Congratulations to Oussama El Addouli, IES Abroad Rabat Center Director, who was honored with a Fulbright Impact Award for his dedicated work introducing American students to Moroccan culture and languages.
Oussama (pictured right in the above photo) was one of five distinguished Moroccan Fulbright alumni to receive the prestigious award from the Fulbright Commission and the U.S. Embassy on the 35th anniversary of The Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE). The MACECE has encouraged and facilitated academic exchange between Morocco and the United States since its founding in 1982. The world-wide Fulbright program’s many opportunities are at the heart of MACECE’s operations.
Selected from more than 1,400 Moroccan alumni of the Fulbright, and Humphrey, Fellowship Programs, the award recipients were recognized for their achievements and significant impact on Moroccan communities and public life in the fields of academia and research, government service, distinguished teaching, the arts, business and entrepreneurship, and civil service.
Moroccan government representatives, U.S. officials, former ministers and ambassadors, IES Abroad faculty and staff, and other local partners attended the award ceremony on Thursday, November 9 at The View Hotel in Rabat.
Oussama was presented the Fulbright Impact Award by Dr. James Miller, Director of the Fulbright Commission in Rabat, and Dr. John Davidson, the Director of the American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies and board member of the Fulbright Commission in Rabat.
In his presentation, Dr. Miller had this to say about Oussama:
"You are the Director of one of the most prominent centers in Morocco for American university students to study and learn about Morocco, its cultures and languages. Many of your students apply for and are accepted for Fulbright student grants through the work you do here in Rabat. You encourage a new generation of American scholars who develop expertise in Morocco, North Africa, Arabic language, and Islam. At IES Abroad, you are respected by your students and staff. In America, you were a Fulbrighter at the University of New England, where your skills as a teacher, student, and scholar, shone brightly across the Atlantic.”
Oussama reported that although he has been recognized as an individual, his award is also a result of the work that IES Abroad Rabat has been doing in the field of international education and study abroad – especially though its faculty in their different positions. Oussama recognized IES Abroad faculty and staff and dedicated the award to them.
The event was covered by a dozen national and international media outlets. Oussama was interviewed by many of the media outlets to speak on the role of IES Abroad in fostering international education through study abroad. The next day, Alhurra TV, a U.S.-based public Arabic-language TV channel that broadcasts to 22 countries across the Middle East and North Africa, interviewed Oussama about his work and the mission of IES Abroad at the IES Abroad Rabat Center.
Oussama has been the Rabat Center Director since 2013. Before joining us, Oussama worked for MACECE in Rabat, cofounded the International Arabic Institute in Meknes, and has taught Arabic language and culture courses at universities and private institutions internationally including AlAkhawayn University in Ifrane, the International School of Bologna in Italy, and QWL in Rabat. He’s an accomplished scholar with multiple degrees from universities in Poland, Germany, Italy, and Morocco.
Thank you Oussama for all the work you do, and congratulations on your well-deserved Fulbright Impact Award!
IES Abroad is proud to have more than 170 of our alumni be awarded Fulbright Scholarships. Learn how to get a Fulbright Scholarship with the support of our Center staff, like Oussama, and explore other benefits of study abroad.
