AUC-Christ University Joint Summer Course
The American University in Cairo concluded a three-week faculty-led exchange program by providing the intensive summer course Inequality and Social Justice: Arab World and India (POLS 5310) in collaboration with Christ University, India. This course was funded by the Pathways Beyond Neoliberalism: Voices From MENA project, a research initiative located at The American University in Cairo (AUC).
Christ University students in Bengaluru arrived at AUC for a comprehensive orientation and a campus tour before starting the course. The program integrated academic knowledge with experimental learning by arranging multiple field trips and presentations by expert guest speakers.
The program included a variety of activities that linked theoretical understanding to practical experiences. Ahmed El Droubi, global campaigns manager at Climate Action Network - International, presented on the connections between climate change and social justice in the Global South, highlighting community-driven solutions to systemic issues. Students went on a field visit to the Zarayeb area in Cairo where much of the city’s waste is sorted and recycled by the local community. Hosted by the Association for the Protection of the Environment (A.P.E.), students toured a number of local landmarks including The Cave Church, and the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus. The program featured a visit to the Egyptian Food Bank, where Growth Lab Director Mohamed El Karamany provided insights about the organization's activities, and students got a firsthand look at food packaging operations. The field trips concluded with a visit to the rural governorate of Fayoum to understand the role of Al Nouran Foundation NGO and tackle issues related to violence against women.
The program concluded with a certificate ceremony, where Dean Noha Mikawy, dean of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, together with Amr Adly, associate professor of political science at AUC and principal investigator of the Pathways Project, presented course completion certificates to the students.
The faculty-led exchange program has illustrated how global academic collaborations can foster significant cross-cultural learning opportunities that enable students from different parts of the Global South to tackle worldwide social justice issues and benefit from each other’s exchange of experience and culture.
