RADFORD – With courses on global competitiveness as well as the Arabic language already underway, Radford University is further internationalizing the curriculum under the guidance of visiting Fulbright Scholar Abdelilah El Abdi.

A political scientist from Mohammed V University in Morocco where he serves as chair of the department of public law and political science, El Abdi is at RU to teach about government and politics in developing countries, comparative governments and a seminar in international comparative studies.

“These courses and the seminar are intended to provide the students with a deep understanding and a real appreciation of political comparative studies, the phenomenon of democracy and the processes of democratization in the region of North Africa and the Middle East,” El Abdi said. “Working with RU’s political science students has been a wonderful experience for me. RU students are motivated, open-minded and excited to learn new things about the government and politics in developing countries. The warmth and maturity of the students helped me feel welcomed and comfortable.”

El Abdi (right), who has master’s degrees in political science and international relations and a Ph.D. in political science from Mohammed V University, was selected for the RU position after RU’s International Education Center (IEC) applied to host a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (SIR). The SIR program was designed to help institutions address curricular needs and stimulate faculty and staff development. The IEC was seeking an expert in the fields of political science, international relations, and the history and culture of North Africa and the Middle East.

“The success of our outreach this year to Arab cultures is yet one more example of the ongoing transformation of the RU campus guided by the 7-17 strategic plan,” said Jon Stauff, director of the RU IEC.

Following his return to Morocco, El Abdi plans to establish resources for RU students with a concentration in political science, international studies, history and languages to collaborate with students at Mohammed V University.

“It has been an honor to be a part of the Fulbright Program and a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence at Radford University,” El Abdi said. “While our cultures have some differences, I have found that we have much in common as scholars. Through my contact with teachers, the RU administration and students, I have learned about the American culture, the American way of life and the academic world. We share the same passion for teaching and learning. I have enjoyed working with my students here as much as my students in Morocco, and I look forward to more opportunities to cooperate with RU teachers and students very soon.”

RU is dedicated to transforming its students into graduates who will be among the most sought after by the nation’s top employers by providing them every opportunity to incorporate international education into their studies. Fueled by a $750,000 BB&T grant awarded to RU’s College of Business and Economics (COBE), RU’s first global capitalism course began this semester. It will be one of four courses in a capitalism program offered at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

COBE dean Faye Gilbert, who is teaching the first class, Special Topics in Marketing: Cultures and Capitalism, said the course was designed to “explore the moral foundations of capitalism. Students will discover how culture and law relate to economic growth, how capitalism has been adapted in different cultures and how culture drives marketing and business plans for global businesses.”

RU’s Arabic language course, supported by the Fulbright Scholarship Program, is another program available to students and is essential to understanding world culture. The fifth most commonly spoken language in the world, Arabic is the official language of more than 20 countries and 300 million people. Arabic-speaking nations are a fast-growing market for trade. But while there is a high demand for Arabic speakers in the Western world, the supply is low. Therefore, those who study Arabic are able to find careers in a variety of fields, including business and industry, education, journalism, finance, and foreign service.

To learn more about these and other programs available at Radford University, visit http://www.radford.edu.