One of the Best Universities in Kuwait: American University of Kuwait
The American University of Kuwait (AUK) is one of the best universities in Kuwat; an independent, private, equal opportunity, and coeducational liberal arts institution of higher education. The educational, cultural, and administrative structure, methods and standards of AUK are based on the American model of higher learning.
The American University of Kuwait (AUK) is an independent, private, equal opportunity, and coeducational liberal arts institution of higher education in Kuwait. The educational, cultural, and administrative structure, methods and standards of AUK are based on the American model of higher learning.
Students receive instruction in academic skills, time management, and stress reduction. At AUK students will find opportunities for internships, creative talent development, health and fitness maintenance, and community involvement.
While AUK is the second private university in Kuwait it is the FIRST liberal arts university in Kuwait. In line with its mission and the liberal arts spirit, AUK is committed to creating an enlightened and progressive educational culture in which all students, faculty and staff, regardless of nationality, creed, or position, will co-exist and help create a dynamic and equitable environment. All members of AUK are expected to respect the diverse nature of the AUK community and interact in a manner that is respectful of such, and that supports a commitment to life-long learning and the pursuit of academic excellence in higher education. The University encourages the freedom to engage in academic inquiry, and the fair exchange of ideas, and as such supports open access to and dissemination of information.
To be the best, AUK is committed to a liberal-arts model of education (including business), through which students are encouraged to take courses and participate in activities that go beyond their selected fields of study or Major. To cultivate this breadth of knowledge, the University requires of all students a foundational set of General Education requirements upon which students build their University education.
AUK currently offers thirteen degree programs. In addition, students receive instruction in academic skills, time management, and stress reduction. At AUK students will find opportunities for internships, creative talent development, health and fitness maintenance, and community involvement.
AUK’s College of Arts and Sciences and College of Business and Economics offer excellent undergraduate programs leading to Bachelor’s degrees (BA, BBA, BE, and BS). Students enroll in a diverse array of majors and minors, working closely with outstanding faculty and learning resource units, to pursue their educational goals. Its mission is to serve all undergraduate students with personalized, attentive, caring, and high-quality academic experiences that support their personal and professional development. Our students receive a comprehensive education blended in the tradition of liberal arts education that helps them not only enter the workforce after graduation or continue their education in graduate or professional school, but also become well-rounded, engaged citizens.
The College of Arts and Sciences oversees eight degree programs:
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Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media
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Bachelor of Arts in English
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Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design
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Bachelor of Arts in International Relations
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Bachelor of Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences
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Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering
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Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science in Information Systems
The College of Business and Economics oversees five degree programs:
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Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
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Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics
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Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance
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Bachelor of Business Administration in Management
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Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing
AUK also has a Center for Continuing Education (CCE) which offers programs and services that complement those of the Colleges and the Intensive English Program. The Center for Continuing Education’s mission is to enrich the lives of people of all ages in the greater community and beyond by providing extraordinary learning opportunities at the American University of Kuwait.
CCE anticipates and responds to the needs of business, industry, the professions, individual students groups and communities. It establishes the importance of continuing education and lifelong learning and its distinctive role alongside the University’s other activities.
History
Founder and Chair of AUK Sheikha Dana Nasser Sabah Al-Sabah and a group of private investors envisioned the establishment of a private liberal arts university, the first of its kind in Kuwait. Several years later the vision became a reality and AUK was established by Amiri Decree 139 in 2003, and opened its doors in September 2004. It was accredited in 2006 and re-accredited in 2008, by the Private Universities Council, Ministry of Higher Education – State of Kuwait.
AUK started its operations with about 40 staff members and 27 faculty members offering a total of 31 courses in 84 sections. Eight degree programs were offered then. Student enrollment stood at 420 students – 241 students enrolled in the Undergraduate program and 179 students enrolled in the pre-University Intensive English Program.
By the 2011-2012 academic year, student enrollment in the Undergraduate program reached 1685 students. AUK currently employs 110 faculty members where 72% are full-timers and 88.4% are PhD/terminal degree holders, and 133 staff members.
As is evident by the above numbers AUK has been growing steadily in a number of ways. Our faculty has increased as well as our degree programs and courses offered ensuring that we accommodate the needs of the Kuwaiti Market as well as those of our students.
Accreditation
AUK has received accreditation for many of its programs including:
Local Institutional Accreditation
The American University of Kuwait received its Institutional Accreditation from the Private Universities Council (PUC) – Ministry of Higher Education in the State of Kuwait, as of February 1st, 2006.
Program Accreditation
The Intensive English Program at AUK is accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) for the period August 2009 through August 2014 and upholds the CEA Standards for English Language Program and Institutions.
The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Baccalaureate/Graduate Degree Board of Commissioners has awarded the American University of Kuwait accreditation of five (5) years to the Business and Economics Division on November 14, 2010. ACBSP accreditation certifies that the teaching and learning processes within the Business & Economics Division of the American University of Kuwait meet the rigorous educational standards established by ACBSP.
Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and Ivy League University and one of the best in the world is the international partner institution to the American University of Kuwait (AUK)
The American University of Kuwait was awarded International Program Accreditation from The American Academy for Liberal Education’s (AALE) Board of Trustees for its Arts and Humanities Division, Social Sciences Division as well as the University General Education Program for a five (5) year period, ending September 30, 2016. AALE Membership certifies that the institution meets or exceeds the Academy’s independently established Education Standards.
Dartmouth Connection
Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and Ivy League University and one of the best in the world is the international partner institution to the American University of Kuwait (AUK), as defined by the Private Universities Council of the State of Kuwait (Resolution no. PUC (5/21-2/2005). Dartmouth and AUK have worked closely together since 2003, when the two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding that facilitated a series of advisory, consultative, and cooperative projects. The initial agreement was renewed in June 2008 to extend through 2013. The two institutions share a commitment to excellence in higher learning, and the agreement between them reflects AUK’s growing stature as a premier academic institution in the Gulf region and beyond. With its deep and historic commitment to the liberal arts, Dartmouth recognizes the importance of AUK’s mission and works to support the University as it develops a superlative education, based on the principles of critical inquiry, mastery of subject material, depth of curriculum, and a vibrant experience in the classroom and on campus.
Dartmouth and AUK collaborate on numerous programs, and Dartmouth provides a wide range of administrative and academic consulting services to AUK. The two institutions have developed a flourishing relationship that involves faculty, students, and staff in both locations. Dartmouth experts in engineering, information technology, library sciences, communications, governance, and other areas routinely visit Kuwait while students, faculty, and staff from Kuwait travel to the United States to work with their counterparts at Dartmouth. AUK’s commitment to providing a premier learning environment based on the American model resonates with Dartmouth’s history and its understanding of the importance of higher learning in a global context. Since the relationship began, the two institutions have steadily deepened and expanded their partnership, creating a dynamic, evolving, and unique cross-cultural collaboration.