Georgetown University’s Summer Program in Ifrane, Morocco

Georgetown University’s Summer Program in Development, Islamic Studies, and Democracy is hosted by Al Akhawayn University (AUI) in Ifrane, Morocco. AUI is an English language university based on the American system. The university is located in the Middle Atlas Mountains near the historic cities of Fez and Meknes.

This summer program, which began in 2008, consists of two courses: Development in Theory and Practice and Islam and Democracy. While they are held in Ifrane, Morocco on the AUI campus, both courses are offered for direct Georgetown University credit through its government department. As part of the program students are also offered a course in Moroccan Arabic, culture, and history. In addition, the schedule allows students to arrive early and study Modern Standard Arabic Intensively at AUI on their own initiative. Students would enroll directly and pay for these classes separately.

There were a number of highlights in the program’s inaugural year. To enrich classroom instruction students received academic tours of religious and cultural sites in Fez, Meknes, Volubilus, Marakesh. and the Errachidia region in the deep south near the Sahara. During these excursions students visited both orthodox and Sufi historic Islamic sites. During these day-long or weekend trips, students also visited development projects and engaged both development practicioners and beneficiaries of the projects.

Ten students participated in this year’s program. Somewhat surprisingly, a number of the students had little previous exposure to the Arab world. They came to the program due to a general interest in development and democratization issues rather than any particular interest in the region. In the end, this may be the most important legacy of this program: increasing understanding of the region and developing skills and new interests for students who otherwise may have never pursued serious study of the Middle East and North Africa.

For more information, please contact Dr. Stephen King at stephenjking@maghrebcenter.org

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