It is unquestionable that one of the most important regions in modern economics, politics, and arts and sciences is the Middle East. And with fast growing economies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE quickly becoming hot destination for international companies, students who are looking to gain experience in a culture that will help their future job prospects should take note.
Recently voted as the "Capital for Islamic Culture" by the Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture, Sharjah, and the American University of Sharjah is full of great opportunities for students who are planning to study abroad.
Why should I study abroad in Sharjah and the UAE?
Sharjah is located just outside Dubai, one of the Middle East's major financial, business, and cultural hubs, with a hugely growing and diverse economy that features top corporations from all around the world. Because of this, both the UAE and Sharjah are made up of a diverse population, with Emiratis being only about twenty percent of the total. This means that your time abroad will be both a truly global and diverse experience.
What does the American University of Sharjah have to offer?
The American University of Sharjah is a UAE institution that is based off of the North American style of university education, and follows the same methods of classroom instruction that promote individual thinking and progression, and the application of knowledge. Nearly half of the university's full-time staff are Canadian or American citizens, while the student population is represented by over 50 different countries from all regions of the globe. The university also operates on the North American semester calendar, making it easy to schedule your time abroad and transfer credits.
What types of programs can I study?
The American University of Sharjah offers a wide variety of fully accredited undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the College of Architecture, Art and Design, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the School of Business Administration. In fact, the American University of Sharjah, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, was the first university in the Middle East and second outside the US to receive the ABET accreditation from the Computing Accreditation Commission.
What can I expect in the future?
The academic programs at the American University of Sharjah, along with their alumni network and career services department will go a long way to helping you land a job following graduation. For students looking to continue their travels after studying, the UAE is also home to one of the biggest and most lucrative markets for teaching English as a second language.
Whether you're just looking to spend a semester abroad, or potentially starting a career, the UAE and the American University of Sharjah offer great opportunities that are unique to the burgeoning region of the UAE.
Robert Blake is a blogger who has travelled, worked and studied within the UAE.
Photo Credit: Burj Al Arab, Dubai: Image by Joi Ito used under the Creative Commons license.
Read more student travel stories at The College Tourist.