Orientation and Pre-Session

Upon arrival in Morocco, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program students participate in an in-depth, two week-long orientation and academic pre-session 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 this two-week pre-session that takes place in the Moroccan capital of Rabat.  Following the pre-session they move to Ifrane, where they participate in AUI’s international student orientation on the AUI campus.  The orientation 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.

Accommodation and Meals

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.

Activities

In addition to the academic program, the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program at AUI offers a variety of additional learning opportunities to enhance participants' study abroad experience.

• Weekend field trips will be arranged during the semester to ensure that students have the opportunity to visit key Moroccan sites (e.g., Fez, Meknes, the north, and Marrakesh) that are not necessarily visited during AUI’s course-related field trips.

• AMIDEAST’s Rabat-based Program Manager will make monthly visits to Ifrane to meet with program students and AUI staff.

• AMIDEAST will arrange homestays with Moroccan families in the Rabat area for students who are not invited to families of AUI students for Moroccan holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

• 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.

Visas and Immigration

American citizens must present a valid passport, but they are not required to obtain a visa prior to travelling to Morocco.  Citizens of other countries should check with AMIDEAST during the application process to ascertain whether they face different visa requirements.  Once at AUI, all students must obtain residency permits; the necessary documents will be handed out and completed during orientation.

Health & Safety

With AMIDEAST’s more than 60-year presence in the Middle East and North Africa, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs are able to draw on AMIDEAST’s long-term experience in the region, strong local connections, and deep understanding of the intercultural, health, safety, and security issues inherent to study in the Arab world.
AMIDEAST provides medical insurance for all enrolled students through HTH Worldwide, as well as medical, political, and security evacuation coverage. AMIDEAST has also contracted with an intelligence provider to assist with monitoring, protecting against, and responding to security issues in the region.

The AMIDEAST Advantage

Guided by an Academic Consortium that represents a cross-section of U.S. higher education, AMIDEAST programs are designed to provide academic excellence. AMIDEAST programs also include ample opportunities to interact with local university students and to reflect on intercultural encounters in structured settings.

Transcripts and Institution of Record

Al-Akhawayn University issues an official transcript with credits received and letter grades. One transcript will be sent to your university while one copy will remain with AMIDEAST. Alternatively, students can request (for an additional fee of $350) a transcript issued by AMIDEAST’s Institution of Record (IoR), Northeastern University. Should a home institution advisor indicate that a student needs to use the IoR, the student (or in some cases the institution) will be billed for this fee. This fee is refundable until the student is a confirmed participant.

AUI Address

Al- Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI)
Avenue Hassan II, P.O. Box 104
Ifrance, 53000   Morocco