Dr. Roopa Rawjee, executive director of the Office of International Engagement (OIE), along with Dean Dr. Ajay Samant and Dr. Terry Noel from the College of Business (COB) visited two universities in Morocco and signed agreements to expand relations between the schools. The group from Illinois State visited Al Akhawayn University (AUI) in Ifrane and Rabat Business School (RBS) in Rabat.
The group was keen to visit and learn more about Al Akhawayn University in the beautiful Atlas Mountains of Morocco as a potential study abroad location especially since 75% of AUI students study abroad. Morocco is an ideal location for students of French as well as Arabic to immerse themselves in the language and culture of Morocco.
“Morocco surpassed all my expectations for intercultural learning,” Rawjee said. “I appreciated the opportunity to revive my high school French and basic Arabic which I learned from my Lebanese best friend. Students who want to have a strong immersion in both languages as well as a culture that is both traditional and modern at the same time will have a truly transformational study abroad experience.”
For COB, a collaboration with Rabat Business School, which is listed in the top 100 business schools in the world through the Financial Times Master in Management Ranking 2022, would be a welcome partnership. The school is the only one from the Middle East and Africa to have a place on that list. COB sees many potential opportunities to work with RBS in future programs.
