RABAT, Morocco, March 25, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
On March 23rd, United States Ambassador Dwight L. Bush, Sr. visited the International University of Rabat for its 2016 America Day, where he met with the university’s president Noureddine Mouaddib, toured the campus and held a roundtable with UIR students and faculty. Nearly 200 students took part America Day to learn more about studying in the U.S. through presentations from EducationUSA, The Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange and representatives from the U.S. Consulate in Casablanca and U.S. Embassy in Rabat. In his meeting with the President Mouaddib, Ambassador Bush applauded UIR for launching a new Center of U.S. Studies within the political science department and for forging successful university partnerships with Mississippi State University and Georgia Tech.
One of the highlight of the visit was roundtable with university students, where Ambassador Bush shared his views on the importance of being a global citizen, and applauded the students for attending a university that promotes international education. The Ambassador also discussed the importance of learning English to communicate across borders and the International University of Rabat’s many achievements.
The U.S. Ambassador told students that “as a student at an international university you are exposed to various cultural perspectives, which will help you keep an open mind as you face the world’s greatest political, economic and social challenges with diverse individuals, opinions and experiences.” He advised the students that as future leaders, the path to success in solving the world’s most challenging issues is to “collaborate with your peers across the globe.”
UIR students also had the opportunity to ask the Ambassador questions, which ranged from what it means to be a successful leader today to how the impending change of U.S. presidency might affect foreign policy in the Middle East and North Africa.
Founded in 2010, the International University of Rabat is a public university that is privately managed, the first of its kind in Morocco. Instruction is in French and English. With nearly 2,000 students, the university has eight main departments offering bachelors and masters degrees. With one of the strongest renewable energy programs in Morocco, the International University of Rabat is the only Moroccan university using solar and currently obtains 30% of its energy from renewable resources.
