The background
American International University (AIU) sits at the heart of Kuwait’s academic landscape. With a mission to improve and enrich lives through transformative education, AIU is on a trajectory to become the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)’s top university for technology and research.
We’re laser-focused on solving challenges through real-time data, predictive analytics, and personalised course mapping. From enrollment to graduation, our goal is to create a learning journey that is not only efficient but also deeply supportive of student success.
Richard Johnson
CEO, American International University (AIU)
The decision-making process
AIU’s ambitions required cutting-edge technological infrastructure. Specifically, this meant an LMS that could:
- Support rapid institutional growth in the Gulf region
- Centralise the delivery of course content to improve the teaching and learning experience.
- Streamline communication between and from teaching staff.
- Offer real-time visibility of student behaviours to faculty, staff, and leadership.
- Empower students to be more self-directed in their learning.
- Integrate easily with existing tools.
- Offer a modern, intuitive interface for students and faculty.
Jacqueline Shaw, a parent of a student using Canvas, and Chair at AIU, was blown away by her daughter’s experience of using Canvas LMS at a different university
I was impressed by the intuitive interface and how seamlessly Canvas helped my daughter manage her coursework. Professionally, I saw that Canvas was already trusted by top-tier universities. It was the right fit for our ambitions.
Jacqueline Shaw
Chair, Board of Directors, AIU
The aim was clear: empower students to take control of their learning while giving educators and leadership the tools to track engagement, identify risks, and improve learning outcomes.
Canvas’s continuous innovation, strong integration capabilities, and user-focused development cycle were key differentiators
The outcome
AIU worked with the Canvas team to ensure a smooth onboarding through a multi-layered training approach, which included live and on-demand training (such as self-paced SharePoint modules).
Since adopting Canvas, AIU has seen a profound shift in how learning is delivered, managed, and experienced across the institution. Canvas didn’t just meet expectations - it set a new benchmark for student engagement, instructional efficiency, and institutional growth.
Leveling up the student experience
- By working with Canvas, AIU has revolutionised the student experience with a mobile-first design and a seamless, intuitive interface
- Calendar integration ensures students have a real-time, centralised view of their academic responsibilities—assignments, deadlines, and exams—helping them manage time effectively and stay on track.
- Canvas’s collaborative features, including discussion boards and group tools allow remote peer-to-peer engagement
- Self-paced modules and adaptive learning tools offer flexible learning for students
- As a result, AIU has reported improved academic outcomes, course completion rates, and student retention.
More time back for the faculty
- With SpeedGrader and rubric-based grading, instructors can save time and provide fast, consistent, and transparent feedback
- Blueprint Courses ensure content consistency across departments while preserving academic freedom
- Integrations with tools like Turnitin, Zoom, and Google Workspace have made course design and delivery more efficient.
- Faculty use multimedia gamification, and discussion-led formats to create dynamic, student-centered learning environments
Data-informed decision making
- Thanks to Canvas’s powerful analytics, teachers can now identify at-risk students and intervene mid-course—rather than waiting for end-of-term evaluations.
- Predictive analytics support course mapping, enrollment strategies, and student progression planning, including dual degrees and specialisations
- This data-driven approach enables smarter, faster decisions across departments—from academic planning to retention strategies
Institution-wide efficiencies
- Canvas has brought cohesion to previously fragmented processes at AIU from centralised communication to streamlined course management
- The university’s investment in Canvas has delivered measurable ROI—reduced paper use, operational cost savings, and improved institutional sustainability.
Canvas will help us pioneer AI-driven, adaptive, and competency-based education. From virtual labs to decentralised learning communities, we’re building an ecosystem of innovation
Richard Johnson
CEO, American International Univers
Next steps
- Full Canvas immersion for academic and administrative teams
- Creation of cross-functional teams to expand internal Canvas expertise
- Training Canvas-certified experts to lead integration initiatives
- Detailed implementation plans with clear goals, KPIs, and timelines per academic unit
Our journey with Canvas has been transformational. It’s more than a platform, it’s a strategic partner shaping our future.
Richard Johnson
CEO, American International University
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