Students visited the Ambassador of Morocco to learn about the country's diplomatic work and culture

As a result of the close collaboration between the Universidad de Santiago de Chile and the representation of the Kingdom of Morocco in Chile, a group of students recently visited the residence of Ambassador Dr. Kenza El Ghali to share experiences, talk about diplomatic work and enjoy typical Moroccan food.

 

The meeting was coordinated by the Department of International Relations (DRII), together with the Department of Political Studies (DEP) of the Faculty of Humanities. The group of 15 students (from the Bachelor's Degree in International Studies and the USACH Without Borders Program) was accompanied by Fernando Olmos Galleguillos (DRII), Fernanda Vidal Mendoza (DRII), Alexander Rivera Gaete (DRII), Mauricio Olavarría Gambi (DEP) and Viviana Cuevas Salazar (DEP).

 

Relations with the representation of the North African country were boosted after the signing of the first agreement between USACH and a Moroccan university: the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. Since then, ties have grown closer and USACH even received the visit of Ambassador El Ghali last April, in the framework of exploratory meetings with authorities of the Vice-Rectory of Public Engagement and Outreach (VIME) and the Faculty of Humanities (FAHU), an opportunity in which an international conference on feminism and emancipation was also held.

 

In the first instance, the ambassador received the USACH group in the main hall of the residence, where most of the conversation took place. The students asked Dr. El Ghali several questions about her work, her early academic training, her diplomatic career and her connection with Latin America. The ambassador went through different stages of her life and Morocco, including historical accounts, political events, cultural aspects of her country, her decisions as a student and her interest in the Spanish language and Latin American literature.

 

The students also answered Dr. El Ghali's questions, shared the international and intercultural experiences they have had and how these impacted their personal and professional development. Some had even visited Morocco before and did not miss the opportunity to talk about it with the ambassador, thus enriching the perspectives and the conversation.

 

At the end of the activity, the USACH authorities presented institutional gifts to the ambassador and her diplomatic team, to finally end with a group photo in the lobby, next to the Moroccan flag, but not before committing to new bilateral actions together to promote dialogue at the academic and cultural level.

 

“We have an agenda of initiatives prone to internationalization at home and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco has expressed to actively participate in them. This link is also an opportunity for our educational, research and outreach activities to explore connections and alliances with strategic peers at the diplomatic and international university level,” said the director of the Department of International Relations, Fernando Olmos Galleguillos.

 

Our university's international relations with diplomatic representations are fundamental for the academic and cultural development of our community. In this sense, the collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco is of special importance, being Africa a region of strategic interest for the Universidad de Santiago de Chile, offering a vast potential for the exchange of knowledge and experiences. Strengthening these ties not only enriches our academic perspectives, but also fosters mutual understanding and cooperation that transcends borders, preparing our students for an increasingly interconnected and globalized world.