Abu Dhabi: American University of Sharjah (AUS) and Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at bolstering academic cooperation in the fields of Arabic and Islamic studies, digital humanities, and emerging technologies. The MoU was signed at the Central Bank of Morocco, with Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of AUS, and Abdellatif Jouahri, Governor of Bank Al Maghrib and Chairman of the AUI Board of Trustees, in attendance.
According to Emirates News Agency, the agreement symbolizes the strong bilateral relations between the UAE and Morocco and supports a shared academic vision that values cultural identity and innovation. Abdellatif Jouahri commented that the MoU aims to advance research and academic collaboration, building on the historic ties between the two nations.
The signing ceremony was also attended by Dr Ahmed Toufiq, Moroccan Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Dr Azzedine El Midaoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, and officials from both universities. Dr Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS, highlighted the partnership as a crucial step toward building cross-border academic bridges and contributing to the ethical development of artificial intelligence.
The collaboration will focus on initiatives in language pedagogy, translation, and liberal arts education. Additionally, AUS and AUI plan to explore the establishment of a joint centre dedicated to digital humanities and Arabic studies. Dr Amine Bensaid, President of AUI, stressed the importance of combining cultural identity with global collaboration to prepare graduates for an interconnected world.
The MoU also encompasses cooperation in the areas of science, engineering, business, architecture, and design. A significant initiative involves creating an open-source Arabic dataset of literary, media, and academic content to support inclusive and ethical AI training. The agreement is part of AUS’s broader strategy to build global partnerships and promote interdisciplinary innovation through student exchanges, joint research, co-developed courses, and academic events.