AUC Signs Student Exchange Agreement with Harvard

AUC President Francis J. Ricciardone signed a student exchange agreement with Harvard University, an Ivy League school, last week, getting the community excited about opportunities the administration is opening to students overseas.

“The agreement currently covers disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, in particular, but we will work to expand the opportunities for all students and disciplines,” said Provost Ehab Abdel-Rahman.

According to the agreement, one student from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) in Harvard who has research interest in Ancient Studies will have the opportunity to spend a semester at AUC.

In exchange, one graduate student from AUC who has research interest in Egyptology, Anthropology, History, Classics, Islamic Art and Architecture, Arabic (among others), will have the opportunity to spend a semester at GSAS. 

Associate Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management Ahmed Tolba told The Caravan that he and Ricciardone had been discussing this agreement for more than a year with Harvard.

“Our current students, faculty, and staff know the many unique attractions of this great country and our fine University.  I invite all to join in reacquainting the outside world with Egypt, and with AUC.  And, as AUC and Harvard have just agreed — what better field to advance this precise purpose than Egyptology?” Ricciardone told The Caravan.

“Bringing back Americans and others to study, teach, and do research in Egypt and at AUC is a top priority in our quest for excellence as “Egypt’s global university,” Ricciardone added.

Discussions on this agreement began when the president and Tolba were at Harvard last year attending an event. They had met with Professor of Egyptology Peter Der Manuelian who happened to be well-connected with Professor Salima Ikram, an Egyptology Professor at AUC and a top scholar in her field.

“I am delighted that this program has been [initiated] as it will allow students from both institutions to expand their understanding and experience in Egyptology,” Ikram told The Caravan.

Abdel-Rahman says the exchange will cover one semester and increase the research opportunities for both AUC and Harvard students.

AUC’s International Programs Office will be working with Harvard and other universities so that students can have access to unique opportunities, he added.

The program is set to be implemented immediately with planning processes starting Spring 2019 as Tolba is expecting that students will be coming in with the start of the fall semester next year.

“However, there is one student from Harvard who has already applied to attend a semester at AUC prior to the signing of the agreement,” he said.

Although AUC is already partnering with over 130 universities, Tolba said that this agreement has immense value since Harvard is considered a “Top-quality” partner.

“Studying abroad is a great opportunity for AUC students, and I highly encourage them to make use of it, as it provides a rich cultural exposure that affects students’ education, learning, and readiness to succeed in life,” Tolba told The Caravan.

Studying abroad for a semester or even a year is often recommended for students for the sake of exposure and a global experience.

“Of course, Harvard is a top-quality great partner, but there are many others that are excellent,” Tolba added.

Egyptology graduate student Mariam Ghorab said she is looking forward to the exchange with Harvard.

She said that when Egyptology students apply for a study abroad program they get rejected due to the low number of universities that offer Egyptology as a major.

“Hopefully this will change with Harvard…I think it might encourage more people to declare Egyptology, or at least fulfill their core requirements in Egyptology from Harvard,” she said.

Tolba agrees that AUCians would benefit a lot by spending a semester or more in one of the most prestigious and quality universities in the world such as Harvard.

“I am very proud of this agreement as it proves that AUC is at a different league in Egypt and the region, as it is partnering with the best universities worldwide,” said Tolba.