Rabat Regional Seminar

Education Abroad As a Bridge to the Future: Innovations in Partnership and Pedagogy

Morocco stands as a beacon for broadening international education in Global South destinations, ranking as the third most popular destination for U.S. students studying abroad in Africa and the second most popular MENA destination, after Israel (OpenDoors Report, 2024). Historically, study abroad opportunities have focused language, culture, and heritage programs. With this strong foundation to build on, Morocco's emergence as a regional leader in sustainability and innovation means there are exciting opportunities on the horizon to establish and strengthen educational exchanges and international partnerships.

Co-hosted by Mohammed V University and The Forum on Education Abroad, this one-day regional seminar brings together education abroad practitioners, university faculty, program providers, and government representatives. Together, we will explore what it would look like to imagine the future of education abroad in Morocco grounded in immersive programs that consider shared global challenges faced by Moroccan, U.S. and other communities. Through collaborative discussions and presentations, participants will work toward creating more accessible and enriching education abroad experiences for both incoming and outgoing students focused on expanded use of applied, experiential pedagogies and inclusive program designs.

Read the Recap

Free Event Hosted By:

Speakers and Advisory Committee

* Denotes a speaker for the seminar.

Professor Dr. Mohammed RHACHI, Ph.D.
President of Mohammed V University in Rabat

Professor Rhachi's Bio

Professor Dr. Mohammed RHACHI is the current President of Mohammed V University in Rabat. He previously served as President of the university from 2018 to 2022. From 2015 to 2018, he held the position of Vice President for Governance, and from 2001 to 2014, he was the Director of the Higher School of Technology. Additionally, he served as President of the Lalla Meryem Academic Chair for Women and Children from 2019 to 2024.

Professor Rhachi earned his Ph.D. in Thermal and Thermodynamic Sciences from INSA Toulouse and the Faculty of Sciences of Rabat. He has also obtained several certificates in governance and higher education management systems (ENA – Rabat, U.S. State Department, Dale Carnegie, among others).

Throughout his career, he has chaired conference sessions, collaborated with fellow scholars, and presented at numerous regional, national, and international academic events. He is the author of over 40 scholarly works, including research articles published in internationally indexed journals. In recognition of his contributions, he received the Jean Demal Prize from the International Association of University Pedagogy (Montpellier, 2008) for outstanding research.

Professor Dr. Ismail KASSOU*
Vice President for Research and Cooperation
Mohammed V University in Rabat

Professor Kassou's Bio

Yamina El Kirat El Allame, Ph.D.*
Director, Moroccan Institute for Advanced Studies, Mohammed V University in Rabat

Yamina's Bio

Yamina EL KIRAT EL ALLAME got her Ph.D. in minority identities, languages and cultures. She is the director of the Moroccan Institute for Advanced Studies at Mohammed V University, and the coordinator of the UNIMED SUB-Network on migration. She was a member of the UNESCO Ad Hoc Committee of Experts for Endangered Languages. She is an international adviser and consultant in the field of higher education.

She was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Greenville Tech in 2010 with the program entitled "Direct Access to the Muslim World" where she helped in developing a program entitled “Middle Eastern Studies”. She is the coordinator of the AMAS Erasmus Inter Africa Mobility Project in Morocco, a member of the Erasmus Capacity Building Project “Edu-BioMed” on biosphere reserves and a member of the Global Youth Academy Project and a research partner of the GLoSYS Project. El Kirat has been teaching courses at IES-ABROAD Rabat-Morocco on the topic ofcultural identities in the MENA region, and has been coordinating IES programs at Mohammed V University.

Professor El Kirat is a member of the Standing Committee of the World Congress of African Linguistics (WOCAL) and the President of the organizing Committee of WOCAL 9, which took place in Rabat-Morocco in August 2018. She has taught and carried out research in cultural linguistics/anthropology, sociolinguistics, language endangerment, minority cultures, cultural representations and attitudes, gender issues, and language and educational policy, internationalization of higher education for more than 30 years. Her interest in all these issues stems from her personal experience and interest in the linguistic, cultural, social, educational and political issues in North Africa in general and the Moroccan context in particular. She has published articles in indexed journals and chapters in collective books at the international level.

Oussama El Addouli, Ph.D.*
Center Director, IES Abroad Morocco

oussama's Bio

Dr. Oussama El Addouli is the Director of the IES Abroad Morocco, a branch of the Institute for the International Education of Students in Chicago. IES Abroad and Since 1950, has been offering study abroad programs that redefine how students view the world. It is a global not-for-profit educational organization present in 21 countries with more than 100.000 American alumni. It offers programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and South America. Dr. El Addouli is the responsible head of the program, and is the main point of contact with colleges and universities in Morocco, Thew Middle East and the U.S.

Dr. El Addouli is also a former outreach director at the Fulbright Moroccan American Commission in Morocco. He has been working as outreach director, providing academic advice for both Moroccan and American students, scholars and specialists on the higher education system and market in Morocco and the USA.

Dr. El Addouli received his PhD in The Internationalization of Higher Education and Study Abroad in Morocco. He also earned hi Master Degrees in international Relations and development, Global Studies and Social Entrepreneurship from leadings universities in the USA, England, Germany, Austria, Poland and Italy.

Dr. El Addouli interests and expertise span the fields of Internationalization of Higher Education, Leadership, Management of Higher Education, Educational Curriculum Development and Design, Global Studies, Educational Governance, Higher Education Governance, Multi-Cultural Education, Career and Technical Education, Accreditation, Leadership and Management of Higher Education Institutions and Special Education.

Dr. El Addouli is very well traveled and has been trained and certified by many prestigious universities such as Harvard in Strategic Management and Leadership, Academic Diplomacy, Social Work, study Abroad and International Education.

Brian Seilstad, Ph.D.*
Director of Internationalization and Partnerships, Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane

Brian's Bio

Dr. Seilstad currently serves as the Director of Internationalization and Partnerships at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco. Prior to this position, he taught high school Greek and Latin, served in the Peace Corps in Morocco, was the Deputy Director of Youth Service California, and held teaching and leadership positions at Al Akhawayn University and American Academy/College Casablanca. His academic work focuses on linguistic diversity and equity and internationalization of higher education.

Boubker Mazoz*
Founder & President, IDMAJ Foundation for Development

Boubker's Bio

Boubker Mazoz is the President and Founder of the IDMAJ Foundation for Development, Sister Cities Africa, and the Casablanca–Chicago Sister Cities Association, and serves as the Country Representative of Sister Cities International (SCI) in Morocco. He is also the Founder and CEO of multiple Cultural and CommunityCenters in Casablanca and Salé.

With over 50 years of experience in promoting international exchanges, Mazoz has been a leading figure in fostering partnerships across
education, culture and intercultural learning between Morocco and the rest of the world.

From 1979 to 2010, he served the U.S. Department of State in Morocco, holding various positions including Resource Manager, Library Director, and Public Affairs Specialist within the Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy.

Following his retirement from the State Department, he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Moroccan Minister of Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy from 2013 to 2015.

Throughout his career, Mazoz has initiated and led numerous exchange programs for individuals, institutions, and communities. He has played a vital role in creating and guiding NGOs, including:

Neighborhoods Association IDMAJ (2006), which evolved into the IDMAJ
Foundation for Development
Sister Cities Africa (2011)
Casablanca–Chicago Sister Cities Association (2002)
Moroccan American Circle (MAC) for U.S. graduates and Americans living in Morocco (1982)
Association Interculturelle Marocaine (AIM) for former AFS exchange students (1986)
Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired (2008)
U.S. Former Foreign Service National Employees Association (2022)
He has also directed and contributed to several projects:
STEAMuseum – a virtual exchange between high school students in Casablanca and Chicago
Education & Awareness Through Sports – in partnership with the Jr. NBA and the Agence (AFD)
Social Mediation & Conflict Resolution Project – in partnership with MEPI
Workshops on Counterterrorism and the Prevention of Violent Extremism

Mazoz is the Secretary General of Corps Africa Maroc, Vice President of Salmia Center for the Rehabilitation of the Handicapped.

In 2024, he launched a new Center for the Socioeconomic Integration of Women in Precarious Conditions, continuing his mission to empower
vulnerable communities through education, vocational training, and social inclusion.

Mazoz’s work has been widely recognized by national governments and international organizations and has been featured in global and national media outlets, including Time Magazine, MSNBC, ABC, The New York Times, The National, Vogue, Jeune Afrique, Marianne, AFP, and several leading Moroccan news platforms.

Amelia Dietrich, Ph.D.*
Senior Director for Research & Publications, The Forum on Education Abroad

Amelia's Bio

Dr. Amelia Dietrich is the Senior Director for Research and Publications at 韩国三级片and Managing Editor of Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad. She joined The Forum in 2015 as a Mellon/ACLS Public Fellow. Amelia’s work focuses on leading original research initiatives and supporting the publication of others’ scholarship on best practices in education abroad, maximizing the impact of education abroad for students, institutions and communities, and identifying promising practices on the leading edge. Amelia also facilitates professional development workshops on the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad in a variety of venues and lends her expertise to project-based consultancies and comprehensive reviews. She serves on the IIE Open Doors Study Abroad Working Group and the Advisory Board for the Center for Research on Abroad
and International Student Engagement.

Previously, Amelia taught Spanish and linguistics at Penn State University, and led students on a research fellowship to Spain. Amelia holds a B.A. from Moravian University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Spanish and Language Science from The Pennsylvania State University. She is a Certified Professional in Education Abroad.

Mary Price, Ph.D.
Director of Teaching and Learning, The Forum on Education Abroad

Mary's Bio

Dr. Mary Price is the inaugural Director of Teaching and Learning. She brings over 20 years' experience working with scholar-practitioners, students, professionals and community members as a thought partner and critical friend to strengthen practice, deepen learning and co-create actionable knowledge.

Most recently, Mary led faculty development at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis’ Center for Service & Learning focusing on efforts to support the success and advancement of publicly-engaged faculty, institutional capacity building, and curriculum integration of civic pedagogies, including community-based global learning, at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Mary’s scholarly interests emphasize the influence of community-academic partnership relationships on learning and community outcomes, the socialization and success of publicly-engaged faculty as part of campus equity, civic and student success agendas, and improving institutional climates for ethical and equitable community engagement in local and global contexts. Some of Mary's ongoing projects include:

- a member of a multi-institutional research team convened by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). The group is working to curate best practices and generate new knowledge with a particular focus on broadening participation among underrepresented students and staff in mentored undergraduate research, addressing gaps between mentoring theory and practices, and sharing tools that support intercultural mentoring skills.

Strengthening Community-Academic Partnerships: a co-developer of the and the .
Building Capacity for Full Participation: a past co-chair of the , a research group sponsored by Imagining America: Artists and Scholars in Public Life, which has developed the .
Integrating Community Engaged Learning into STEM Ethics Education: a co-PI on an 5 year NSF funded institutional transformation project called This project focuses on improving STEM education through the integration of ethics instruction with community-engaged learning as well as understanding the impact that participation in a longitudinal civic focused faculty learning community has on departmental capacity, faculty ethical subjectivities and professional agency.

Mary received her PhD in Anthropology from Binghamton University, SUNY and her Master’s in Latin American Studies from the University of Florida.

Rachid Touhtou, Ph.D.*
Professor and Doctoral School Director, INSEA

Rachid's Bio

Rachid Touhtou currently serves as professor and director of the Doctoral School, CEDOC SSID, affiliated to the National School of Statistics and Applied Economics in Rabat, Morocco. He is also the Academic Coordinator of Amideast Education Abroad program in Rabat Morocco. An accomplished academic, professor, researcher, and leader with expertise in development studies, sociology, political science, Migration studies, gender studies and youth studies, Dr. Touhtou is dedicated to fostering academic excellence, advancing research, and promoting cross-cultural understanding. He is often invited by international universities for lectures and conferences on the MENA Region.

Salah Ayari, Ph.D.*
Instructional Professor, Texas A&M University

Salah's Bio

Dr. Salah Ayari is currently an Instructional Professor of Arabic and Arabic Studies at the Department of Global Languages and Cultures at Texas A&M University. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in second languages and cultures education. During his 18 years at Texas A&M University, he served as the inaugural Director of the Arabic and Asian Language Office at Texas A&M University, and later as the Director of Language Instruction at the Department of International Studies and the Department of Global Languages and Cultures.

Dr. Ayari has led 15 study abroad programs to different Arabic-speaking countries, including ten summer programs in Morocco, serving around 300 students. In 2022, Dr. Ayari received the Provost Teaching Excellence Award at Texas A&M University, an award that recognizes faculty for exceptional teaching practices that create meaningful learning experiences for students.

Othmane Zakaria, Ph.D.*
Assistant Professor, École Normale Supérieure, Sidi Mohammed Ben AbdAllah University in Fes

Othmane's Bio

Dr. Othmane Zakaria is an Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics and TEFL at École Normale Supérieure, Sidi Mohammed Ben AbdAllah University in Fes, Morocco. He is a former Fulbright scholar who taught at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln between 2010-2011. His research interests include integrating ICT in language teaching practices, creating instructional materials, and AI. Dr. Zakaria is also interested in intercultural communication, studying abroad, and learning about information technology in education. His work reflects a deep commitment to enhancing educational practices through innovative approaches and interdisciplinary research.

Oumaima Elghazali, Ph.D.*
Assistant Professor, ENSIAS, Mohammed V University in Rabat

Oumaima's Bio

Oumaima Elghazali is currently a University Professor Assistant of English Communication and Soft Skills at the ENSIAS school affiliated with Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco. She previously worked as the Youth Development Programming and Training Specialist at the US governmental agency, Peace Corps Morocco, where she trained multiple cohorts of Moroccan and American volunteers. Dr. Elghazali earned her doctorate in the field of Educational and Intercultural Exchange and Skills Development in Youth from the 'Language, Culture and Society' Doctoral Program at the Faculty of Letters at Mohammed V University.

Dr. Elghazali has more than ten years of experience as a practitioner in the fields of intercultural exchange, youth development, and volunteerism. She is a KLYES and YFU exchange program Alumna, former YFU USA Virtual Exchange ambassador, and facilitator. She is also a recent Stevens Initiative Academy graduate and is currently leading the engagement of students from ENSIAS, ENS ,and FSE at Mohammed V University in Soliya’s Global Circles Virtual Exchange programs.

Her research interests include: Intercultural Competence and Cultural Intelligence Development, Active Learning, Education and Multicultural Curricula, Soft Skills in Classroom Teaching, Mental Health Awareness, Training Design and Assessment, and Virtual Exchange.

Fatima Zahra Et-Talby*
Student Affairs Director, IES Abroad Morocco

Fatima's Bio

Fatima Zahra Et-Talby is the Student Affairs Director at the IES Abroad Morocco center. She oversees the Students Health, Safety and Security and the housing department at the center. She runs students orientations, cultural and student success activities, and educational trips and excursions in Morocco and abroad.

Fatima Zahra has completed her master's degree in business and project management from the Open University in London. Prior to that, she had earned a master's degree in gender studies from the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fes and another master's degree in translation studies from the University of Moulay Ismail in Meknes.

Her expertise spans the fields of study abroad, crisis management, mental health, community service and volunteering, intercultural dialogue, and diversity and inclusion.

Fatima Zahra is passionate about working with international students and is very active with youth organizations in Rabat.

Ibtihal Ben Said*
US Exchange Programs Alumna, Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane

Ibtihal's Bio

Ibtihal is a passionate Moroccan woman with a bachelor's in business administration from Al Akhawayn University. As the founder and former president of Anaruz, a Single Mothers Empowerment Club at AUI, she has led impactful community-based initiatives supporting women's rights and social justice across Morocco.

Ibtihal was selected as a Global UGRAD Awardee, spending an exchange semester in the United States through a prestigious U.S. Department of State Scholarship. In the US, she deepened her commitment to inclusive education and international collaboration. Her global journey also took her to India, where she represented AUI at the International Student Advisory Board of Woxsen University. This experience enriched her cross-cultural understanding and leadership skills.

Moreover, Ibtihal is an alumna of the Leadership Lab Program by the U.S. Embassy, where she designed and led a women’s empowerment initiative in the rural region of Ketama. Through her roles, she channels her voice toward building bridges across cultures, uplifting marginalized communities, and inspiring systemic change in education.

Anthony "AJ" Wiles*
Student, Case Western Reserve University and IES Abroad Morocco

Aj's Bio

Anthony "AJ" Wiles is currently studying with IES Abroad Morocco in Rabat for the Spring 2025 semester, and has been focusing on language and cultural studies during his time abroad. A third year student at Case Western Reserve University, he specializes in history, Francophone studies, and English. AJ is a US Department of State Gilman Scholarship alumnus and study abroad ambassador with his university, as well as being involved in a variety of extracurricular and academic endeavors.
An aspiring educator, he works with organizations such as Teach for America and Breakthrough Collaborative in the United States, and currently with IDMAJ Foundation for Development in Sale, Morocco. His interests include working in international education, language and cultural exchange, youth mentoring, and educational equity.

韩国三级片

Regional Seminar in Rabat

Rabat, Morocco: May 17, 2025

Education Abroad As a Bridge to the Future: Innovations in Partnership and Pedagogy

Sponsored by:

Speakers and Advisory Committee