AUS Board of Trustees convenes in UK, approves key measures

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) Board of Trustees, chaired by Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of AUS, convened on October 15, 2025, in Cambridge, UK, to advance targeted measures that reinforce financial clarity, institutional readiness and governance oversight, supporting AUS’ mission and long-term strategic direction.

The board meeting was held alongside AUS’ Community Connect Cambridge delegation programme, part of a recently launched AUS outreach initiative which brought representatives from Sharjah ecosystem institutions to Cambridge for knowledge exchange, site visits and partnership exploration.

Sheikha Bodour said: “Meeting in Cambridge carries special meaning for me. It’s a place that shaped and refined my relationship with knowledge, curiosity and learning. As a Board, our work strengthens the foundation for that same spirit to thrive at AUS. It’s our task to govern and develop policies that build resilience and momentum, so the university can serve its students, faculty, and community with clarity and purpose for many generations to come.”

The board approved revisions to the AUS Delegation of Authority Manual to clarify financial approval authorities and processes, endorsed the audit-related Business Continuity Management Policy to reinforce oversight and operational continuity, and renamed the Audit and Compliance Committee as the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee to align its remit with international best practices and integrated assurance.

“These actions sharpen how we govern in service of our academic mission,” said Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS.

“By clarifying financial authorities, formalising a comprehensive business continuity framework and aligning committee oversight to encompass audit, risk and compliance, we are enhancing the university’s capacity to act decisively and responsibly. This is about protecting the student and faculty experience, supporting innovation and research and ensuring that AUS continues to deliver against its strategic priorities in a dynamic operating environment.”

Recently, AUS achieved its strongest results in the QS World University Rankings, climbing 60 places to reach 272 globally in the 2026 edition.

This new position places AUS among the top 18 per cent of institutions worldwide — a consistent upward trend since 2018.

The results reflect marked improvements across indicators such as employer reputation, academic reputation and citations per faculty. Globally, AUS ranked third for international faculty and fourth for international student diversity.

Within the UAE, AUS ranked first for employer reputation and international student diversity and second for employment outcomes. It also retained its position among the top three universities nationally overall and made notable progress in academic reputation — rising from the top five to third place.

It also maintained its strong standing in the top three nationally for international faculty.

These latest results also reflect AUS’ recent strategic investments in faculty recruitment, facilities, academic programmes and high-impact research and innovation. The university launched six new research centres last year and continues to strengthen its research capabilities, with a focus on delivering real-world impact.

Recent advances have included several patents for a targeted breast cancer therapy using immunoliposomes — tiny, fat-based carriers designed to deliver drugs directly to cancer cells — combined with ultrasound; compact radars for mini drones; and the launch of AUS’ first university spin-off, ClymAct, which leverages blockchain technology to enable transparent carbon trading.

Over the past couple of years, AUS has also increased its degree programmes by about 33 per cent, notably at the doctoral and Masters levels.

Sheikha Bodour said, “This achievement further validates the shared vision to develop AUS as a world-class centre of academic excellence, beneficial research and global engagement.