The American University in Dubai (AUD) will provide Dh15 million ($4 million) in academic, departmental and athletic scholarships during 2010-2011 academic year.

The governing board of the university recently held its annual meeting to discuss the future plans and expansions of the university, to approve budgets, and oversee academic progress.
 
The board approved the 2010-2011 Strategic Plan and the annual budget.

“There is little doubt that AUD is well on its way to becoming a premiere institution of higher learning in the Gulf. Integral to this positioning are its American accreditation and academic standards,” said Dr Stephen Franklin, chairman of the AUD governing board.

“As for providing Dh15 million in scholarships for this academic year, it is a testimony to AUD’s commitment to cultivate and reward excellence by enrolling top high school students from around the Arab world,” he said.   

The board approved the addition of a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME), as well as Digital Media concentration within the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication program from September 2010.  Programs in the pipeline include a Master’s in Education, Master of Information Technology, and a Master’s in Science in Construction Management.

The most recent addition to the university’s facilities – a student centre which includes an indoor gymnasium, cafeteria/food court, barber shop, banking services and offices for student clubs – provides a physical platform for significantly enhancing on-campus student life, said a statement.

Construction of a library extension, additional dormitories, and a tower to house the Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication are also planned by 2015, it said. – TradeArabia News Service