Field report: Summer School in Rabat

When you think of Morocco, images of vibrant markets, breathtaking desert landscapes and historic cities often come to mind. Some may remember that Morocco is a monarchy and you may have heard that the 2030 FIFA World Cup will be held in Spain and Morocco. However, Morocco is also one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and offers an exciting mix of tradition and modernity. This contrast is to be maintained despite a planned doubling of tourism by 2030.

And what probably even fewer people knew is that Morocco is an attractive destination for academic purposes. With the Rabat Business School (RBS), the country has the best business school in North Africa and is ranked 54th in the world according to the Financial Times. In addition to around 180 partner universities, the Kufstein University also has a partnership with the RBS and we were lucky enough to take part in a two-week summer school program and get to know both the university and the country in depth.

DISCOVER NEW CULTURE AND COLLECT CREDITS AT THE SAME TIME

After the presentation of the program, which showed that we had the opportunity to discover a new culture and earn up to 12 credits, the decision was made easy for us and we applied directly. After a few weeks, we were accepted and were able to choose up to three courses from the following: Doing Business across Cultures, Cross-Cultural Management in International Management, Comparative Political Systems, Arabic Language Studies.

On site, we were immediately surprised by the very modern and beautiful campus with its numerous cafés, sports facilities and even a small lake. Depending on the courses chosen, the university day started at 9:00 am or 10:30 am and ended around 4:30 pm. On some days, there were organized group activities such as a city tour of Rabat, a soccer match with the university team and an Arabic calligraphy course. On the other days there was sufficient time for private activities. A day trip to the city of Fez was planned for the weekend, which was particularly exciting for everyone. 

We opted for these two courses, Doing Business across Cultures and Cross-Cultural Management in International Management. In the first subject, the focus was clearly on the different rules of conduct in a business context between business partners from different cultures. Opportunities and risks for doing business in the Arab world were also discussed. In the second subject, the focus was more on entrepreneurship and the realization of an idea. On Friday, the last day of the program, our knowledge was tested by means of a test and a presentation.

CROSS CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND PRIVATE ACTIVITIES

In addition to the three hours of lectures, we had sufficient time to make new contacts and do things. For us, the conversations with students from all over the world, the contacts we made and the friendships that developed over the two weeks were particularly special. The Moroccan students we met were also incredibly hospitable and often took us out to explore the real Rabat beyond the typical tourist spots. Our extracurricular activities were varied and entertaining. Surfing on the Moroccan coast was an exhilarating experience. Visiting Casablanca offered a contrasting city experience with its modern atmosphere and historical sites. Evening bar visits allowed us to catch up with the other international students and share stories, experiences and a few laughs over a drink.

Links:

• International Business Studies 

Luisa Fischer & Andreas Schmieger