Global Liberal Arts Leaders at Al Akhawayn Call for Advancement, Growth

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Published on Monday, 07 February 2011 15:33

Ifrane, February 7, 2011 -- Members of the the Global Liberal Arts Alliance met at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane to discuss the achivements and future of the influential group, while agreeing to explore new initiatives to enhance and strengthen the role and understanding of liberal arts higher education in the global era.

The Ifrane meeting of members of the Global Liberal Arts Alliance at Al Akhawayn University, from February 3-5, 2011, included the presidents of 14 colleges and universities from around the United States and throughout the world who are committed to the liberal arts approach at their respective institutions. During three days of discussions, they analyzed the meaning of the liberal arts as an educational approach, debated ideas about ways to communicate its values and value more effectively -- particularly internationally -- and discussed possible future projects such as collaborative degree programs, summer institutes, and more.

The participants also discussed fast-moving political events in North Africa and the Middle East in a special session animated by the president of the American University of Beirut, Peter Dorman, and the president of Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Driss Ouaouicha.

The Global Liberal Arts Alliance is a partnership of the presidents of 25 liberal arts colleges and universities, and was formed as an initiative of the Great Lakes Colleges Association, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Alliance programs link educational leaders, faculty, and administrators throughout the network to exchange expertise and experience in order to develop stronger capacities in the member institutations and advance the traditional notion of the liberal arts and sciences.

Among the participants were the following presidents of global liberal arts colleges and universities: Samuel Abraham of the Bratislava International School of Liberal Arts; Peter Armacost of Forman Christian College; Doug Bennett of Earlham College; Grant Cornwell of the College of Wooster; Peter Dorman of the American University of Beirut; Donna Randall of Albion College; David Horner of the American College of Greece; David Huwiler of the American University of Bulgaria; Erik Nielsen of Franklin College of Switzerland; Driss Ouaouicha of Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane; Franco Pavoncello of John Cabot University; Celeste Schenck of the American University of Paris; Patrick White of Wabash College; and Eileen Wilson-Oyelaran of Kalamazoo College. Also in attendance and chairing the meeting was Rick Detweiler, President of the Great Lakes Colleges Association, which oversees the Alliance's programs.

Throughout and on the margins of the meeting, accompanying spouses and meeting participants alike enjoyed Al Akhawayn University-organized excursions around the Ifrane area, and to Azrou, Meknes, Fez, Rabat, Marrakech, and Casablanca.

For more information about the Global Liberal Arts Alliance, please visit http://www.liberalartsalliance.org/.