Over the next few years the university will add new fields of specialisation, and it is evaluating the merits of several options at the present time. One of the major factors AUK will consider in this process is the evolving nature of the Kuwaiti economy

The American University of Kuwait (AUK), an independent, private, equal opportunity, and coeducational liberal arts institution of higher education, is expanding by adding two new buildings to the sprawling university campus, and introducing new academic programmes.

"Of direct interest to the oil and gas industry, AUK offers high quality undergraduate degrees in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Information Systems, as well as in several business fields. In the coming years, we will introduce more degrees in engineering and business," says Dr Tim Sullivan, President, AUK, which was established by Amiri Decree 139 in 2003.

"We have started construction on two additional buildings on campus, which we plan to officially open in 2019. These new structures will enable us to enhance our already excellent labs and classrooms for degree programmes such as Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Art and Graphic Design, as well as for enrichment programmes in Music and Theater," says Dr Sullivan.

Over the next few years AUK will add new fields of specialisation, and it is evaluating the merits of several options at the present time. One of the major factors AUK will consider in this process is the evolving nature of the Kuwaiti economy and job market, he says.

Meanwhile, AUK has completed the construction and officially opened a beautiful and highly functional Student Center. The centre has a student lounge, two gyms, a multipurpose sports court, and all student admin services offices. The facility is very well designed to be an attractive place for work and interaction among students.

In the coming years, AUK will also continue working on local and international accreditation. Accreditation of Computer Science and Information Systems is under way. AUK is also working on accreditation in business, graphic design, and art; and planning for accreditation in electrical engineering.

The university already has Institutional Accreditation from the Private Universities Council (PUC) of the Ministry of Higher Education in Kuwait. Its Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree programme in Computer Engineering has received accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

"Our Intensive English Program (IEP) has renewed its accreditation by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA). We also renewed accreditation for Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, and the University General Education Program by the American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE) Board of Commissioners," he says.

Dr Sullivan points out that AUK is a small and growing institution that provides students with broad education in the arts and sciences as well as a solid foundation in the field of their specialisation.

For those who enter the job market, AUK strives to prepare them for their first job, their last job and every job in between. The world of work is constantly changing, and today’s graduates must be prepared for a lifetime of change, he observes.

This means that they must be equipped to be lifelong learners, and a liberal arts education is specifically designed to give students the underpinning that will enable them to adjust to change and ideally to be agents of change rather than its victims, he says.

The American University of Kuwait

"Besides being the first and only liberal arts institution in Kuwait, our student life is what makes us distinct. We have a vibrant campus located in a vibrant neighborhood. The moment you step into AUK, you see an engaged campus community that makes you think that everyone is outside their classrooms. You step into our buildings and you see busy classrooms and busy labs.

"This is how we designed our educational environment. We value small classes, excellent faculty, and we focus on student activities that can also be learning experiences. We want our students to arrive on campus early and stay late and learn in between, and not just in the classroom," says Dr Sullivan.

One of AUK’s goals is to introduce and foster a climate of interdisciplinary interaction. People cannot continue to think in terms of their programme and their department and their courses without necessarily thinking about what could be gained if they worked with others. Breaking the boundaries between disciplines can generate new ideas and create synergistic opportunities across disciplines, he notes.

To a question how the fall in oil prices has affected the educational sector, Dr Sullivan says although education is not directly affected by oil prices, being in an economy which heavily relies on the oil industry has a broad impact on all industries.

"But, I always believe there is an opportunity within each challenge. We are hoping that the decline in oil prices will generate more interest in liberal arts education. Think about it this way, employment in the government sector is highly sought by Kuwaiti nationals who occupy nearly 80 per cent of government and civilian jobs. After the latest decline in oil prices in, Kuwait has introduced strategies to diversify economic activity and foster the growth of the private sector. The plan is to replace 85,000 expatriate employees of the private sector with Kuwaiti nationals by the year 2022. If this is the case, then AUK - being the only liberal arts university in Kuwait - has a great market opportunity."

Following a holistic educational approach, liberal arts equips students with the skills that are sought by the private sector labour market. Liberal arts offers not only a flexible curriculum and an engaging pedagogy, but also an administrative structure, a governance system, and a campus culture that emphasise critical thinking, inquisitiveness, open dialogue, and global exposure, all of which are pivotal for the development of the private sector, he says.