National headlines around further immigration restrictions have little impact on Moroccan students wanting to study in Maine

A group of Moroccan students tours a lab on UNE's Tangier campus

The University of New England’s Tangier, Morocco Campus hosted its inaugural open house for Moroccan students interested in studying at UNE’s campuses in Maine. Nearly 200 Moroccan students were in attendance to learn more about UNE’s academic programs and its two campuses.

The Open House event in Tangier is the first ever held outside of UNE’s Maine campuses and is a significant step in the University’s globalizing process.

Students and their parents traveled from different parts of Morocco to attend this event.

Anouar Majid, Ph.D., University of New England vice president of Global Affairs and Communications, welcomed students and parents, described the special relationship UNE has with Morocco and talked about the benefits of studying at UNE.

“Our Open House initiative was not only about recruiting students to UNE, but it is also an eloquent statement about UNE’s commitment to dialogue across cultures,” Majid commented. “UNE believes in the power of American education to build bridges and create a better world for all. Even if the current political climate is not optimal for encouraging Muslims to study in the United States, our faculty, staff and students on the ground dispelled any apprehensions Moroccan students and parents may have had about seeking an education in the United States. Actions like these make Americans shine abroad.”

UNE faculty and staff from Portland and Biddeford gave presentations about the academic offerings across disciplines.

Throughout the day, UNE students from Maine who are currently taking classes on the Tangier campus led interactive tours, talked to students about life in Maine and discussed the many clubs, organizations and excursions offered at UNE.

President Danielle Ripich termed the event a milestone in the University’s history. “We built the Tangier campus to give global opportunities to our students and to diversify our student experience, but now we are using it to bring international students to our Maine programs. The campus is opening all kinds of global possibilities for UNE.”

So far, 11 students have applied, and more are expected to do in the coming weeks.

UNE is the only Maine-based university that has built its own campus, designed for all majors, including those in the sciences, abroad.