A Great Academic Year to Become an Even Greater Sequel

As the last academic year slips into the sunset and a new one dawns, we have good reason to be proud of what we’ve accomplished together and the successes on the horizon. Thanks to all our stakeholders, AU’s position as a leader in higher education grows stronger by the day.

From the Desk of Chancellor Seghir

A Monthly Statement Issued by the Chancellor of Ajman University

Karim Seghir, Ph.D.
Chancellor
Ajman University

University St., Al jerf 1, Ajman United Arab Emirates

OUR LOCATION

University St., Al jerf 1, Ajman United Arab Emirates

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September 2025

Our first full year as a non-profit university was both challenging and exciting. We focused on building capacity to develop sustainable alternative revenue sources. It also marked an improvement in our QS global ranking from #477 to #440. We saw significant growth in research output, with each faculty member publishing an average of six SCOPUS-indexed papers. Additionally, we launched new academic and professional programs to meet emerging market needs. We also made progress in institutional innovation by forming partnerships and creating knowledge-economy hubs.

By the time we concluded Academic Year 2024-2025, our achievements were far-reaching and deeply impactful:

Our alumni continued to make their mark globally by leading companies, launching startups, and giving back to their communities. In the case of Lacina Koné, who earned a bachelor's degree in electronic engineering from AU in 1993, it’s all three at once! As the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Smart Africa, headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda, Mr. Kone is helping usher Africa into a knowledge economy through affordable access to broadband and the use of information and communications technologies.

It was also the year we started counting down to AU’s 40th anniversary in 2028. Launched in 1988 as the first private university in the UAE and the GCC (and the first to accept expats), our 40th year provides an excellent opportunity for reflection, evaluation, and further ascension.

Our initial preparations for AU’s 40th Anniversary celebration events are now moving into implementation. The AU Team is busy with the capital campaign, three gala fundraisers, and numerous alumni activities. We’re also getting ready to introduce digital transformations, several research centers, partnership initiatives, and a wide array of interdisciplinary academic programs and professional services.

A Journey and a Destination

AU’s journey this academic year aims for greater regional prominence and increased global visibility. It’s a pathway to possibility that involves challenges and risks – a natural part of any growth. We will strive for nothing less than genuine, externally verifiable, world-class standards. Our shared goal is leadership in the digital age, with rigor and relevance achieved equally.

We are building the necessary infrastructure to sustainably add value to our knowledge economy, transforming our society into a community of learners, and establishing as many joint platforms with industry as possible. The common theme across all our programs and activities is readiness for the future, which is already here. We are not just part of the paradigm shift; we are leading it from the front. We want you to be co-leaders with us because we deeply value your insights and life experiences.

We are deeply grateful to our friends and supporters whose generosity makes our mission possible and continues to drive AU forward.

The future success of our initiatives depends on stakeholder responses to our call for support and our goals for ongoing cooperation. We want to strengthen our relationship with each of you – grounded in the shared belief that we complement each other on the path toward leadership in the knowledge economy.

Your generosity in giving of yourselves empowers us to realize AU’s immense potential in supporting our country’s vision of global leadership. We are prepared to collaborate with you in as many areas as we can jointly imagine, and we will be reaching out to you soon through various channels and at different levels.

Together we can.

And we will.

Graduation reminds us of what we strive for: AU students crossing the stage, diplomas in hand, ready to lead and make a difference.

Achieving 1,400 faculty research publications in indexed journals, with 20 faculty members recognized among Stanford’s top 2% of researchers in their fields.
Starting a donor-supported Center for Inclusive Learning to ensure that students of all abilities have the tools they need to thrive.
Commencing preparatory work to establish a Center for Executive Education.
Introducing new plans to expand the role of our AI Research Center with a parallel wave of micro-credentials, ensuring our leadership in digital transformation.
Launching several interdisciplinary initiatives, including the country’s first inter-professional education program covering medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and nursing.
Planning and executing a comprehensive fundraising infrastructure and launching it rapidly. The result was the development of, wholly or partly, over twelve fundraising proposals, including several naming initiatives.
Launching a first-of-its-kind brand perception survey to assess the external AU brand equity strength from multiple stakeholders. The results will be available soon.

Beyond institutional milestones, our greatest pride always lies in the achievements of our students and alumni. Last academic year, AU students earned the top awards in numerous regional competitions. They also participated in a record number of internships and exchange programs. We even saw a classroom contribute virtually to the building of homes for vulnerable communities in Burkina Faso and water wells in Kyrgyzstan. Our students also worked alongside Ajman community members to help plant 3,700 mangrove seedlings along our Emirate’s shoreline – an initiative that has since won recognition worldwide.

Shaping the future together: AU students and faculty continue to innovate through research, collaboration, and real-world impact.

The Road Ahead for AU+YOU

We start the 2025-2026 Academic Year with earned confidence and firm determination. We are ready to accomplish more than ever before! Our plans are broad, diverse, and deeply aligned with our values. Here’s a preview:

Naming the two colleges of Business and Engineering after donors, both are subject to appropriate major gifts.
Pushing the frontiers of sustainability research and practices by establishing the named “AU Sustainability Center of Excellence,” which is also subject to an appropriate donation. Our award-winning sustainability office is already recognized as a regional leader with strong connections worldwide.
Establishing a multi-faceted named “Center for UAE Heritage” to document, archive, propagate, and celebrate our rich cultural legacy.
Starting the country’s first COOP degree program, signaling a new phase in partnering with industry.
Launching another UAE first by way of a Bio-Equivalence Center that should prove invaluable to the Pharma industry. Getting the Center named is a priority.
Preparing to introduce several new innovative degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Seeing our plans for creating the country’s first “Center for Executive Education” materialize. It will be a professional resource like no other, catering to the learning needs of C-Suite senior executives through a carefully planned menu of micro-credentials offered on an open enrollment as well as a company-specific basis.
Hosting for our first Alumni Conference, our first executive education symposium, and three grand galas (one in each of 2026, 27, and 28).
Expanding our already existing Dental Clinic into a comprehensive Integrated mobile medical clinic. subject to a naming opportunity.
Launching the all-new “AU+YOU Impact Experience,” an interactive digital magazine that maps the real-world impact of our global community.

Now, more than ever, we welcome you to join us on the road ahead.

We’re expanding our Dental Clinic into a comprehensive Integrated Mobile Medical Clinic, bringing even greater care directly to our community.

We’re proud to be launching another UAE first with the introduction of a Bio-Equivalence Center, set to be a vital resource for the Pharma industry. Securing a naming partner is a top priority.