Regional Seminar in Tangier Fosters Collaboration and Student Success in Education Abroad

More than 60 education abroad professionals from across North Africa, the United States, and the Mediterranean gathered in Tangier for The Forum on Education Abroad’s second Regional Seminar in Morocco in as many years.
​
In partnership with the University of New England (UNE), the one‑day event offered international educators an opportunity to network, share knowledge, and develop strategies to strengthen education abroad in the region. 

The Regional Seminar began with welcoming remarks from Debra Leahy, Ed.D., Associate Provost for Global Affairs and Professor of Global Management at UNE, and Amelia Dietrich, Ph.D., Senior Director for Research and Publications at The Forum on Education Abroad, who stressed the importance of working together toward shared regional goals. ​

“University of New England is one university operating on three equally important campuses—two in Maine, USA, and one here in Tangier—all working together towards our mission to prepare students to thrive in a rapidly changing world,” said Leahy. “We’re so pleased to welcome like-minded colleagues to our Tangier campus from across Morocco, the U.S., and Europe to exchange ideas and build partnerships that can help us achieve our institutional and collective goals for education abroad in Morocco.”  

“We [at The Forum on Education Abroad] have been honored to be welcomed to Morocco so warmly by colleagues who are deeply thoughtful and committed to guiding and supporting students through transformational education abroad experiences,” said Dietrich. “Each time we return, we meet more colleagues from more institutions across the country, and we all learn so much from one another when we gather.” 

The program continued with sessions centered on issues relevant to the area, including: 

• The Panorama of International Education in Morocco and Across the Region 
• Designing Student Success Supports that Honor Local Realities 
• Success Stories of Place-Based Learning 
• Closing President and Provost Panel ​

Current trends in international education and student mobility place Morocco in a strong position to become a key destination for students. In the day's first session, panelists discussed how global shifts are influencing student perceptions and emphasized the importance of conveying an accurate narrative about Morocco and the value of its programs. 
 
“The world is realigning in ways we could not have imagined even a year or two ago, and trends in U.S. higher education are shifting just as rapidly. These changes are shaping how students perceive the possibilities of studying abroad,” noted Christian Sinclair, Director of the Arabic Language Institute in Fez. “Too often, Morocco remains known only through exoticized marketing, shaped by misperceptions and stereotypes. Those of us with a deeper understanding have an opportunity and a responsibility to work together to present a more accurate narrative of Morocco and to highlight the true value and impact of the education abroad programs offered here.”  
 
From Insights to Implementation 

Later sessions shifted from identifying regional trends to exploring how to apply them in practice. Speakers underscored the importance of culturally responsive systems that support students’ academic and social adjustment while keeping them grounded in local values and community expectations. 
 
Practitioners and students brought these ideas to life through examples of flexible, experiential, and interdisciplinary programs shaped by the local context, as well as examples of how they support students to engage across cultural differences and grow from the challenges they encounter while studying abroad. Their stories demonstrated how place‑based learning can contribute to both personal growth and professional development. 
 
“Don’t just live in Morocco. Learn from Morocco,” said Farah Cherif D’Ouezzan, Founder & General Director at the Center for Cross Cultural Learning (CCCL). 
 
Building Sustainable Partnerships for the Future 
​
Drawing on these locally grounded examples, the seminar concluded with a panel of senior leaders from leading institutions and education abroad organizations in the region, including: Vice President Jamaal Benayoun, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Vice President for Academic Affairs Hariclea Zengos, Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Vice President and Provost Said Graiouid, School for International Training (SIT), Provost Gwen Mahon, University of New England, and Provost Garett Heysel, The American College of the Mediterranean. In conversation with Drs. Dietrich and Leahy, the panel reflected upon the day’s conversations. Leaders emphasized that sustained partnerships and creative collaborations will be essential to advancing education abroad in Morocco and the region. Their remarks reflected a shared commitment to working in solidarity to promote increased internationalization of Moroccan higher education, more participation in study abroad in Morocco by U.S. students, and more inclusive and meaningful dialogue among international educators working in the region. 

“Studying abroad allows students to learn about the place where they are and also to revisit some of the ideas that they used to have about the U.S. and their own society,” said Yamina El Kirat El Allame, Director of the Moroccan Institute for Advanced Studies at Mohammed V University in Rabat. 
 
The Forum extends sincere thanks to our host, the University of New England, to the Regional Seminar planning committee, and to our sponsors, the Arabic Language Institute in Fez (ALIF), Amideast, IES Abroad Rabat, and SunDay Tours, for their support in making this event possible. 
 
We are also grateful to Morocco World News for coverage of the Regional Seminar. 
 
Regional Seminars are a core part of The Forum’s mission to meet the education abroad community where they are, particularly on-site staff and regional leaders who work directly with students navigating unfamiliar cultures, academic systems, and personal growth while studying abroad. Designed by and for education abroad professionals and faculty in the region, these events offer space for learning, networking, and collaboration around topics relevant to specific regions.  
 
Join us in London on April 16, 2026, for our next Regional Seminar. ​