RIYADH — American University of Sharjah (AUS), one of the leading universities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, has continued its year-on-year rise in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World Rankings, one of the world's most trusted university rankings. AUS improved its overall QS score to 31.4 this year from 29.49 in 2012, and consequently, its rank rose to the 431-440 range from the 401-450 range of 2012. AUS is one of the few universities in the Middle East & North Africa to be featured in the QS World University Rankings that evaluates 800 top universities from approximately 3,000 universities that operate in the world today. The number of universities from the region featured in the list decreased from 26 in 2012 to 11 this year. The ranking is based on an evaluation of each university's academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, faculty student ration and proportions of international students and international faculty. Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, Acting Chancellor of AUS, said: “For a university that was founded just over 15 years ago, it is an impressive achievement to be among the top 440 universities in the world. “The improvement in our overall QS score and annual ranking, amongst other criteria, is a good indicator of how AUS continues to strengthen its position as one of the leading universities in the MENA region, which not only provides excellence in academic standing but continues to work diligently in producing excellent future leaders that can contribute to the growth of the regional economy. “It will provide further impetus to our stakeholders, including faculty and students, to achieve more this year.” Total Spring Semester 2013 enrollment of students at AUS stood at 5,371 of which 47.30 percent are females. The average high school GPA of the freshman class stands at 91.70 percent while the average TOEFL score is 569. The method of classroom instruction is American in its emphasis on individual initiative, active learning and the application of knowledge, while student life on campus is rich with its 23 sports teams, 64 student clubs and various cultural events. — SG
