Nestled in the Middle Atlas Mountains, the Province of Ifrane is home to the largest cedar forest in North Africa and is the most biologically diverse area in Morocco. Because of the year-round beauty of Ifrane's natural surroundings, the town's population of 12,000 swells to nearly 100,000 on weekends, holidays and in the summer. Both Fez, the intellectual capital of Morocco, and the imperial city of Meknes are approximately an hour away. The capital city of Rabat is two hours from Ifrane; the Sahara desert is just six.
The AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in Ifrane offers a diverse curriculum through direct enrollment at Al Akhawayn University (AUI), a private Moroccan university patterned on the American model of higher education. Students on the program will live in residence halls on the 98-acre AUI campus, which includes modern classroom buildings and dormitories, as well as a library and IT facilities, sports facilities, and a student center including dining halls. Students usually carry a 15 credit hour load per semester and may choose from any of the course offerings listed in the AUI catalog.
Moroccan Arabic and Culture Pre-Semester Program in Rabat
Upon arrival in Morocco, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program students participate in an in-depth, three week-long pre-semester program designed to introduce them to Moroccan Arabic, Moroccan culture, and daily life and familiarize them with the logistics of the program. Students stay with Moroccan host families during the Moroccan Arabic and Culture Program that takes place in the capital of Rabat. Following the pre-semester program in Rabat students move to Ifrane, where they participate in AUI's international student orientation on the AUI campus. The program combines structured informational sessions with organized activities and free time to familiarize participants with Morocco. Topics such as safety and health, family life in Morocco, cultural adjustment, program regulations, participant responsibilities and other essential information are all discussed during orientation. The Moroccan Arabic and Culture Program consists of the following elements:
+ Moroccan Arabic & Culture course (35 hrs-Arabic, 10 hrs-Moroccan culture; 3 credits)
+ Accommodation and meals with a Moroccan host family
+ Cultural orientation
+ Visits to key sites of historical and cultural significance in the Rabat area
+ transportation to Al Akhawayn University (for students enrolled in that specific program for the following semester)
Location
Students spend the semester on Al Akhawayn University's 98-acre campus in Ifrane, Morocco.
Housing
Students enrolled in the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program at Al-Akhawayn University (AUI) in Ifrane will live in dormitories, in double rooms with Moroccan roommates. There are seventeen dormitory-style residences on the AUI campus, ranging from small buildings with as few as 56 beds, to large buildings with as many as 234 beds. All AUI residence halls include a common kitchen, and student rooms are well-equipped with telephone, television, and Internet connections.
AMIDEAST program participants will be enrolled in a full meal plan for their semester at AUI, which will give them full access to the three distinct dining facilities maintained by the university.
Additional Activities
Visiting students are fully integrated into the social, academic, and cultural life of AUI, and they are able to make strong and lasting connections with their Moroccan peers. Students will find a variety of cross-cultural learning opportunities on campus. AUI has a full range of student clubs, all of which are open to AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program students; they include sports, artistic, cultural, and academic groups. The university also sponsors numerous activities each week. Community service is required of all matriculated undergraduates at AUI; therefore, such opportunities are widely available to AMIDEAST students as well.
*At Al Akhawayn, English is the language of instruction & students are directly enrolled.
