UCF Experts Speak in Cairo, Launch Faculty-Expert Exchange

The American University in Cairo recently hosted events at their New Cairo campus featuring UCF’s Hakan Ozoglu, Ph.D. and David Dumke.

Dr.  Ozoglu, a professor in the Department of History and Chairman of the Middle East Studies Program, spoke about the transition from the Ottoman Empire to Turkish Republic. Dumke, Director of the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Program for Strategic Research and Studies (PMBF) and Middle East Initiatives, discussed the American political landscape and how the November midterm elections could change U.S. foreign policy.

The Cairo talks also marked the start of a new faculty exchange initiative between the PMBF Program and AUC’s Prince Alwalid Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Center for American Studies (CASAR).

“We want to thank AUC for arranging our visit. Dr. Ozoglu and I were impressed by the interest of the AUC community on topics both historic and current. And, as is the often the case, we learned a great deal from the questions we were asked. We are also pleased that our visit will help open the doors for others at UCF to listen, learn, and talk about the issues that draw our nations together,” said Dumke.

In April 2018, AUC and UCF entered into a reciprocal study abroad agreement. This agreement was brought about thanks to the support and encouragement of Central Florida residents

Jonathan and Nancy Wolf, who believe the partnership between these two prestigious universities will help foster greater understanding of the broader U.S.-Egyptian relationship. In addition to the student exchange component, the Wolfs also support other areas of cooperation, including faculty visits, exchanges, and development programs.

The PMBF-CASAR initiative will see UCF experts like Ozoglu and Dumke visit Cairo to talk to students, faculty, and others about policy, politics, history, and other topics of interest. AUC, in turn, will send its experts to Orlando, where they will give public and private lectures and participate in other events.

Plans are also being discussed to identify and support cooperative research projects and co-sponsor special topical events. The initiative is especially keen to focus on critical, yet often overlooked issues such as sustainability in the Middle East-North African region and how millennial opinion will shape U.S.-Arab relations in the future.

“We are very excited to work with AUC, one of the premier institutions of higher learning in the Arab world. AUC has a long, well-established reputation in international policy and politics. It provides our faculty a great venue from which to discuss scholastic work and current events; a location highly conducive to specialized research; and, an opportunity to work with outstanding faculty partners. UCF will also greatly benefit by hosting AUC faculty who are recognized as some of the best in their respective fields,” said Dumke.

The CASAR Program is part of AUC’s School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Prior to joining AUC, Haggag held a number of high-ranking diplomatic posts, including two in Washington.

CASAR’s Director, Ambassador Karim Haggag, is expected to visit UCF in November 2018. During his trip to Orlando, Haggag will discuss Egyptian foreign policy, U.S.-Egyptian relations, and other contemporary issues in the Middle East.