If the efforts of some Georgetown students are successful, this time next year they could be studying abroad in Lebanon in a University-supported program.
The Office of International Programs is tentatively reviewing the possibility of adding a program at American University in Beirut. This new program, proposed by David Waytz (SFS ‘05) and Omar Wahab (SFS ‘05), would join the Middle Eastern programs already in place in Cairo, Morocco and Turkey.
OIP has been discussing the idea with interested students.
“As of now, this idea is very tentative,” said Lori Citti, associate director of Overseas Studies.
A proposal may be presented to the deans of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service this October for a pilot program beginning next fall, Citti said. Wahab, who has dual citizenship in the United States and Lebanon, said that a program in Beirut would offer a new Middle East option to students, as well as a slightly different dialect of Arabic.
“Since in the SFS we are encouraged to travel to a country that speaks the language we are studying, the different dialect and culture of Beirut would provide students with a unique experience,” Wahab said.
Waytz also emphasized the importance of the different dialect and experience. American University in Beirut is “a great school,” he said.
“As far as Arabic programs go ? Morocco is so far away, and Cairo seems a bit austere. I want a typical abroad experience, having fun along with studying. I think I can get that in Beirut,” Waytz said.
Professor Scott Redford, director of the study abroad program in Alanya, Turkey, also had positive things to say about American University in Beirut.
“American University is one of the premiere schools in the Middle East ? It’s a superb educational facility,” Redford said.
The program in Beirut would differ from the Middle East programs already in place, Redford said.
“Beirut is as different from Cairo as Madrid is different from Berlin. Students who go to Berlin and students who go to Madrid are looking for different experiences … That’s what Beirut would provide.”
According to Citti, a major advantage of initiating the program at American University in Beirut would be its similarity to the well-established program in Cairo.
“The Beirut program would have the same student services as the program in Cairo,” Citti said. This would make the program simpler to implement, she said.
Not all opinions on the possibility of the program are so positive, however. Hanan Nassau (SFS’ 05), said that although he supports the idea of the Lebanon program, he would also like the suspended Israel programs to be restarted.
Programs in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were suspended before the fall semester last year due to concerns about student safety.
“It’s definitely beneficial to have more Middle East programs, and a program in Lebanon would be great, but it seems strange to think about starting something in Beirut while the Israeli programs are being held closed,” Nassau said.
“There is a need for a program in Lebanon, but there is also a need for programs in Israel,” he said.
For now, the program in Beirut is still only a possibility. Citti emphasized that “the program is still in the early planning stages.”
