Business students at The American University in Cairo have recently completed ACCT 3003 (advanced accounting), a course piloted by the Career Center’s Practical Learning Program (PLP). “A student-based initiative and housed in the Career Center, the Practical Learning Program bridges the gap between academics and work life in-class,” explained Leidya Boutros, experiential learning manager in the Career Center. “It is becoming increasingly essential for students to make use of their time at university to prepare themselves for today’s competitive job market.”
This course was conducted in conjunction with ExxonMobil managers based in Egypt. Exxon and Mobil recently went through a merger; the students analyzed different aspects of this new union on both a corporate and local level. Not only did several managers from ExxonMobil Egypt facilitate in class projects, students had opportunities to conduct actual field work/research at ExxonMobil facilities. As the semester drew to a close and the students finalized their projects, the ExxonMobil managers returned to the classrooms to evaluate the students’ presentations. After reviewing the students research ExxonMobil has offered opportunities for select students to intern during this upcoming summer.
It is clear that this pilot program was a success. “I comprehended a deeper meaning of the procedures and consequences of forming a merger not only through the ‘traditional’ way of reading a textbook” said Karem El-Damaty, an accounting senior. It was Benjamin Franklin who so boldly stated, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” This anecdote holds true, as for the students of AUC their pilot course in experiential learning has opened doors to real experience.
The success with AUC’s experiential education program could not have come at a better time. On March 16th, GBSN partnered with AUC and Tuck, Dartmouth will be hosting our Experiential Learning Summit. I’m sure we will hear more about Professor Nermeen Shehata and the accomplishments of her class in a few weeks.
Link to AUC Article
Link to ELSummit Page
Brennon Thompson is GBSNs Communication & Event Planning Intern