Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, 5 January 2018, (AETOSWire): The American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) organized a meeting with the Trade Commissioner and Regional Education Coordinator of the Embassy of Canada, Mabelle Sawaqed-Hen, which aimed to discuss the possibility of establishing international partnerships with Canadian universities.

AURAK Associate Provost for Academic and Student Affairs and Associate Professor of Education, Dr. Denise Gifford, Dean of the Office of Academic Support Services, Professor Steven Zani and a team of senior representatives, interacted with the Canadian Embassy's Trade Commissioner and Regional Education Coordinator, Mabelle Sawaqed-Hen, and Senior Trade Commissioner, Kate Starkey, to discuss the partnerships.

Professor Denise stated with AURAK's recent accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, "We are at a point of growth and development. It offers us the opportunity to look more aggressively at international partnerships. It's time to go forward."

Canadian universities would be excellent for such agreements with its universities offering 1,500 programs with cooperative education and internship options, giving AURAK students both long-term and short-term international educational opportunities with a country that was quoted by the World Bank as "the easiest place to start a business." Taking part in a research study abroad program with professional internships would provide students with an insight to establishing numerous professional links.

AURAK President, Professor Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, is delighted in seeing materialization of future ventures with collaborations with the Canadian Embassy, "Canadian universities offer a solid, quality education with a diverse cultural and professional atmosphere in which to bolster the educational experience. Supplementing the AURAK education with a student exchange experience with any of its distinguished universities would be advantageous."