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AUC presents course details to
Omani students
By Ali Ahmed al Riyami
MUSCAT — The American
University in Cairo (AUC) was presented in detail to prospective students
studying in the Sultanate who are set to take up university placements for
further studies, at a special seminar held at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel
here yesterday. The presentation was given by AUC staff member Rana Salama,
Enrolment Officer, and Shireen Ali, Enrolment Representative and Assistant
Manager, while the University Director — Office of Enrolment and Student
Service Centre, Randa M Kamel, elaborated on the presentation and clarified
queries from the audience.
AUC was first established in 1919 and over the years it has attracted
numerous students from all around the world, seeking US accredited degrees
and diplomas for courses studied in Egypt. Over the past few years, the main
campus has shifted from Madan al Tahrir to its new location in New Cairo.
The new campus is 25 times larger than the old one and has a 25 per cent
increase in its intake of international students. The old campus is used as
a centre for continuing adult education. The US accreditation means that any
certificate attained at AUC is recognised worldwide and if higher studies
are pursued in the US or elsewhere, then it is possible to do so with AUC
issued qualifications.
Thanks to the increased space afforded, since AUC moved to its current
location, there is a low student to lecturer ratio of only 12:1. The small
classes allow students to gain more personal attention from, and greater
interaction with, their tutors. The university now offers 25 ‘majors’ and 40
‘minors’ from which their students can choose from several different
categories, such as Science and Engineering, Biology, Computer Science and
Engineering, Business, Public Affairs and Humanities and Social Studies. AUC
has a philosophy of promoting ‘liberal education’, i.e. allowing for
flexibility in the subjects studied, which gives students much greater
exposure to different study areas.
The students’ freshman (first) year is a chance — for those wishing to do so
— for them to explore and select alternative subjects that they may wish to
study. Advisory counsellors can assist students in their selection, allowing
them to select the most suitable courses to follow. The university has a
comprehensive range of facilities including state-of-the-art computer labs,
one of the biggest fully-automated libraries in the Middle East, group and
individual study areas and a food court that offers different varieties of
food. Career counselling is given twice a year, where international
companies have one-to-one sessions with the students, which ensures easy
access to employment after graduation.
AUC also has a thriving ‘student life’ with over 40 clubs from which to
choose from, as well as the option of forming one’s own club. There is a
community service programme, a huge gymnasium, Olympic size swimming pool
and sports grounds. AUC offers scholarships for qualifying students.
Admission requirements: IGSE’s minimum grade C; ‘A’ levels minimum grade D
and at least a 75 per cent grade mark for secondary school certificates, as
well as English language proficiency requirement. The FYE (first year
enrolment) induction gives student a good grounding on the university and
allows them to become acquainted with AUC lecturers and professors. |
