Anyone who has studied for a college entrance exam knows that it can be a grueling, mind-numbing process. But for Abduaziz Alsewiah, Mohammad Alyoufem, and Thamer Alessa, three students from Saudi Arabia, studying for the entrance exam into Robinson’s graduate risk management and insurance program is only half the battle. Abduaziz, Mohammad and Thamer must first become proficient in the English language.
Thamer, who has been here since the summer and already has a good handle on the English language, was joined by Abduaziz and Mohammad. Each have one year to complete their English studies and the graduate school entrance exams.
All three are here as part of a program through the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), the central bank of Saudi Arabia. Each has worked at SAMA for the past year and has been tapped by the Agency to help implement and establish the countries new insurance regulation laws. For several years, the Agency has been sending staff members to schools in the U.S. and Canada to complete their master’s degrees in related disciplines such as accounting, economics and finance.
With the new demands of the insurance regulations, SAMA needed to find a school with a program that would fill their needs and Robinson’s nationally-ranked risk management and insurance program fit the bill.
According to Sanjay Srivastava, chair of Robinson’s risk management and insurance department, the students should feel right at home. "We have a long commitment to international risk and insurance education and having the Saudi students join us helps us continue this effort."
Meanwhile, the three are studying hard and adjusting to their new life in Atlanta. When asked how they’re doing, Thamer’s eyes opened wide as he said, "Initially
it was culture shock but we are quickly making new friends and taking advantage of all of the activities the school has to offer."
