Student Life at Ibn Ghazi Arabic Institute

Safety and Health at Ibn Ghazi Arabic Institute

Despite the drastic changes and security challenges undergone by many countries in the Middle East and North Africa after the Arab uprisings that started in 2011, Morocco is one of very few countries in the region, which have maintained a political stability and an unparalleled security in the Arab world. More particularly, Fez is a safe and peaceful touristic city that attracts tourists from all over the world because of its rich history and culture as well as its safety and tranquility.

Upon their arrival, students can choose to buy a Moroccan phone card for few pennies to be able to call one of the institute’s staff in case they need help out of work hours. In fact, Moroccan SIM cards are sometimes offered for free at the airport. Students can also use the internet for the same purpose. We will be there to assist students in case of emergency including health problems. The institute’s staff are well-connected to a network of competent doctors in various medical specialities. We recommend that students bring their medical file with them in case of health problems; in addition, although most drugs can be found in Moroccan pharmacies, we advise students to bring their own medical items necessary for their well-being.

Trips, excursions and immersion activities

At Ibn Ghazi Arabic Institute, we believe that extra-curricular activities are an important part of the students' experience. Beyond the classroom, we organize tours, trips and excursions and create immersion cultural activities and events that give our students the opportunity to practice the language, interact with the locals and immerse in the Moroccan culture. Participating in these activities is free of charge, except for trips and excursions. Below is a brief description of some of these activities.

Trips, excursions and tours

Morocco is a country where you can find high mountains, beautiful beaches and fascinating imperial and medieval cities. Students will have the opportunity to travel to the Atlas Mountains, tour on Fez Medina, travel to various cities such as Meknes, Marrakesh; Rabat and Casablanca as well as the Roman city of Volubilis and the fascinating Moroccan Sahara in addition to Chefchaouen. It is important to mention that we organize one day trips to the Atlas Mountains and another to Meknes, Moulay Idriss and Volubilis; other long trips are on demand and depend on the number of interested students.

Calligraphy workshops

Calligraphy remains the most widespread art form in the Arab world and a fascinating means of expression through image and words. We invite an expert in calligraphy to conduct series of workshops which give an overview on the origin and development of this art and get students to practice writing letters in one of the calligraphy styles with the purpose of writing their names.

N.B: You can contact us for the possibility of a full course or a series of workshops in calligraphy.

Cultural sessions

We offer few cultural sessions which introduce some aspects of the Moroccan culture such as cuisine, customs, celebrations, media, clothing, music … etc.

Guest Lectures

We invite professors and civil society activists to give lectures on various topics such as Moroccan history and culture, Islamic civilization and other contemporary issues in Morocco and the Arab world.

Moroccan craftsmanship

We organize a visit to various Moroccan craftsmanship workshops and learning centers such as tiles, plaster and wood work. This is a mesmerizing opportunity for students to learn how does Moroccan craftsmen design and make the intricate motifs.

N.B: You can contact us for the possibility of a full course or a series of workshops in these

Cooking lessons

Students will not only taste delicious Moroccan food at the institute if they choose our catering service, but they will also be taught how to make famous Moroccan dishes with the cook’s help. We often have students from various countries cook for us and introduce their countries’ famous dishes, which is an exciting intercultural exchange.

Movies and documentaries

We show movies and documentaries in Arabic and English about the Arab and Muslim world followed by a discussion.

Henna

With our help, female students can hire a hannaya (a woman who does intricate henna designs) to design their hands and ankles with beautiful and intricate designs.

Travel & Visa

Booking your flight

Thanks to its unique geo-strategic position at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, almost all major airlines serve Morocco as it stands at the crossroads of the world. As a result, the cost of flights are highly competitive and more likely to be a lot cheaper compared to all other Arab countries. We will be happy to provide assistance and advice for admitted students who might encounter some trouble arranging for their travel.

Airport transportation

We understand that traveling to a new country might be stressful for some students. Therefore, our students do not have to worry about arranging for airport transportation. We arrange for a pick-up and a drop-off to and from Fez Sais Airport at anytime at a rate of 250 MAD (The normal exchange rate is €1 = MAD 10 – $1 = 9 MAD). We can also arrange for transportation from any other airport in Morocco at a different rate. Students should notify us of the exact arrival date and time at least three days before their arrival to be able to arrange for this service. Students will see their name in a placard held high by one of our friendly drivers who will take them to their residence. At the end of your program, one of our drivers will you pick-up from your residence to take you back to the airport.

Visa

As far as the visa is concerned, Morocco is one of the most open nations due to its excellent reputation for tourism and its tradition of hospitality. As of July 1. 2017, citizens of 70 countries can visit Morocco for a maximum of 90 days with a passport valid for at least three months on the date of arrival. Visa-exempt foreign nationals include. Ut not limited to all European Union citizens, Australia, Canada, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore (30 days), South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States of America.

Note: Note: A passenger who does not have Moroccan identity papers (passport or identity card) is considered as a foreign passenger even if he / she has a multi-citizenship.

Internships and Volunteering

At Ibn Ghazi Arabic Institute, we believe that learning Arabic language and immersing in the Arab and Moroccan culture cannot be done in the classroom only. Volunteering is not only an effective way to learn Arabic language and immerse in the Moroccan culture, but it is also a wonderful opportunity to help the underprivileged groups of society. Ibn Ghazi Arabic Institute works with local organizations in Fez to provide interested students with volunteering opportunities to contribute to improving the lives of vulnerable children, youth and women in orphanages, centers for people of disabilities, and women’s shelters.

Students who are interested in such activities should send the documents below at least two weeks before their arrival so that we would be able to match their interests with the right organization

● A copy of your passport
● A detailed CV
● A statement of purpose detailing your goals and preferences.

It is worth noting that while we strive to find good volunteering opportunities for interested students, we do not guarantee that we will always do due to the fact that the organizations we work might not always have available volunteering opportunities. Therefore, the earlier we receive your request, the more chances we will have to secure a volunteering opportunity for you. While we do not charge a fee for finding a good volunteering opportunity for our students, the transportation cost to and from students’ residence is their responsibility.

Disclaimer

Ibn Ghazi Arabic Institute does not sponsor or endorse in any way the agencies allocated for students’ volunteering activities, nor their affiliates or subsidiary organizations. What happens at the volunteering site does not reflect upon us, nor are we responsible for anything that happens during such activities.