The American University of Sharjah (AUS) said it is planning to introduce a new course - the Master of Science in Construction Management (MSCM) - in response to a big demand from the region.

The approval for the MSCM course was given by HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS) at a key meeting of the university’s Board of Trustees held yesterday, reported state news agency Wam.

As the Chair of the AUS Board of Trustees, the Sharjah Ruler also reviewed and approved a number of other important resolutions presented during the meeting and expressed his satisfaction at the growth and development of the university and the progress it is making with regards to its future plans.

Speaking on the occasion, Chancellor Dr Bjorn Kjerfve said: "As AUS moves towards realising Sheikh Sultan's vision of becoming the region’s premier research university, we are very pleased to add another degree to our growing roster of graduate programmes."

"The new Master of Science in Construction Management is in response to the regional demand in this field. Our graduate programmes reflect the societal and industrial needs of the Gulf and the greater Middle East," he added.

Apart from approving the proposal for the MSCM degree, the board also approved the conferral of the honourary title of Professor Emeritus for Dr Ali Sayfy and Professor Emerita for Dr Fatima Badry.

Dr Sayfy joined the university in 1997 and had been with AUS for 20 years until his retirement last year. He made numerous contributions to the university in his roles as a faculty member and an administrator, said the Wam report.

He also served as co-ordinator for the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in the College of Arts and Sciences from 2001 to 2002 and served as chair from 2002 to 2004, it stated.

Dr Badry joined AUS in 1998 and remained with the university for 19 years until her retirement last year. She was a faculty member, an administrator and a member of the AUS Faculty Senate, said the report.

She had also served as both Head of the Department of English and Director of the Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages programme, it added.