AUCians Return from Semesters Abroad Amid COVID-19 Fears
By: Malak El-Khatib
@MalakElKhatibb
The Coronavirus has disrupted travel plans for many AUCians, especially those in semesters abroad or planning semester study abroad.
With airports quickly shutting down around the world, students studying abroad had to choose between going back to their home countries or being on lockdown.
“Some of the international study abroad students at AUC (67 students) were recalled by their universities, while others opted to stay (so far). Some AUC students studying abroad this semester (42 students) returned, while others are still weighing the situation,” Ahmed Tolba, associate provost for Strategic Enrollment Management at AUC, said.
Tolba said that the International Programs Office (IPO) is never going to ban applications for semesters abroad since they are hopeful that all study abroad programs are going to resume in Fall 2020 assuming the global health crisis is contained by then.
“The IPO has been in direct contact with all our 42 AUC students abroad as well as the study abroad offices at the partner universities. The office encouraged students in high risk countries to return back, and is keeping contact with all of them,” Tolba said.
Mai Ashour, a Political Science junior who was on a semester abroad at Sciences Po College in Paris, chose to return to home after her assignments and lectures were moved online.
“No one would have expected that we [study abroad students] would be in Egypt two months after the semester had started. We no longer go to classes and are no longer surrounded by students from all over the world,” she added.
Ashour said that she did not face any obstacles and managed to return safely from Paris. With all the emails that AUC has sent her, she was sure that if she needed any help AUC would assist her.
Although she was happy that she returned safe and sound, Ashour did not want to leave in the middle of the semester because she wanted to have the full experience.
She said that she does not know how her semester will proceex but she doesn’t have any future plans for now.
It’s not only students who were currently on semesters abroad that were affected, but also students who applied for the summer semester abroad.
Communication and Media Arts junior Hana El-Hadidy had applied to a summer semester abroad and was planning on doing a Euro-trip.
“It already affected my summer plans as now I’m not applying for any summer abroad as most universities abroad are already closed and not accepting any applications,” El-Hadidy said.
After wanting to go on a semester abroad to make the best out of it and gain experience, El-Hadidy is now coming up with an alternative plan for summer to either go on an internship or travel abroad for vacation, if possible by then.
