An Assessment of the Project Pathways to the Middle East and North Africa at Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts, USA

Pathways to MENA (the Middle East and North Africa) at Bridgewater State University (BSU) in Massachusetts, USA is a project designed to integrate several programs, including foreign language instruction, international partnerships with MENA institutions, study abroad, undergraduate student research, faculty professional development, and community engagement. Its purpose is to expand the internalization of various cultures, religions, languages, geography, and people across the MENA region. The strategies to achieve these are designed to leverage the interlinks among various activities, including four foci: curriculum enhancement, student success, faculty development, and community outreach. The authors designed a survey and conducted the analysis to quantitatively assess the outlined strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic compelled the coordinators of this project to hold community outreach events on Zoom. The projected results demonstrated a massive improvement in intercultural competencies among students, faculty, and participants from the regions.