Sheikh Bodour tours the Club Fair and meets students.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), inaugurated Club Fair on September 19, which saw the participation of 115 student clubs, organizations and student affairs offices. 

Sheikha Bodour toured the Club Fair and met with students. She was accompanied by AUS Board of Trustees members Sheikh Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi, founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah; Mr. Ahmad Abu Eideh, Chief Executive Officer, Invest Bank; and Ms. Bedour Saeed Al Raqbani, Emirati social entrepreneur. 

From meeting Socrates, exploring the wonders of chemistry and learning about sustainability to savoring traditional cuisine from around the world, the two-day Club Fair is a time when the campus becomes abuzz with music, colors, culture and much more, offering students the chance to explore a wide range of extracurricular activities on campus and connect with peers sharing similar interests.  

Prioritizing a dynamic campus experience that focuses on social development and student well-being, AUS caters to more than 90 nationalities on its culturally-diverse campus, which has ranked it among the top five universities with the highest percentage of international studentsو according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings (2022). 

Club Fair participants included 106 clubs and student organizations, the AUS Student Council, six departments from the Office of Student Affairs and AUS Safety and Security.

This Club Fair, visitors to the UAE Cultural Club booth were in for a treat as they explored the theme “From the Desert to Space,” learning about the country’s traditions and culture as well as its space exploration aspirations.

“We wanted to offer AUS students, especially in their first year and those who are new to the UAE, an opportunity to learn more about our country. From enjoying traditional snacks such as coffee and Emirati sweets known as luqaimat, taking part in trivia quizzes about the UAE and spinning the wheel for gifts to paying tribute to UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, there is a lot to be enjoyed at our booth,” said Yousef Mansour Algargawi, President of UAE Cultural Club.

He added: “Club Fair is an important event because it helps new students transition from school to university and make new friends. This is an opportunity to explore new hobbies, be part of different clubs, discover new skills and focus on developing a social life to balance with academia.”

Among the participating student organizations was the Astronomy Club which offered visitors and space enthusiasts a fun experience as they explored vast constellations and mysteries of the galaxies.

“Our theme is retro. We offer fun games, exciting refreshments, cool photo spots and cosmic giveaways! From guessing constellations to enjoying our cosmic cinnamon buns and moon juice, visitors to our booth can also take pictures with our retro-themed wall and our astronaut photo prop!” said Hafsa Hamid, President of the Astronomy Club.

For more information on student clubs and organizations at AUS, visit www.aus.edu/life-at-aus/student-life/clubs-and-organizations.