinctive institution against the backdrop of Islamic history and in the context of the aspirations and needs of contemporary society in the UAE and the Gulf region. Firmly grounded in principles of meritocracy and with a strong reputation for academic excellence, AUS has come to represent the very best in teaching and research, accredited internationally and recognized by employers the world over for creating graduates equipped with the knowledge, skills and drive to lead in the 21st century. AUS values learners not driven only by academic success, but by those that embrace our dynamic campus life and embody our ideals of openness, tolerance and respect. This combination of academic excellence and community spirit ensures AUS is filled with world-class faculty and students, poised to become the innovators, thinkers, contributors and leaders of tomorrow.