Sharjah, UAE, July 1, 2024 – American University of Sharjah (AUS) has recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Hitachi Energy under the framework of the AUS College of Engineering's (CEN) Al Nukhba Program to provide students with hands-on experience, practical skills and real-world exposure for a journey of discovery and innovation.

The AUS Engineering Al Nukhba Program establishes industry partnership collaborations in the areas of research, development, training programs, internships, exchange of information and personnel, joint supervision of students' capstone projects and field trip visits.  

Through this partnership, Hitachi Energy will offer internships and training to AUS students, providing them with valuable hands-on experience and mentorship opportunities in sustainable energy solutions.

'Through this partnership, we are strategically aligning academia with industry, equipping our students with the experiential knowledge and strategic insights needed to pioneer sustainable solutions in the energy landscape, resonating with AUS and UAE's sustainability vision. This empowers our students to become impactful leaders in this area, making meaningful contributions locally and globally,' said Dr. Fadi Aloul, Dean of CEN.

The agreement also includes joint supervision of graduation and research projects, enabling students to tackle real-world challenges under the guidance of experts from AUS and Hitachi Energy. Field trips will also be organized to provide direct exposure to real-world applications and operations within the energy sector.

Additionally, AUS and Hitachi Energy will undertake joint research, projects and development initiatives to explore innovative solutions addressing emerging needs in the energy sector. 

'At Hitachi Energy, we believe in collaborating with customers, partners and other key stakeholders to enable a sustainable energy future for our generations and those to come. Through this collaboration, we are all set to share our expertise and knowledge with the students of AUS to enable our purpose of advancing a sustainable energy future for all,' said Dr. Mostafa AlGuezeri, Managing Director Gulf and Maghreb at Hitachi Energy.

The AUS College of Engineering is a leader in engineering education in the region. Within the UAE, AUS ranked among the top three universities, coming second in employer reputation and employment outcomes, and third in citations per faculty, international faculty and sustainability, according to the QS World Rankings 2025.