16 June 2010 The School of Engineering at the American University in Dubai announced the establishment of a new Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) program. The BSME Program, accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), is currently accepting applications for its inaugural class, and will begin course offerings in September 2010. Admissions requirements for the BSME Program are the same as those for the other engineering programs at AUD. The new program complements the existing accredited programs in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Engineering, explained officials at the School of Engineering. The new BSME Program is aligned with AUD’s plans to position its School of Engineering as the leading undergraduate engineering education institution in the region.

The idea of developing a Mechanical Engineering Program dates back to the founding of the School of Engineering, and has been part of the long term vision of the School. From a regional and global demand standpoint, the need for such a program has been established through employer and student surveys. In spite of the current slowdown in the global economy, the demand for mechanical engineers is expected to remain high at both the regional and global levels. In its most recent "Profiles of Engineering and Engineering Technology Colleges," a 500-page report summarizing data on engineering education and employment, the American Society of Engineering Education reports the highest number of graduates amongst all engineering disciplines in mechanical engineering. Support for the new Program has also been very strong among the School of Engineering Advisory Board members, who noted the high demand in mechanical engineering graduates at the national and regional levels.

The BSME program will build upon existing collaborations between AUD and several companies in the region. Over the past years, AUD has implemented a summer field experience program in its undergraduate curricula to expose its engineering students to real life projects. Undergraduate engineering students are placed in companies ranging from construction and manufacturing to consulting and product development. As a result, the School of Engineering has developed a strong track record of collaboration with a number of large companies working across multiple engineering disciplines.

Dr. Alaa Ashmawy, Dean of the School of Engineering, explained that, in line with the current international accreditation of Civil, Computer, and Electrical Engineering, the BSME Program "will seek retroactive ABET accreditation upon first eligibility in Spring 2014." The BSME has been accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR).