Undergraduates from UAE visit Maxwell for three-week program
A delegation of undergraduate students from the United Arab
Emirates arrived in Syracuse on Sunday for three weeks of classroom instruction
and cultural experience, hosted by the Maxwell School.
They are studying under the aegis of the UAE University Student Ambassador
Program, developed by the UAE Ministry of Education.
The students — all of them women — represent four major UAE universities:
Higher Colleges of Technology, Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates
University, and Zayed University. While in Syracuse, they will take classes focused
on citizenship and American public affairs, and will visit a variety of
cultural sites. The Maxwell School is leading this program, with some inputs
from Syracuse University’s iSchool and the School of Architecture.
The University Student Ambassador Program is part of the UAE
Ministry of Education’s broader efforts to expand international exposure for
Emirati university students and to enhance national citizenship and social
responsibility. At Maxwell, the aim is for students to develop an understanding
of American governance, culture, diversity and demography, community
engagement, and public affairs policy.
The presence of the UAE students is representative of
broader programming undertaken by Syracuse University with UAE in recent years.
The University opened a satellite office in Dubai in 2011, which has helped
facilitate faculty and education exchanges in the region. In fact, later this
summer a delegation of UAE high school students will join more than 600 other
domestic and international students in various Summer College for High School Students
programs, which provide opportunities to explore artistic, intellectual, and
professional passions while experiencing college life.
Maxwell’s Executive Education department is coordinating the
UAE program. For information, contact
Daniel Nelson, dhnelson@syr.edu.
06/29/18