Student and alumni entrepreneurs presented their ventures at American University of Sharjah (AUS) during the Higher Education Entrepreneurship Week, giving visitors a direct look at their businesses and the experience behind them.
Held recently on campus, the two-day event was organized by the AUS Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. The exhibition featured ventures across seven themed zones, alongside sessions where founders shared their experiences.
The Higher Education Entrepreneurship Week is a joint initiative of the two ministries, implemented with universities across the UAE. It aims to encourage an entrepreneurial culture among students and alumni, strengthen universities’ role as sources of business ideas, and support the UAE’s ambition to become a global capital for entrepreneurship.
Under the theme “AUS Founders, AUS Future,” the program featured businesses at different stages of development. Some founders started their ventures while studying at AUS; others established them after graduation.
“Universities have a strategic role in connecting knowledge with economic opportunity,” said Dr. Jay Squalli, Professor of Economics and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at AUS. “Entrepreneurship Week brings our student and alumni entrepreneurs back to AUS, and showcases and supports the businesses they have built. Their experiences are valuable resources for anyone considering entrepreneurship, and bringing these founders together connects them with one another and with our students, strengthening the link between education and enterprise. The event is also an opportunity for CEI and our alumni founders to explore how we can work together, support one another, and nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs. At CEI, we aim to build on these connections by helping promising ideas become viable ventures that contribute to the UAE’s long-term development.”
The event opened with remarks by a representative of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and AUS leadership, followed by a leadership and VIP walkthrough of the exhibition. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism also delivered an intellectual property awareness session.
Dr. Mariam Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, Director of the Employment Support and Labor Market Partnerships Department at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, emphasized the importance of Entrepreneurship Week in Higher Education, describing it as an opportunity to empower students and graduates to transform their innovative ideas into ventures that deliver sustainable economic and social impact. She noted that the Ministry views entrepreneurship as an important outcome of the higher education system.
“This initiative reflects our belief that universities are not merely institutions that award academic degrees; they have become hubs for generating ideas, developing innovative solutions and preparing talent capable of contributing to a competitive, knowledge- and innovation-driven economy,” she said.
Khaled Kalbat, Director of the Entrepreneurship, SMEs and Enterprise Development Department at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, stated: “The Ministry is committed to empowering students, graduates and entrepreneurs, and enhancing their ability to transform innovative ideas into entrepreneurial ventures that contribute to diversifying the national economy and supporting the growth of startups. Collaboration with academic institutions such as AUS, within the framework of the ‘Higher Education Entrepreneurship Week’ initiative, serves as a vital pillar for fostering an environment conducive to entrepreneurship and innovation in the country. This enables young people to showcase their ideas, exchange expertise and connect with relevant stakeholders, thereby strengthening their entrepreneurial capabilities and supporting the growth and sustainability of startups.”
The second day of the program featured three success stories sessions, where founders shared their experiences in creative, media and marketing; tech platforms and digital builders; and luxury and experience brands. Three knowledge-exchange forum sessions explored faith, culture and heritage; design, spaces and the built environment; and the journey from an idea to its first customers.
Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) supported the event, helping connect this university initiative with Sharjah’s wider entrepreneurship ecosystem. The Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs, the AUS School of Business Administration and the Entrepreneurship Club also supported the program, linking academic expertise and student engagement with the experience of participating founders.
Among the alumni founders participating in the Entrepreneurship Week was AUS alumna and former employee Hadeel Nassar, founder and partner at AddValueHub. The platform offers flexible, expert-led online courses and professional coaching for individuals and organizations, covering topics such as budgeting, automation, risk assessment, auditing, compliance and communication. Nassar holds two master’s degrees from AUS: a Master of Arts in Translation (English/Arabic/English) and a Master of Science in Accounting. During the event, she shared how AddValueHub helps learners and organizations build practical skills and discussed the future of digital education.
“The event was an exceptional platform to showcase our mission of transforming knowledge into measurable results through flexible remote learning and professional coaching. Engaging with brilliant student minds, fellow startup founders and ecosystem leaders in Sharjah allowed us to share insights on modern skills development, workforce up-skilling and the future of digital education. Proud to be part of a community driving innovation and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs,” she said.
AUS research centers bring expertise across disciplines to address priorities in Sharjah and the UAE, as well as global challenges. Their work ranges from environmental sustainability and biomedical innovation to advanced technologies and cultural studies. Within this network, CEI helps students, alumni and faculty develop promising ideas into marketable solutions. It combines practical entrepreneurship programs with mentorship and partnerships that support venture development and sustainable growth. Learn more at www.aus.edu/sba/research/cei.
