American University of Sharjah (AUS) marked the start of its 20th anniversary celebrations today with a commemorative event. A series of functions planned throughout the year will recognize the significant accomplishments of the faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Over the past 20 years, AUS has become one of the region's most outstanding universities, offering a world-class, American-accredited education characterized by excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, research and service. AUS alumni have pursued graduate studies at top institutions around the world and have become leaders in their respective fields. AUS was recently named among the world's top 60 institutions under 50 years old by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings for 2018 and was the only institution in the United Arab Emirates to achieve a 4-star rating.

Attended by faculty, staff, students, alumni, the event featured remarks by members of the campus community, performances from student groups and the AUS Performing Arts Program, and a film covering the university's past 20 years. Partners from business, industry, and government also attended the event to celebrate two decades of productive cooperation.

AUS Chancellor Dr. Björn Kjerfve used the occasion to congratulate AUS founder His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, the UAE Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of AUS. He said:

"With the construction works of AUS completed in only 11 months, in 1997, the speed with which the founder of AUS translated his vision and plans of a new kind of university into the reality of our magnificent campus has become a legend in the Gulf".

Chancellor Kjerfve added, "American University of Sharjah has succeeded in building a multicultural education environment that brings together people from diverse nations and backgrounds. AUS strives to instill in its students the importance of appreciating and understanding diversity, global issues and their own roles in society."

AUS Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Susan Karamanian, said of the celebrations:

"Academic rigor distinguishes AUS. But AUS is also known for the quality of interpersonal interactions among students, faculty and staff. The learning experience goes beyond the classroom as a wide selection of extracurricular activities fosters a rich and vibrant campus life.

She added, "Many factors contribute to AUS's distinction in the region, including the reputation of our Founder, our magnificent architecture, the qualifications and dedication of our faculty, the state-of-the-art equipment in our laboratories, and the reputation of our graduates who are highly sought after in the market place."

On Saturday, October 4, 1997, history was in the making. AUS had 285 students on the first day of classes, taught by 30 faculty members. Today, the university is a stunning complex of buildings, with over 370 highly-trained men and women representing a full-time faculty, and over 5,800 students attending this year alone. Since 1997, AUS has been a very bold experiment in which a new synthesis of American higher education traditions and the cultural traditions of the Gulf has been created.

People are invited to stay engaged in the AUS 20th anniversary celebrations using the official hashtag: #AUScelebrates20