Students entering College of Engineering at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) are excited about a new practice these days: they are filling time capsules they will collect at the time of their graduation.

Each capsule, a platform storing multimedia messages, remains open for a few weeks of enrollment, and then closes until the graduation of the student. The completion of graduation requirements will prompt an email to the graduate with the link to open the capsule.

At the opening of the platform last week, Dean Şirin Tekinay said, “As engineers, we strive to make life on our planet sustainable, healthy, safe, and joyful. As we usher our ‘colleagues in training’ into the future, we want them imagine their role and stay motivated.”

Students of College of Engineering at AUS report that they find the exercise of imagining their future selves fun, interesting, and exciting. “It’s personal,” one said, “I might re-record several times before the thing closes. Hopefully I’ll get it right by then.”

Dean Tekinay, who is also currently the chair of GEDC, added, “It’s important for everyone to carry the responsibility of the future today.”