AU Abroad, in an effort to accommodate a wide range of student interests, has created several new study abroad programs and may be opening a program in Syria.
This November, Director of AU Abroad Sara Dumont, Associate Director of AU Abroad Mark Hayes and Kogod School of Business Professor Giyath Nakshbendi will be traveling to Syria to explore potential study abroad sites for AU students, according to Hayes.
“I would like to stress that this is an exploratory visit,” he said.
The focus of the expansion of AU’s abroad program to Syria would be to provide students with more options to study in the Middle East and with additional Arabic language programs, Hayes said. Over 300 AU students study Arabic, according to Nakshbendi.
In order for an abroad program to begin, AU Abroad must first approve the site.
“During our exploratory visit to Syria, we will be visiting universities in Aleppo and Damascus to assess their interest in cooperating with AU,” Hayes said. “In addition, we will evaluate their ability to offer an academically challenging program in Arabic language, Middle Eastern Studies, Islamic History and other related subjects.”
On their trip, Hayes and his colleagues will assess housing possibilities, health and safety issues and student immersion into Syrian culture.
“There are a few students who take Arabic, so expanding the program to Syria wouldn’t attract a different crowd of students but give the crowd [of students taking Arabic] more options,” said Martin Zeich, a sophomore in the School of International Service.
Other students may find it challenging to study abroad in Syria.
“I wouldn’t study in Syria,” said Tia Howard, a sophomore in SIS and the School of Public Affairs, “I don’t think it’s safe, and it’s too far away.”
Ayal Chen-Zion, president of AU Students for Israel, thinks that a study abroad program in Syria would be very interesting.
“I support American being on the forefront on extending its arm to other countries for students to study abroad,” Chen-Zion said. “There is a lot of room for negotiation between Israel and Syria. Closer ties between the U.S. and Syria could bridge that gap.”
AU has developed a dozen new programs in the past year in various places like Sweden, Jordan, India and Taiwan, according to Hayes.
The addition of new programs will provide students with more options when going abroad. The abroad office works to create diverse programs in atypical places.
“The programs in India were added to provide additional geographic reach,” Hayes said.
Some students say they are excited about additional study abroad programs.
“I feel that the more options the better; it makes choosing a place to go a little more challenging because of the amount of options,” said Madeleine Kuhn, a sophomore in SPA.
The abroad office looks to provide students with a multitude of abroad options.
“We are continually evaluating and reassessing the study abroad needs of the university,” Hayes said.
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