The Harvard-College Students in Africa Initiative (HSAI)

Program Description:

The Harvard-College Students in Africa Initiative (HSAI) was founded by students at Harvard College hoping to foster a connection between Harvard students and outstanding students at prominent African universities in hopes of fostering cross cultural collaborations in cultural education and social initiatives and is modeled off of a very successful program with Asian Universities. They chose Al Akhawayn University because of the beautiful campus, the rich diversity and of course the reputation of academic excellence for the first year.  Following the success, it will be offered again to AUI.

The initiative consists of two one-week exchange programs where African university students visit Harvard College at Harvard University in Spring 2011 and Harvard students will visit AUI. While visiting historic Cambridge, Massachusetts and the vibrant neighboring city of Boston, the African students will live on campus with Harvard students and participate in a conference with world renowned professors and speakers. HSAI plans to work with other funding institutions to offset the travel costs of students who participate in this program based on need. However, due to these financial constraints, They will only be able to accommodate approximately 10 students from AUI.

AUI students will be required to plan a conference on campus at their home institutions with the assistance of our board members that incorporates cultural and social activities for the visiting students from Harvard.  Finding funding for this conference will be the responsibility of the students at Al Akhawayn University.

Due to the rigors of the program, HSAI has requested that partner schools to nominate their most ambitious and exceptional students for the program as well as a member of the faculty to oversee the program.  Dr. Shoup has been retained as the faculty leader.

A group of  faculty led by Dr. John Shoup will lead the selection process under the auspices of The Office of International Programs.

Eligibility:

AUI undergraduate students of any degree program although a graduate student with a compelling motive may be considered.
The AUI student must :
1. be from an African country (passport holder)
2. have completed 30 credits hours
3. have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00
4. had at least one SSC, PSC or GEO class

The Application and Selection Process:

1. Students must

a) complete the application form with a photo by 3:00 PM, Monday, 06 September, 2010.

b) ask 3 professors to complete the reference form.
     
2. After screening the applicants, all eligible students will be invited to a 2 hour session in the library where they will have to complete a short research and writing assignment based on answering one question from several questions provided by the Selection Committee made up of 2 faculty members for the SHSS, SBA, and SSE.

3. After the papers are read by a group of writing professors, selected applicants will be called for interviews (approximately 20 minutes) with the Selection Committee before the end of September .  

4. 10 selected students with one or two alternates will be communicated to HSAI who will then prepare letters of invitation necessary for acquiring  visas to the United States of America.

Student Responsibilities:
Each student
1. must have a passport valid until July 2011
2. is responsible for paying all visa fees and following all required procedures for obtaining a USA visa
3. must make airline reservations and apply for assistance from HSIA to pay airfare if needed
4. will need to have pocket money although the exact amount is not known at this time

If you have any questions about the program not contained in the information above,  please write to Mrs. Fishburn at oipd@aui.ma or stop the Office of International Programs in Building 10.