2017–18 academic year at Murray State University through the International Research
and Exchanges Board (IREX) program, a nonprofit organization with the mission of
building a more just, prosperous and inclusive world by empowering youth,
cultivating leaders and strengthening institutions.
Three students are serving as cultural ambassadors at Murray State University, supported with scholarships through the prestigious International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), a nonprofit organization founded in 1968 with the mission of building a more just, prosperous and inclusive world by empowering youth, cultivating leaders and strengthening institutions.
Of the thousands of international students who apply each year for the IREX program, a select few are invited to participate in exchange programs at partner universities
across the United States. During their time in the U.S., ranging from one semester to a full academic year, participating students experience American culture while serving as ambassadors for their home countries by sharing their cultures, traditions and life experiences.
“In an increasingly internationalized world, the importance of learning with and from peers from various parts of the world cannot be understated,” said Madison Lane, international student advisor at Murray State. “Thanks to partnerships like IREX, cross-cultural understanding can be cultivated for domestic and international students alike. They foster friendships, spark conversations and enrich the university experience for every student.”
For the 2017–18 academic year, three students are participating in the IREX program at Murray State: Muhammad Moazzam, an agriculture student from Pakistan; Amine
Abouda, a civil engineering student from Tunisia; and Ikram Ben Romdhane, an industrial biology student from Tunisia.
“I encourage (other students) to participate in this program because it’s going to give you the opportunity to meet a lot of students and another culture,” Abouda said.
In addition to their coursework, IREX students participate in a number of cultural activities, including completing a “cultural passport to America,” volunteering for 20 hours of community service and leading presentations about their home countries. Some students are also required to complete professional internships.
Ben Romdhane, who first heard of the IREX program two years before applying, believes what helped her stand out as a candidate was her active involvement in campus organizations and extracurricular activities.
“I encourage students to get involved,” Ben Romdhane said. “Especially learn how to work with other people because, wherever your job is, you have to deal with people. Learning something new, learning new skills — that makes a difference.”
Now, at Murray State, all three students continue to look for ways to stay involved through various activities and organizations, such as Abouda and Ben Romdhane’s involvement on the University’s rowing team and Moazzam’s volunteer work in Murray State’s Women’s Center.
After completing the IREX program, the students plan on pursuing graduate schools or additional international opportunities, such as applying for the Fulbright Program, and continuing to make a difference in their respective communities.
For more information about the IREX program and international opportunities at Murray State, please visit murraystate.edu/students/international.