one of the best experiences I've had in my life Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

ALU was very different from my education at Middlebury. If anything, it is more similar to what is taught at MiddCORE than "liberal arts". The only difference between MiddCORE and ALU is its Africa-centric curriculum. ALU's experiential learning model definitely complemented my liberal arts education at Middlebury because it showed me how theories can be applied and relevant in the real-world. By 2050, 1 in 4 people globally will come from Africa; and yet about 40% of African university graduates will be unemployed because they lack the necessary skills to thrive in the workforce. ALU's model is thus necessary for young Africans to be more efficacious in poverty-alleviation efforts on the Continent.

On-site administration of your program

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a dorm with another student. All rooms were air-conditioned and had a private bathroom. This was very convenient, especially when compared with dormitories at Middlebury.

In comparison to Middlebury, I really enjoyed the food. It had more flavor/spices and African dishes. However, there weren't as many vegetarian options.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

As a former UWC Costa Rica student, I felt very at home and welcome at ALU because of its diversity. This institution brought together students from over 35 African nations. Moreover, the multiculturalism of Mauritius complemented the diversity at ALU. Explicitly, Mauritius is made up of Indian, French, Chinese, and African descendants--a true "rainbow nation". Consequently, the official language of Mauritius is English, the press and televisions are predominantly in French, but the lingua franca that unites all is Kreol. It was a magical experience to study abroad in such a multicultural environment.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Mauritius has one of the best healthcare systems in Africa. ALU made sure that all students, including myself, had the necessary health insurance, STD tests, and blood tests, before entering the country--this is required by law in Mauritius. At ALU, all the necessary health facilities were present.

Mauritius has one of the lowest crime rates in Africa. It was very easy and safe to walk off-campus at night. I once dropped my wallet in a night club and was able to retrieve it at the bar counter with everything still intact; a stranger had seen it, picked it up, and turned it in. I can confidently say that this would never happen in many other African countries like Ghana, my home. I believe this experience attests to the social trust among Mauritian citizens.

I decided to go to ALU because I was not satisfied with Middlebury's other programs abroad. As an African studies minor, I wanted to pursue opportunities in Africa but did not hear positive things about the Middlebury's program in Cameroon. Moreover, since I already have considerable experience in West Africa as a Ghanaian, I wanted to visit a new place. I was drawn to ALU, firstly, because it is a pan-African institution with students from all over the Continent; secondly, its unique experiential learning model was revolutionary. Lastly, and most importantly, I wanted to tap into ALU's powerful network. For example, I had the privilege of meeting and interacting with the President of Mauritius, the former finance minister of Nigeria, and several African billionaires during my three short months at ALU--not even Middlebury has that many high-profile visits in such a short period of time. If I had a choice, I would study abroad at ALU for a year, as opposed to a semester. The university has proven to me that it is serious about transforming Africa and I felt honored to be the first study abroad student from Middlebury College. I currently have a job in Tokyo working for a scholarship-providing NGO (Ashinaga) looking to expand into Sub-Saharan Africa because of ALU's careers and internships office. I wouldn't trade that for anything else. ALU is a must for anyone serious about pursuing a career related to Africa.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

4. One can live very comfortably with about $60/week

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• Hostel

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• Local Students
• International Students

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• Local Students
• International Students

• Student diversity
• Location (5 mins from beach)
• ALU's vision (create the next generation of entrepreneurial and ethical African leaders)

• Organizational efficiency
• Punctuality
• Food (more variety)

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