AIC President Benitez Champions Global Education Initiatives at Occupational Therapy Conference in Morocco

KENITRA, MOROCCO – Hubert Benitez, DDS, PhD, president of American International College (AIC) in Springfield, Massachusetts, recently took center stage at the 6th annual International Conference of the Occupational Therapy Association of Morocco (OTAM) held on January 6, 2024, in Kenitra, Morocco. The conference recognized President Benitez with the 2024 Leadership Excellence Award, shining a spotlight on AIC’s commitment to expanding international collaborations.

In his keynote speech, titled The Role of Higher Education Leadership in Creating Innovative, Entrepreneurial, Diverse, and Interdisciplinary Environments, President Benitez emphasized how international partnerships in higher education play a crucial role in bringing people from different countries and cultures together.

The conference, boasting presenters from five continents, stands as the flagship event of OTAM, founded and led by AIC Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Said Nafai, OTD, MS, OTR/L, CLT, CAPS.

During his visit to Morocco, President Benitez embraced the opportunity to formalize key international partnerships with Ibn Tofail University (UIT), and the International University of Casablanca (UIC).  These agreements reaffirm AIC’s commitment to collaboration in higher education and fostering cultural exchange.

The news of these partnerships generated a media buzz in Morocco, garnering attention from several national news outlets. President Benitez expressed his enthusiasm about the collaborations, stating, “These agreements are intended to explore and establish programs that foster mobility for both undergraduate and graduate students. The partnerships are also designed to create academic models that support advanced education opportunities, facilitate student exchange programs, encourage professional development and academic advancement for faculty and staff, and explore the possibilities of joint degrees and certifications.”

The newly forged alliances complement AIC’s existing international partnerships with the following institutions:

• Universidad Andres Bello Santiago de Chile (UNAB)
• Universidad Catolica de El Salvador (UNICAES)
• St. Paul University in the Philippines (SPUP)
• Badr University in Cairo (BUC) 

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Founded in 1885, American International College (AIC) is a private, co-educational, doctoral granting institution located in Springfield, Massachusetts comprising the School of Business, Arts, and Sciences, the School of Health Sciences, and the School of Education. AIC supports and advances education, diversity, and opportunity for its students and the community.