Bilal Ahmed Maarouf, a Team Leader from the AUS Student Leadership Program (SLP), attended the Global Village for Future Leaders of Business and Industry at Iacocca Institute in Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA during Summer 2013.

The Global Village is a five-week intensive program on the Lehigh University campus. Interns gain the opportunity to learn and live among a culturally diverse group of over a hundred peers from more than 45 countries.

The Global Village is an applied leadership, management, and cross-cultural industry and training program. It is designed for experienced young professionals and advanced students who share the dream of building a career in business and industry and who want to form an active and lasting global network. The program aims to increase knowledge of business and industry and teaches participants to enhance and apply leadership skills, develop entrepreneurial thought and action, build and nurture powerful global networks, develop and focus career path objectives and explore and leverage diverse environments.

Maarouf, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering said, "It's hard to decide where to begin; just let me say, other than my own siblings, I currently have 107 brothers and sisters from 52 countries! The Global Village cannot be effectively explained, it has to be experienced. The campus, lifestyle, panels, projects and trips are integral elements that created the publicity to the program. Yet, the people are the true essence behind the Global Village."

"The entire experience was about collaboration, education, culture, fun, and most importantly love. These elements made us change from complete strangers into a tightly knit family. Before I traveled to the Global Village campus, I thought I'd learn about creating my own business and such; well I did, but to tell you the truth I ended up learning a lot about myself! To create our connections and networks, we need to start with ourselves; only then we acquire true leadership," added Maarouf.

"The Global Village for Future Leaders is one of the successful programs within the Student Leadership Program; this is because of the exposure and duration of the program. During the five weeks, students get the chance to learn from qualified facilitators and come across business trends and best practices experienced in the global marketplace. We have received excellent reviews from students who completed the Global Village program and therefore encourage others to take advantage of the opportunities provided by SLP," said Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.