What Universities Are
Spotlight Review:
George Mason University Faculty-Led
Travel Course Review - Morocco January 2016
Submitted by:
L A U R E N B R E I T H A U P T,
Doctoral Student Clinical Psychology - GMU
RACHEL SHOR,
Doctoral Student Clinical Psychology - GMU
A
s both Academic Directors
and graduate students,
we truly believe that we
would not have been
able to lead a study abroad trip
of this quality and magnitude
without the guidance and resources
provided by ARAMFO. While we
both have experience teaching
courses at GMU, as well as living,
conducting research and traveling
internationally, neither of us had
taught overseas before. In fact,
very few graduate students or
new professors have the chance
to lead a study abroad course.
While the possibility to leading a
study abroad course was exciting,
we were also aware of a number
of challenges we needed to
overcome in both coordinating
with our own educational program
as well as arranging the course
internationally. Collaborating with
4 I
the Mason Study Abroad Office
and ARAMFO in helped us create
both an academically enriching
course for our students and an
extensive travel itinerary throughout
Morocco. ARAMFO played a crucial
role in arranging the activities,
travel arrangements, and safety
precautions taken while abroad.
Their hands-on approach to
academic study abroad coordination
allowed for us to do what we
do best, design an educational
experience for our students.
ARAMFO played
a crucial role in
arranging the
activities, travel
arrangements,
and safety
precautions taken
while abroad.
Their handson approach
to academic
study abroad
coordination
allowed for us
to do what we
do best, design
an educational
experience for our
students.
A R A M F O E D U C AT I O N A L F O U N DAT I O N
We led our students throughout
Morocco on a 14-day study abroad
course; spending time in major cities
such as Casablanca, Marrakesh,
Fez, and Rabat, by the ocean and in
mountains and the Sahara, we were
able to learn about and appreciate
many of the varied regions of the
country. We had opportunities that
I
2016
would not have been available to
us had we not been partnering with
ARAMFO. ARAMFO contributed to
our students academic experience
by connecting us with local faculty,
students and professors at the
University of Hassan II Benmsik
and Medical School and ensured
that we had the most beautiful
accommodations along the way.
Classroom discussions took place
in historic mosques, while eating
traditional Moroccan dinners at
our Riads, around a campfire in
the Sahara desert, and at sunset
overlooking the Northern Atlantic
Ocean. We simply asked ARAMFO
to reserve a space for group
discussion and lectures, and we can
all agree, they were able to provide
us with so much more.
Just to give you a quick idea of
the connections that ARAMFO
http://www.aramfo.org/