July 8th 2024 marked the start of the second annual American University in Dubai’s (AUD) Summer Camp, where high school students worldwide have come together for a week of learning, fun, and new friendships. With over 30 nationalities represented, students had the opportunity to learn about new cultures and create diverse, long-lasting friends. Every program included a series of classes taught by two professors to help them create a ‘final project’ pertaining to their chosen programs.

 

Where last years’ summer camp offered three academic tracks, Summer Camp 2024 upped the ante by providing these four:

 

1. Empowered Leadership: Shaping an Inspirational Journey: taught by Professor Dina Faour, Professor of Advertising in the School of Architecture, Art & Design; and Dr. Talal Ali Mohamed, Assistant Professor in the School of Business Administration. The students were encouraged to immerse themselves in various workshops and classes to develop decision-making, communication, persuasion, and goal-setting skills. The aim of the program and its professors is to nurture personal growth, enhance self-confidence, advance communication skills, and instill the art of a purposeful leadership.  
2. Pre-Med Bootcamp: Legends of the Lab: taught by Dr. Muriel Tahtouh Zaatar, Chair of the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences and Associate Professor of Biology; and Dr. Ajmila Islam, Assistant Professor of Natural Sciences. Students considering medicine or any scientific career were led by Drs. Zaatar and Islam, and dove into a biology-rich program. This program provided the students with classroom, lab, and real field experiences. The students had the opportunity to visit the Dubai Police International Center for Forensic Sciences for a tour of their department and a demonstration of the tools used in forensic investigations.
3. Psychology of Media: Influenced or Influencer: taught by Dr. Prince Kouamelan Kouassi, Assistant Professor of Psychology; and Dr. Nezar Andary, Associate Professor of Digital Production and Storytelling. This program explores the relationship between psychology and media, marketing, and communication. In this track, the students were taught to capture a short film about a psychological theory called Cognitive Dissonance. By joining the two disciplines, student in this program were able to understand the psychology of media and its impact on society.
4. From Imagination to Reality: AI-Aided Game Art: taught by Dr. Vinod Pangracious, Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering; and Dr. Iyad Alsabouni, Assistant Professor of Visual Communications. With computer graphics and artificial intelligence, students that partook in this program learned how to use interactive elements to elevate game art. The AI students utilized various online tools to create visual landscapes for video games.

 

While AUD’s Sumer Camp’s main goal is to introduce high students to major programs, another benefit to being at AUD is the diversity of nationalities of students and faculty on campus. Especially for students unaccustomed to being around different cultures, such as Jordanian Farah Ghawi. The 16-year-old says, “Getting to meet new people and having a chance to socialize with people I might not meet where I live” was her favorite part of being in Dubai.

 

As the world continues to change, AUD's dedication to fostering global perspectives and nurturing young talents ensures that each summer camp will be better than the last. Stay tuned for the next chapter in this incredible journey of exploration, learning, and friendship.