AUS & Transmed MoU to Drive Meaningful Industry Collaboration

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Transmed, a prominent regional distributor of consumer goods, including food, household, and personal care products. This agreement lays the groundwork for a collaborative relationship focused on merging academic expertise with industry experience for mutual and societal benefit.

Official Signing Ceremony

The MoU was formally signed by Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS, and Dr. Ahmad Mourad, Chief Information Officer of Transmed. Senior leaders from both organizations attended the ceremony, marking the start of a promising alliance between academia and industry.

“Strong university-industry linkages are essential to delivering education that is both rigorous and relevant. This MoU with Transmed gives our students and faculty access to valuable real-world contexts while enabling Transmed to benefit from emerging research and fresh thinking. We look forward to seeing this relationship grow in a way that brings value to both organizations and contributes meaningfully to the wider community,” said Dr. Laursen.

Enhancing Learning Through Industry Engagement

This partnership aims to create long-term value through applied research and experiential learning opportunities. Key focus areas include intelligent systems, data analytics, innovation, and business strategy—fields that are increasingly defining the modern workplace. The collaboration will support initiatives such as joint research projects, co-authored publications, student capstone projects based on real industry challenges, and access to internships and job opportunities for AUS students and graduates.

“As an FMCG and distribution leader for global brands, Transmed recognizes the transformative power of integrating human talents, technology, artificial intelligence, and business processes and the need to connect academic research with real-world industry applications. We firmly believe that great innovation happens at the intersection of academia and industry and today marks the beginning of an exciting journey together. AUS has a strong reputation for academic excellence, and Transmed is proud to contribute to shaping the future of its students,” said Dr. Ahmad Mourad, Chief Information Officer of Transmed.

“This MoU represents a shared commitment to knowledge exchange, talent development and innovation by bridging industry and academia. This collaboration is designed to empower AUS students with hands-on industry experience, provide practical insights into business challenges and create a stronger talent pipeline that will drive both innovation and economic growth,” said Georges Bejjani, Corporate Human Resources Director at Transmed.

Promoting Knowledge Exchange and Professional Development

The agreement also encompasses joint participation in career fairs, academic-industry visits, and co-hosted events like workshops, seminars, and conferences. These activities are designed to encourage the continuous exchange of knowledge and strengthen the practical relevance of academic pursuits.

A Step Forward in Purposeful Academic-Industry Collaboration

This MoU reflects AUS’ broader mission to create impactful connections between education and real-world application. By integrating classroom learning with industry practices, the university aims to inspire innovation, support meaningful student experiences, and enable faculty research that contributes to societal and economic progress.