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Dartmouth and the American University of Kuwait (AUK) have worked together since 2003, one year before AUK welcomed its first class of students. Since then, the collaboration has continued to deepen and expand, enhancing the liberal arts learning experience on both campuses. Faculty and staff from the two schools collaborate on academic and administrative advisory projects. Individuals and teams work together on site as well as via web-based videoconferencing, sharing expertise in communications, governance, library sciences, information technology, engineering, and a variety of other areas.
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One component of the project is a month-long fellowship that brings a promising AUK faculty member to Dartmouth each year to engage in research and establish connections with other scholars. Additionally, students from both schools have the opportunity to participate in a cross-cultural internship program. By 2012, 23 Dartmouth students had interned at AUK and 19 AUK students had interned at Dartmouth.
Dartmouth College, founded in 1769, is a member of the Ivy League, a group of eight of the most distinguished universities in the United States. Dartmouth is located in Hanover, New Hampshire, a town of 11,000 residents. It is situated on the Connecticut River, which is the border between New Hampshire and Vermont. The school offers a liberal arts undergraduate education and professional schools of medicine, business administration, and engineering. Dartmouth also offers 17 Ph.D. programs in the arts and sciences. Internationally renowned for its focus on undergraduate liberal arts education, Dartmouth’s educational experience is marked by close interaction between faculty and students.
Approximately 4,800 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students attend Dartmouth throughout the year. In addition to an unparalleled educational experience, students at Dartmouth enjoy a rich natural environment. The school is close to the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Green Mountains of Vermont. Boston (Massachusetts), New York City, and Montreal (Canada) are within driving distance.
The school's interim president since July 1, 2012, is Carol Folt. She is a distinguished environmental scientist and an award-winning teacher who has served as a senior academic leader at Dartmouth since 2001, including posts as dean of Graduate Studies, dean of faculty, and, most recently, provost.
The American University of Kuwait is a liberal arts institution based on the American model of higher education. English is the language of instruction. The school is located in the Salmiya district of Kuwait City, an area of approximately 230,000 residents. AUK’s campus is within walking distance of Salmiya’s shopping district and the sea.
The 2,000-plus students at AUK hail from Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon, and other Middle East and Arabian Gulf nations. The university curriculum emphasizes critical thinking skills, community service, and distinctive programs in business, engineering, and the arts, built on a broad-based liberal arts foundation. Students participate in the school’s rich and active campus life, which includes a broad array of student clubs, participatory student government, and athletics.
AUK was founded in 2003; its first students entered in 2004. Winfred L. Thompson is president of the school.
