Overview
Why study abroad in Italy and Tunisia?
Tunisia and Italy sit at the crossroads of the Mediterranean region. Here, you will study the interplay between migration, regional politics, and religious relations. In Tunis, the country’s capital, the birthplace of the Arab Spring, you will examine Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution and peaceful transition to democracy. During a three-week excursion to Sicily, a port of call for irregular migrants, you will explore issues of migration, meet with NGO activists and migrants and hear harrowing stories of the crossing of the Mediterranean Sea on makeshift boats. During the excursion to the south of Tunisia, you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage holy sites of Kairouan and spend nights in Amazigh troglodytes (cave dwellings) and on the UNESCO World Heritage Island of Djerba with its oldest synagogue (El-Ghriba) in the world and characteristic Abadi mosques. On the way back to Tunis, you will spend a night in the coastal city of Mahdia, the capital of the oldest Shia Dynasty in Islamic history.
Highlights
- Live in the charming coastal village of Sidi Bou Said.
- Spend three weeks in Sicily and meet with migration NGOs.
- Observe the impact of religious practice on social identity.
- Learn Arabic or French.
- Spend six days in the south of Tunisia and learn about local diversity.
Prerequisites
None. The program is of interest to students studying political science, international relations, international studies, migration and refugee studies, European studies, Middle Eastern Studies, religious studies, global studies, sociology, and anthropology. Students with some background in French will be able to practice at their homestay in Tunis.