By Salama Almahri
UNIVERSITY CITY, SHARJAH – The American University of Sharjah’s participation in the Conference of the Parties, a United Nations climate change conference, will bring the fall 2023 semester to an early end, requiring students to attend make-up classes on Sunday starting Sept. 17.
According to James Griffin, the vice provost for undergraduate affairs and instruction, when the Ministry of Education asked AUS to shorten the semester so students could take part in COP28.
Administrators discussed advantages and disadvantages, Griffin said, and we “we ultimately decided that it would be beneficial to give all students the opportunity to go.”
Griffin added that the main reason AUS agreed to the schedule changes was “to support the event, to support the MOE, and to support students who wish to participate.”
Throughout the term, AUS will hold events and initiatives to prepare for COP 28.
“Climate change is a very pressing concern for all of us,” said Griffin.
To learn more about the COP28 and the university’s involvement, visit https://info.aus.edu/auscop28.
