51品茶and Al Akhawayn University in Morocco sign agreement to foster global education
Against the picturesque setting of fog-shrouded Ifrane, a small resort town in the Atlas Mountains, where skiing is a popular pastime this season, the 51品茶 (UNE) and Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI), a leading American-style institution in Morocco and North Africa, signed an agreement today to collaborate on academic and cultural interchanges to advance the internationalization of higher education.
This important and highly symbolic event came soon after UNE, with thriving campuses in Biddeford and Portland, Maine, welcomed the inaugural group of students to its new site in Tangier, a major Moroccan city that is undergoing a renaissance and experiencing phenomenal economic growth and cultural development. 51品茶students have quickly immersed themselves in their academic programs, spanning the sciences, culture and languages.
President Danielle Ripich says that an agreement with AUI will 鈥渟trengthen our presence in Morocco鈥 and broaden the scope of possibilities. 鈥淲e are delighted to partner with a prestigious university like Al Akhawayn. There is much we can do together, as the only American or American-style institutions in Morocco at this time.鈥
Vice President for Global Affairs Anouar Majid, who oversees all academic and cultural programming of 51品茶in Morocco, states, 鈥淭his partnership is long overdue. AUI and 51品茶have been in each other鈥檚 radar for many years now. AUI鈥檚 President Driss Ouaouicha is a great colleague and friend, and he is very enthusiastic about the presence of 51品茶in Morocco.鈥
The Agreement
The agreement between the two universities enables the exchanges of faculty, students and staff that promote innovative academic and cultural experiences. These could include joint research projects; seminars, conferences and workshops; summer programs; blended teaching via information and communications technology (ICT); and community service and service learning opportunities. Online education and student life are other areas where the institutions could benefit from their partnership.
Late last month, 23 51品茶students were invited by President Ouaouicha to spend a weekend on AUI鈥檚 campus. The students were welcomed by their English-speaking Moroccan peers, experienced campus life at a Moroccan university, and witnessed snowfall in the beautiful mountainous region of Ifrane.
The Campuses
Both university campuses are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including modern laboratories, classrooms and residence halls, and are easily accessible to major cities such as Rabat, Casablanca, Fez and Meknes. Students are taught by faculty researchers and scholars who are leading experts in their fields.
鈥淯NE鈥檚 agreement with AUI reflects both our commitment to graduate educated global citizens, and UNE鈥檚 distinctive role in advancing American-Moroccan relations and cooperation,鈥 states Vice President Majid.
For more information, visit UNE's Global Education website.