AUK collaborates with KFH to enhance students’ learning experience
Al-Marzouq highlights principles of Islamic financial system
KUWAIT CITY, March 27: The Dean of the College of Business & Economics at the American University of Kuwait (AUK), Professor Jin Wang and Dr Ali Aljamal, Chair of the Department of Economics, met with Hamad Abdulmohsen Al-Marzouq, Chairman of Kuwait Finance House (KFH), in January to explore possible venues for collaboration. The meeting was arranged following a lecture by Chairman Al-Marzouq at AUK last October entitled “Islamic Banks vs Conventional Banks Differences and Similarities.”
During his lecture, Al-Marzouq highlighted principles of the Islamic financial system, some key differences between Islamic banks and conventional financial and banking systems in terms of philosophy, mission and risk treatment. He also discussed recent trends in terms of growth and develop- ment of Islamic banking and financing. President Nizar Hamzeh received the Chairman and attended the lecture along with crowds of faculty, students and members of the general public.
KFH, as a global leader in Islamic banking and finance, plays an important role not only in the Kuwaiti economy, but the regions as well. This event bridges the divide and provides AUK faculty and students with opportunities to remain abreast in this vital sector in Kuwait and the Gulf and offers venues for collaboration in teaching, research, and experiential learning programs. This comes in line with AUK’s commitment to obtaining prestigious programmatic accreditations, such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation.
“The lecture by the KFH Chairman in October and our subsequent meeting with him in January provide opportunities for future conversations and engagement with the leaders in the Islamic
Usman Choudhury
banking sector, which will enrich and strengthen our portfolios for earning AACSB accreditation as AACSB accreditation demands evidence of continuous quality improvement in three vital areas: engagement, innovation, and impact,” said Dean Wang.
“We are on the lookout for opportunities to establish ties and relationship with the very business community we serve. This outward orientation pays dividends on all levels. It enables us to develop academic programs responsive to the needs of the job market, advances our research and scholarship, and enriches learning experiences of our students,” said Dr Aljamal.
Following the inaugural presentation of Al-Marzouq, KFH offered to hold a “Sukuk Seminar” for students and AUK stakeholders in April, as part of their corporate social responsibility. The seminar, which is free of charge and open to all AUK students, is on practical applications of Sukuk in the Financial Markets by Mohammad Al-Duwailah, Chief Dealer of Capital Markets at Kuwait Finance House. The “Sukuk Seminar” will take place on 13 April 2016 in AUK’s Multipurpose Room. It will be hosted by the Center for Continuing Education in collaboration with the College of Business & Economics and will be held during AUK Career Week.
Events such as these foster interaction between CBE and students on one hand and the business world and its leaders on the other. It is part of CBE’s mission to establish closer ties and meaningful relationships with industry leaders in order to remain informed of theirneedspromote scholarship and engage in research that can pay dividends to our community and its stakeholders.