Rashid Khalidi is a Palestinian-American historian of the Middle East and the Edward Said Professor Emeritus of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University. This week, he spoke at an AUC webinar on the Palestinian struggle historically and today. Among other insights, Khalidi shared ideas about the inevitability of resistance, the recent birth of a Western narrative for the Palestinian cause and the need for Arab states to take more action.

Here's what history tells us about Palestine today, according to Khalidi:

1. The war on Palestine has always been a settler-colonial project fought through Western wars, based on Western interests. “This war today is not an Israeli war. It’s an Israeli American war.” Colonial strategic interests — not like or dislike for Jewish and Arab communities — have historically dictated the West’s foreign policy on Israel. “It’s pure Imperial interest strategy.” Today, “the United States sees Israel as a strategic asset.”
2. Resistance is a historical inevitability in the face of occupation. “Israel has taken a course that guarantees the continuation of resistance — unarmed, nonviolent and violent. Every occupation engenders resistance. Settler colonialism engenders an even fiercer resistance: unless they destroy the entire Palestinian population and empty South Lebanon permanently, there will be resistance… [it’s] a historical inevitability.”
3. Settler-colonialism is unlikely to succeed in the 21st century. “[Settler-colonialism] succeeds when it entirely eliminates or completely subjugates the indigenous population, and you can only do that if you have an enormous population imbalance, as in North America, Australia and New Zealand.” The only other way it can succeed is to “exterminate the population,” which Khalidi doubts Israel can do in the 21st century, even though “they came close … in Gaza were it not for Egyptian and Jordanian refusal to accept people expelled from Gaza.”

"Every occupation engenders resistance. … [it’s] a historical inevitability."

4. Western narratives have disadvantaged Palestinians, but this is starting to change. Within the Zionist movement, there have been “Westerners crafting a Western narrative for Western audiences in a way that [we] really haven’t had for the Arabs ever… Zionism grew up in the West. Its headquarters, motivation and finance were [European],” and this is something that “Arab countries [and] Palestinians especially, have [never] fully appreciated,” though this is now changing with Arab Americans and Western-educated Arabs. 
5. Public opinion can sometimes influence democratic governments, but it takes time. On Palestine, “public opinion has changed, [but] the elites have not; … elites nevertheless will continue to control policy.” Khalidi cited the Vietnam and Iraq wars, which went on for years after democratic opinion shifted. However, in some countries, public pressure has already achieved a lot. “The fact that Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Canada have restricted arms sales to Israel over the past few months is enormously important.” These are pro-Palestine decisions from pro-Israel government “on the basis of overwhelming pressure from [the public] to limit support for Israel’s war.” However, “until public pressure affects the United States in the same way, it doesn’t really matter, because all of the major weapon systems are American” — in other words, the “Israeli war machine” won’t really be stopped.

 “[Settler-colonialism] succeeds when it entirely eliminates or completely subjugates the indigenous population."

6. “Arab countries have the responsibility to do much, much more than they’re doing” by, at the minimum, imposing costs on Israel for its war in Gaza. “Every single Arab country, whether they have secret relations with Israel or ... embassies in Tel Aviv, [should, at a minimum, threaten] a complete freeze, if not a breaking of relations, [if Israel fails to meet certain conditions] beyond a certain date. There must be a cost for Israel. The second thing is, have an actual boycott. … The third is to make relations with the United States conditional on changes in American policy.” Khalidi added that the U.S. and Israel rely on the repression of pro-Palestine sentiment by some Arab governments, and this is furthered by the fact that “more than half of Arab governments have some form of relations with Israel, which they have been unwilling to break.”
7. Israel has never accepted Palestinian self-determination. The strategic objective of a two-state solution “foundered on the intransigence of Israel in the United States, which refused from the beginning until today, to accept a sovereign, independent Palestinian state. Israel has never accepted Palestinian self-determination. It’s never accepted full sovereign statehood.” Instead, they have repeatedly and openly offered Palestinians ‘less than a state’ where “Israel’s occupation continues.”
8. “The only possible resolution is one that accepts that [we] have two national groups here. One group are settlers, but there are settler colonial realities, like the United States, which have created nations. The Israelis have created a people, a nation… and I don’t think that can be changed.” Now, we have to find “a solution where the two peoples can live in complete equality and in a situation of justice.”

"Israel has never accepted Palestinian self-determination. It’s never accepted full sovereign statehood. ... [We have to find] a solution where the two peoples can live in complete equality and in a situation of justice."

9. Palestinians have not been given options other than subjugation or resistance. “People will not be pushed off their land. People will not have their property stolen. People will not allow settlers to take over their land. Their choice is essentially annihilation and subjugation, or resistance, and it’s not because they necessarily want to resist. It’s because really, literally, Israel and the U.S. give them absolutely no choice.”
10. U.S. elections might invite change. “After the elections and once there’s a new president, it may be possible for whichever president is in the White House in January of 2025 to tell the Israelis that it’s enough, that the harm being done to the American image in the world and to its standing as the supporter of a rules-based international order — which has become a meaningless term — is gravely compromised; that they’re harming themselves as well as the United States… There can be no positive end for Israel in what they’re doing.”

One year into the war on Gaza, an AUC faculty panel addressed the humanitarian crisis and the future of Gaza. Moderated by Khaled Ezzelarab, associate professor of practice in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, the event featured Rabab El Mahdi, associate professor in the Department of Political Science, Karim Haggag, professor of practice in the Department of Public Policy and Administration, and Hani Sayed, associate professor in the Department of Law.

Ezzelarab began the discussion with a stark comparison: “In proportion to the population of Gaza, the death toll is equivalent to 2,000 September 11 attacks. The main headline of what happened last year must be the unprecedented destruction of life and property,” said Ezzelarab.

Shifting Dynamics

Since October 7, 2023, many aspects of the conflict have transformed. Haggag walked us through “the revival of existential narratives on both sides,” from the memory of the Holocaust on the Israeli side to the Nakba on the Palestinian side. 

He also pointed out the agenda for “deciding the conflict in favor of Israel.” Part of that agenda, Haggag said, is a demonstrated intent to weaken and ultimately destroy the Palestinian National Authority, “the only address for Palestinian national aspirations … within the territory.” This comes alongside an “explicit annexationist agenda” and a very clear plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from the territories.

Simultaneously, Haggag shared, there is a trend by which Arab Israelis are identifying more and more with the Palestinian struggle itself. So, “in essence, we may not be talking about a Palestinian-Israeli national conflict” but “an Arab-Jewish ethno-religious conflict” among Israelis moving forward. 

“In proportion to the population of Gaza, the death toll is equivalent to 2,000 September 11 attacks. The main headline of what happened last year must be the unprecedented destruction of life and property.”

Sayed added that the Palestinian question is an issue of global justice. He criticized the tendency toward “legal fetishism,” or the pattern by which political discourse collapses “into an exchange of legal claims for justification and condemnation,” with a tendency to believe that arguments about freedom have the power to decide political questions.

Within the nature of the Israeli system of control over Palestine since 1948, “A peace process that accepts, legitimizes and embodies ethno-national political goals will necessarily fail,” said Sayed. The systemic control exercised by Israel over Palestine, he argues, is essential for any meaningful political process to address. This ethno-nationalist project inherently involves controlling populations, territories and resources, ultimately leading to recurring cycles of violence. 

Additionally, while the Global North is slowly recognizing the Palestinian struggle, Sayed said, “Palestine was never misunderstood in the Global South” as part of the shared anti-colonial narrative. He stressed the importance of viewing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a moral failure that speaks to patterns of normalized destruction of Palestinian lives. “What happens in Gaza is the template for how Israel aims to contain, subjugate and exclude the Palestinian population everywhere.”

Anti-Colonial Movements in a Historical Context

El Mahdi emphasized the historical role of armed resistance in anti-colonial movements. She argued that the right to armed struggle against an occupation is embedded in international law and that the context of popular resistance in Palestine is often ignored. “Armed resistance is a right that has been recognized … repeatedly through resolutions of the UN General Assembly,” said El Mahdi. “This is not to glorify violence, but I do not know of a liberation movement against settlement occupation that succeeded without some form of armed resistance.” 

“A peace process that accepts, legitimizes and embodies ethno-national political goals will necessarily fail.”

El Mahdi noted that Nelson Mandela’s party, the African National Congress, had an armed resistance faction while liberating subjects of apartheid in South Africa and is now the governing party. Even Gandhi, known for nonviolently liberating India from British rule, “did not exist in a vacuum.”

Paths Toward Peace

As comments from the audience addressed the future of Palestinian resistance and the regionalization of the Palestinian cause, Haggag questioned whether new strategies are needed to create change in the face of the current struggle. “Can we still talk about a two-state solution? Can we or do we need to shift focus?” He suggested a potential need to transition toward a struggle of civil rights within what is a one-state reality now emerging in the entire territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.

As the situation in Gaza worsens, the panelists called for both solidarity and critical reflection on the future of the Palestinian cause.

Students in the Center for Arabic Student Abroad (CASA@AUC) program are back to taking classes in AUC’s oldest building, the historic palace, which has been overlooking downtown Cairo for more than 150 years. 

“This move serves as a symbolic homecoming, highlighting the program’s growth and reaffirming its success and commitment to offering students a dynamic environment for Arabic language learning and cultural immersion.”

CASA@AUC students had been studying at the historic palace before relocating to New Cairo in 2008 with the rest of the University. They didn’t remain there for long and returned to AUC Tahrir Square with a dedicated space in Hill House, allowing students to experience the vibrance of downtown and engage in cultural events that enrich their learning. This year, they are back to studying in the historic palace, where AUC originally conceived the program. 

“The return to the palace is highly significant, as CASA@AUC continues to fulfill its mission of immersive Arabic language and cultural education,” said Iman Soliman, senior instructor and chair of the Department of Arabic Language Instruction. “This move serves as a symbolic homecoming, highlighting the program’s growth and reaffirming its success and commitment to offering students a dynamic environment for Arabic language learning and cultural immersion.”

“[This] revives a longstanding tradition of teaching the liberal arts, which include the study of language, in a setting defined by beauty and heritage."

Hear what CASA@AUC students feel about studying in the historic palace:

“Studying Arabic in the heart of Cairo at the historic AUC Tahrir campus is such a privilege. The campus's beautiful grounds and architecture, coupled with its modern facilities, are like an oasis for study and reflection. And all at arm’s reach from the energy and excitement we love about downtown Cairo.”

Jaron Sutton 

“The return of the CASA@AUC program to the historic palace at AUC’s Tahrir Square campus revives a longstanding tradition of teaching the liberal arts, which include the study of language, in a setting defined by beauty and heritage. With its stunning architecture, lush greenery and walls adorned with the names of renowned scholars from the Islamic and Arab tradition, there is simply no better place for CASA@AUC to thrive. The campus serves as a reminder of Egypt’s rich intellectual heritage and an inspiration to carry this legacy forward.”

Dani Bin Abdul Rahim 

“I spent some time doing research at AUC's archives last year and came across several photos of Umm Kulthum and her takht performing at Ewart Hall. When I found out that CASA@AUC would be held at the old campus, these images immediately surfaced in my mind. I was beyond excited to study in a historic place where these monumental musicians once performed. I still pinch myself every morning as I walk past Ewart Hall on the way to class, thinking of Kawkab al-Sharq, Muhammad al-Qasabji and all the other greats who have walked these halls, filling the place with music.”

Kira Weiss

In the past two weeks, more than 1,000 people have been killed in Lebanon and 6,300 injured by Israeli strikes. Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, was also killed on September 27. While the looming implications of this conflict remain unclear, we asked AUC faculty members who study the region to share their thoughts.

Why Conflict? Why Now?

Bahgat Korany, professor of international relations and political economy, broke down Israel’s objectives into three points:

1. Militarily: eliminate the threat of an enemy, Hezbollah.
2. Domestically: allow Israelis in the north to return to their region and feel secure, and increase support for the current Israeli government while it is still on the defensive because of the hostage crisis. A direct objective of prolonging the violence is to save Netanyahu from being tried on corruption charges.
3. Regionally and strategically: show that Israel is the dominant power, omnipresent and multi-capable. It can do what it decides, and no deterrence whatsoever will work.

In a nutshell, “It is the present Israeli government that wants a regional war,” said Korany.

Jason Beckett, associate professor of law, gave an international law perspective. “Law of war contains two clear principles: the duty to distinguish between civilians and combatants, and the duty of proportionality.” In international law, “the targeting of walkie-talkies and pagers would probably be considered a war crime” and the targeted assassinations are also deemed “problematic."

“The number of casualties already approached in just two or three days what it was after 33 days [in the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War].”

Social, Human Cost in Lebanon

The war has already had devastating effects in Lebanon, displacing as many as a million people internally and causing more than 30,000 people to flee to war-torn Syria. 

Sean Lee, assistant professor of political science, finds that the conflict’s human cost is “even worse than it was in the Israel-Hezbollah War in 2006” as “the number of casualties — the number of people killed and injured — already approached in just two or three days what it was after 33 days in 2006.”

Beckett said that prospects for human rights in Lebanon are “pretty awful,” speculating that essentially all rights will be broken. “The people of Lebanon suffer. They’ve been suffering anyway, but now they suffer more,” Beckett said, emphasizing the human impact of the attacks.

Economically, Korany said that “all indicators without exception show the deteriorating situation, from the worthlessness of the Lebanese currency to the shortage of medicine and basic goods.” Beyond economics, Korany pointed out that “Lebanon is already what we call in political science a ‘fragile/failed state,’ and with displacement from the south, the state’s incapacity to cope will increase.”

Prior to October 7, Lebanon was recovering from what the World Bank called one of the world’s worst financial crises since the 1850s. That crisis was exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and domestic protests triggered by the Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020. In the years since those pivotal events, Lebanon had reached a period of political deadlock and economic depression, lasting until the country was dragged into an active state of war over these past weeks. 

“The Lebanese lira lost 90% of its value, and about 80% of the population live around the poverty line. Israeli military attacks are making a bad situation far worse,” said Korany. State actors, including the government and Lebanese Armed Forces, remain mostly uninvolved in the current war.

"Lebanon is already what we call in political science a ‘fragile/failed state,’ and with displacement from the south, the state’s incapacity to cope will increase.”

Future Expectations

“The situation is bleak,” said Beckett, who has low faith in the international community’s willingness to take action, such as through sanctions and embargoes. The U.S. response is the most relevant to the situation, which Beckett said “is a problem as Biden, Harris and Trump all support the Gaza genocide.”

According to Lee, “If we take certain Israeli cabinet ministers at their word, they would like to see ground invasion and occupation, if not even annexation of South Lebanon.” Lee does not think the annexation is realistic, but he noted that “Israel has a long history of occupying South Lebanon,” invading it in 1978 and 1982 and occupying it from 1982 until 2000. “It would not surprise me if [there is a ground invasion that] leads to a longer occupation, but I think that would also be very costly for the Israelis in both treasure and blood,” he said.

Beckett said he would like a situation where Israeli aggression is permanently curtailed and there is no need for Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Axis of Resistance to exist, “But that seems unlikely.” What must happen, in his view, is a U.S. change of stance on arming Israel. “Criticizing Netanyahu is not enough, especially when you continue to arm and diplomatically protect him. The invasion [in Lebanon] will continue for as long as it has U.S. support.”

Korany believes that two critical measures are needed to save Lebanon from its worsening situation: (1) an immediate ceasefire and pressure on Israel to stop its plans; (2) foreign funds to help those who left their homes in the south and rebuild medical services and general infrastructure so that people may go back.

Beckett concludes, “Theoretically, states have a duty to prevent war crimes and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, but they will not.”

Three Columbia University graduate students decided to spend a semester abroad at AUC. Find out what brought them from New York to Cairo.

James Hebish, Juris Doctor Candidate at Columbia Law School

An Egyptian-American third-year law student, Hebish was thrilled to come to AUC for the University’s unique position. Hebish desires to improve his language skills and gain living experience in Cairo, a city that he is used to transiting through while visiting family in Beni Suef.

Since arriving at AUC, Hebish has been exploring downtown Cairo in his free time, eating koshary at Abou Tarek and watching the latest Arab films at Zawya Cinema. As an amateur oud player, Hebish is attending performances and concerts by Egyptian artists such as Omar Khairat. He is pleased to be immersed in Cairo’s entertainment culture and arts scene.

Academically, Hebish is impressed by the faculty’s critical approach and ability to question well-established subject matters. “The professors who speak about international law at AUC are informed by the history of the region. They’re coming at it with an alternative perspective,” said Hebish. His favorite AUC class is Introduction to International Human Rights Law and Critique with Associate Professor of Law Jason Beckett. 

Hebish has also taken pleasure in the sprawling campus and welcoming environment at AUC. “Everyone from the cafe workers to the security guards and even random people on the street are very eager to help,” said Hebish. “AUCians and Egyptians generally take pride in that kind of hospitality.”

Leah Daoud, Master of Public Administration Candidate at Columbia School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)

A second-year student of Lebanese descent, Daoud was most excited to be in an Arabic-speaking country, where she can connect to her heritage language. “Everybody wants to come to Egypt; the history and culture are unparalleled,” she said.

Daoud feels that the rigorous course offerings in Arabic language and Middle East studies are enriching her SIPA specialization in ways that would not be possible in the States. “I’m taking classes that are really tailored to my interests, which are Middle East studies and human rights. Being at AUC gives me an opportunity to learn about the experiences of refugees in the region,” said Daoud.

Daoud is particularly engaged in her Arabic class with Shaimaa Hassanein, adjunct faculty of discipline. She is also taking Professor Beckett’s course in human rights alongside Hebish, and the two agreed that the professor’s willingness to critique traditional ideas is refreshing. “The innovative approach of AUC professors is so enriching to my education,” said Daoud.

Aside from academics and Egyptian kindness, Daoud is really enjoying AUC cats, which she said is the perfect antidote for homesickness. When on campus, Daoud carries around snacks to indulge their endless appetites, reminding her of her four cats back home.

Lucas Brooks, Master of International Affairs Candidate at Columbia School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)

A serial study-abroad student, Brooks came to AUC to enrich his perspective of the world and widen his breadth of knowledge. “It’s almost strange to think about studying international affairs without an experience internationally, so the opportunity to study abroad really complements my greater education,” said Brooks.

Like the other Columbia students, Brooks has found that professors at AUC are ambitious and often less set in their ways than he is used to. Brooks said, “There’s more willingness to go off the traditional path at AUC, which is reflected here in the curriculum and classroom discussions.”

Professors at AUC are also more accessible than Brooks is accustomed to. For instance, he is currently taking courses with two former Egyptian ambassadors whom he refers to as “standout professors” whose courses are focused “much more on real instruction, real experience, and real applications in the world.”

He is grateful that professors anchor their teachings in the student experience, relating theoretical concepts to case studies in Egypt. “In classes, the model country for theoretical discussions is not just the U.S., even though this is an American University; it’s the U.S. and Egypt.” 

Aside from the professors, Brooks is most enjoying the AUC campus itself. “The campus was very intentionally built for the student experience, just like the instruction, as opposed to being built to look good on the outside.” 

With hopes of working in Washington, D.C. after he graduates, Brooks is confident that his time at AUC will inform his future decision-making and analysis of global events.

Political science senior Ibrahim Elsharkawy was part of the official delegation representing Egypt at the High-Level Global Forum on Youth Peace and Security in Amman, Jordan. Elsharkawy contributed his original ideas and initiatives to the forum, where he advocated for youth as "champions of peace" and called for the introduction of peace education into schools.

“I was representing youth who are my age, and I felt that I was voicing their concerns to leaders from across the region..” 

The forum discussed an Arab strategy for youth peace and security, built upon the official agenda launched by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 in 2015, which promotes youth participation in peacemaking. The resolution, and now the forum, has five main pillars: participation, protection prevention, partnerships, disengagement and reintegration. 

Elsharkawy shared his recommendations to help curate the forum’s final strategy. One of his suggestions was to create youth councils in member states to enable youth participation in decision-making processes. The significance of this goal, according to Elsharkawy, is to allow for intergenerational dialogue. The forum discussed another of his ideas: disengaging youth from armed groups and reintegrating them back into society.

“I was representing youth who are my age, and I felt that I was voicing their concerns to leaders from across the region,” said Elsharkawy, who hopes to become a diplomat after he graduates.  “I was able to put the skills I learned throughout my years at AUC to good use and fend for those who cannot fend for themselves.” 

In addition to these contributions, Elsharkawy focused his speech on the need to “shift the narrative from perceiving youth as agents of chaos to champions of peace.” His emphasis on peace education, among his other initiatives, is a strong way to “raise a generation that is more tolerant and peaceful with each other in the future.”

"I was able to put the skills I learned throughout my years at AUC to good use and fend for those who cannot fend for themselves."

The forum was held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince of Jordan Hussein bin Abdullah and the League of Arab States. Elsharkawy was part of the official Egyptian delegation headed by Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Ashraf Sobhy.

Marking the first time for the event to be held in Egypt, AUC is hosting the  2024 Digital Universities Arab World conference, which kicks off today. The event includes more than  300 industry leaders from over 24 countries spanning four continents, including 150 university representatives, along with industry partners, researchers and innovators from around the world. 

"Our vision is to foster critical discussions on the potential and challenges of digital transformation in higher education,in our region, and to bring these essential conversations to Egypt and North Africa."

Organized in partnership with Times Higher Education (THE) and the American University of the Middle East (AUM), the Innovation for Sustainable Digital Higher Education conference will run through September 18, addressing opportunities and challenges of digital transformation in higher education and exploring ethical considerations as well as issues of accessibility. 

“We are glad to co-organize and co-host this significant conference at AUC," said President Ahmad Dallal. "Our vision is to foster critical discussions on the potential and challenges of digital transformation in higher education in our region, and to bring these essential conversations to Egypt and North Africa." He added that AUC’s collaboration with Times Higher Education and the American University of the Middle East exemplifies the University’s dedication to creating impactful partnerships.

The event features over 60 speakers who will engage in in-depth discussions, share knowledge and analyze data-driven case studies on the impact of digital transformation, artificial intelligence and governance in higher education. Topics include how digital transformation can support universities in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the role of institutional leadership in driving digital transformation at universities, the optimum blended learning model to achieve the right balance of learning and accessibility for universities in the MENA region, student expectations from digital universities, the quality of online learning, development of student skills to ensure digital literacy, the potential of AI for higher education, academic integrity in the age of AI, the future of work in light of digital transformation, and the current and future status of online university course accreditation in the MENA region. 

“Digital Universities Arab World is about showcasing innovation in education and providing practical examples of digital transformation from across the region. It's been a pleasure to co-host with The American University in Cairo, a leader in driving change and empowering the next generation of learners.”

These conversations aim to develop strategies for digital transformation in higher education that are inclusive, responsive and impactful while considering local, regional and global contexts, Dallal emphasized. “The digital transformation initiatives we choose to implement must be shaped by the specific contexts of our region, which faces rising geopolitical, economic and environmental challenges to sustainable development, as well as significant disparities in income and resource access.”

Charlotte Coles, director of event partnerships and engagement at THE, expressed her excitement about collaborating with AUC. “Digital Universities Arab World is about showcasing innovation in education and providing practical examples of digital transformation from across the region. It's been a pleasure to co-host with The American University in Cairo, a leader in driving change and empowering the next generation of learners.”

“The digital transformation initiatives we choose to implement must be shaped by the specific contexts of our region, which faces rising geopolitical, economic and environmental challenges to sustainable development, as well as significant disparities in income and resource access.”

The conference attracts speakers and attendees from several universities and higher education institutions, including AUC, Ajman University, Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, King Saud University, The University of Jordan, NYU Abu Dhabi, the American University of Beirut, the American University of the Middle East, University of Exter, Abu Dhabi University, The American University of Sharjah,  Lebanese American University,  Danish School of Education and the Mohamed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Speakers also hail from prominent national, regional and international organizations, including Zewail City of Science, Technology and Innovation; Times Higher Education; Egypt's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research; the Association of Arab Universities;  the British Council; Macmillan Learning, Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation and others.

Welcome to our newest faculty members joining us this fall! The incoming faculty are bringing their diverse backgrounds and varied research interests to AUC, with studies ranging from development economics to archival ethics to Mamluk manuscript culture, and everything in between. We’re happy to welcome them to the University and get to know them through their video introductions.

In an ode to AUC’s global citizenry and leadership in innovation, the University is offering a new cybersecurity specialization and welcomed the first cohort of its newly launched international joint degree program.

Department of Computer Science and Engineering 

The computer science and engineering department has introduced a new specialization in cybersecurity, in addition to embedded systems and artificial intelligence, which were introduced over the past two years.

“These specializations are very well aligned with the local and international job needs,” said Sherif Aly '96, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. “They position our graduates to land high-quality, higher-paying jobs in the marketplace.” 

Aly further stressed the need for expertise in all three subject areas among fundamental industries, from transportation systems to healthcare to telecommunications. 

“These specializations are very well aligned with the local and international job needs. They position our graduates to land high-quality, higher-paying jobs in the marketplace. All of the digital infrastructure out there needs protection, and there is a huge shortage of professionals to do this."

Emphasizing that the cybersecurity specialization will fill a much-needed niche, Aly noted, “All of the digital infrastructure out there needs protection, and there is a huge shortage of professionals to do this."

Master of Arts in Comparative and Middle East Politics and Society (CMEPS)

Currently in its inaugural year, CMEPS is a joint program offered by AUC and Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen in Germany. The joint-degree program comes after 10 years of successful collaboration between the two institutions, and its inception marks a milestone as AUC’s first official joint degree with another university.

“Applying for the CMEPS program was an excellent decision. The small cohort size allowed for close, meaningful interactions with professors, who were eager to provide valuable academic insights."

Students in the program will complete their studies between the two institutions, including an internship, a semester abroad at the partner institution, as well as Arabic and German studies. The program is the first of its kind, offering a political science degree that is accredited in both Germany and the United States.

“Applying for the CMEPS program was an excellent decision,” said CMEPS student Angelos Chatzigiannis, who was seeking a Middle East-focused master’s program. “Coming from the Tübingen side, I was impressed by the academically rigorous schedule that blended theory and practice. The small cohort size allowed for close, meaningful interactions with professors, who were eager to provide valuable academic insights."

The Attachment Lab has garnered significant recognition both from within AUC and across other universities due to its unique capacity to conduct research within an Arab context and enable culturally inclusive understandings of relationship dynamics. “The lab aims to be a hub for research related to attachment studies, including romantic and family connections, attachment to God, parent-child dynamics, perinatal psychology, as well as interpersonal acceptance and rejection,” said Zaki. “What makes it unique is that it contributes to the significant gap in literature by representing our culture and exploring research findings in this context.” 

“It is pivotal to address the imbalance in attachment studies by examining and collecting prevalent data within the Egyptian context to add to the literature. Further understanding the role of cultural norms and family dynamics is of utmost importance when it comes to understanding attachment patterns in different parts of the world.” 

So why is region-specific research important? As Zaki explains, attachment patterns are not the same internationally. Culture plays a huge role in mother-child relationships, including the prevalence and manifestations of attachment styles as well as parenting norms. However, research on attachment systems has previously been dominated by studies centered exclusively on Western cultures. 

“Having conducted a pilot study on the Strange Situation Procedure in the past semesters, I secured a grant from AUC for a more elaborate study using this methodology, which then led to launching the Attachment Lab.

“It is pivotal to address the imbalance in attachment studies by examining and collecting prevalent data within the Egyptian context to add to the literature,” Zaki says. “Further understanding the role of cultural norms and family dynamics is of utmost importance when it comes to understanding attachment patterns in different parts of the world.” 

Zaki’s current primary focus is on studying mother-child dynamics to explore their relationship and attachment interactions through an observational protocol called the Strange Situation Procedure while investigating the concept of ‘intergenerational transmission of attachment.’ This is particularly important as no reliable study on this methodology has been published before in Egypt or anywhere in the Arab world. “Having conducted a pilot study on the Strange Situation Procedure in the past semesters, I secured a grant from AUC for a more elaborate study using this methodology, which then led to launching the Attachment Lab. This study involved observing 60 mother-child dyads who came to the lab,” Zaki says. 

The lab also gives students from AUC and beyond the opportunity to get involved in exciting new developments related to attachment theory and gain hands-on experience to equip them for their postgraduate careers.

“It was through this life-changing opportunity that I discovered my passion for attachment theory, which I now plan to pursue further and hopefully specialize in throughout my career. I have also been given the opportunity of co-authoring a paper that is now published in a highly-ranked, peer-reviewed journal.”

“Students enrolled in my Advanced Lifespan Development graduate course get to experience firsthand being part of a research team. They attend observations with me, and I train them on how to code what they observe. As for my undergraduate students, I take them for a tour in the lab and explain what kind of research is conducted there,” Zaki says. She also trains students (both undergraduates and graduates) to be part of her research team, which adds significantly to their knowledge of attachment theory and developmental psychology.

The chance to get involved in research at the Attachment Lab has a positive impact on the students involved and is highly sought by students interested in research. “I started working with Dr. Zaki two and a half years ago on the pilot attachment study that was the groundwork for the Attachment Lab,” said Maya Shehata, an undergraduate psychology student and member of the research team, “It was through this life-changing opportunity that I discovered my passion for attachment theory, which I now plan to pursue further and hopefully specialize in throughout my career. I have also been given the opportunity of co-authoring a paper that is now published in a highly-ranked, peer-reviewed journal.”

The lab is now one of Shehata’s favorite places on campus. ‘Working here has led to a lot of personal and academic development for me, which I can primarily attribute to Dr. Zaki’s style of mentorship. She has created an ideal environment for learning and growth,” she stated.