Public Affairs

AUK Signs MOU with International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP)

05th Nov 2018 | by the Department of PR & Marketing

AUK signed a Memorandum of Understanding with International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP) in an effort to increase international opportunities for its students. This agreement allows AUK students to study abroad at over 150 Kuwait Ministry of Higher Education-approved universities worldwide—including 90 universities in the United States and 36 in Europe. By joining this consortium, the University is expanding the number of study abroad opportunities available to its students, and creating an opportunity for students from around the world to come and study in Kuwait. Initial funding for this program has been provided by the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait through a grant from the U.S. Department of State.

The exchange program allows eligible students to study at any available host university during their sophomore spring semester or junior year. Students who study at one of the approved institutions will have a unique opportunity to explore a new place and culture while earning credit towards their degree. Those who study during the spring semester at a U.S. university can choose to extend their experience abroad with a summer internship. President and CEO of ISEP Dr. John S. Lucas stated, “ISEP is pleased to welcome the American University of Kuwait to our growing community of institutions dedicated to providing academic and cross-cultural learning experiences for all students. AUK’s strong programs in Arabic, social and behavioral sciences, international studies and graphic design will attract students from a number of countries, and we anticipate AUK students will be equally interested in the wide variety of fields of study available through our robust portfolio.”

In addition to providing individual students with life-changing study abroad opportunities, this program will benefit everyone on campus. Students from over 50 countries will be able to come for an exchange semester at AUK. The program will help promote cultural exchange between AUK and other universities around the globe.

ISEP Director of Member Relations, Pablo Ulloa-Perez visited the AUK campus and met with the University Provost, Rawda Awwad; Vice President for Admissions and Public Affairs, Amal Al-Binali; Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Lalitha Varadarajan; Dean of Student Affairs, Hanan Muzaffar; and Assistant to the President for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness, Tadd Kruse. The meeting took place ahead of information sessions that Ulloa-Perez hosted on how to apply to the exchange program and further details about the experience.

ISEP greatly expands the scope of study abroad opportunities available to AUK students. The University also has partnerships with George Washington University in Washington DC, The American University in Cairo in Egypt, SciencesPo in France, and Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Commenting on the significance of AUK’s expanding international opportunities for students, study abroad coordinator and Assistant to the President for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness Tadd Kruse says, “Study abroad is a life-changing opportunity for academic learning and personal growth, and by partnering with ISEP AUK stays true to its liberal arts identity by creating unique learning opportunities for students across four continents.”

About ISEP
ISEP was founded in 1979 to facilitate student exchanges throughout the world. The program has sent over 56,000 students abroad since its founding. Students are directly enrolled in courses at their host university to broaden their academic understanding by taking courses where information is presented through a different perspective than in their home country. ISEP strives to provide a full immersion experience to all students participating in its programs. In addition to learning abroad, ISEP programs help students develop cultural competency skills that are necessary for today’s global workforce.
 

(From Left) Dr. Rawda Awwad, Provost; Tadd Kruse, Assistant to the President for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness; Amal Al-Binali, Vice President for Admission and Public Affairs; Lalitha Varadarajan, Executive Director of Finance and Administration; Dr. Hanan Muzaffar, Dean of Student Affairs; Pablo Ulloa-Perez, ISEP Director of Member Relations

AUK In Media

AUK in the Media - February 2024

Learn more

Media Relations