By Callan Quinn
The American University of Cairo has become the latest institution to join the US’s Fund for Education Abroad program as an Access Partner, which will open up scholarship opportunities there for top US undergrads that are underrepresented among study abroad participants.
“For almost 100 years, students from around the globe have chosen to study at The American University in Cairo,” said AUC president Francis J. Ricciardone.
“Helping students realise their aspirations for higher education is a top priority for AUC. As a result, almost half of our student body receives scholarships, fellowships or financial aid.
“We are so grateful that FEA shares our values and will help us advance AUC goals of diversity and inclusion,” he added.
Launched in 2017, the fund asks Access Partners to fund applicants up to $5,000 per semester to study abroad. Its other partners include The Intern Group, the University of Auckland, USAC and AIFS Study Abroad.
According to the 2018 edition of the Open Doors report by the Institute of International Education, 332,727 US students studied abroad as part of their program in the academic year 2016-17, an increase of 2.3% over the previous year.
However, 40% of students go to just five countries, the UK, Italy, Spain, France and Germany, with over half of all participants choosing a European host country.
Just 4% go to Africa, although South Africa is one of the fastest-growing destinations in terms of student numbers.
“We are thrilled to welcome AUC to the Access Partner Program, which continues to expand impact as a collaborative venture of many international education leaders,” said FEA executive director Jennifer Calvert.
“We are also excited that Egypt has joined the growing list of destination-specific scholarships FEA offers.”
A representative from FEA told The PIE News that the first cohort of FEA-AUC Scholars are expected to head to Egypt in the summer or autumn of 2020.
In the QS University Rankings 2020, the American University of Cairo was ranked the top university in the country and second on the continent behind the University of Cape Town.