The protests in Egypt have captured the attention of the world, and students across the country are clamoring to sign up to study abroad there for a closer look at history in the making.

There has been in upswing in the numbers of students wishing to study abroad in areas of developing current events, and Egypt is no exception. Enrollment in study abroad programs rose following the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center at the rate of 127 percent between 2002 and 2006.

Students on the ground in Egypt expressed interest in watching the protests unfold, but most of those that wished to stay have been evacuated due to concerns about safety in the changing political landscape. One of the students sent away from Cairo was from the University of Massachusetts, studying abroad at the American University of Cairo.

According to Jack Ahern, the vice provost of UMass’ International Programs Office, the student was evacuated with the University’s assistance.

“It was her choice, but we were pleased she chose to leave,” Ahern said.

The student arrived safely in London and is currently weighing her options on whether to return to Egypt or continue her studies elsewhere in the region. She could not be reached for comment.  

When asked if the International Programs Office would consider sending students to observe and witness the protests in Egypt, Ahern said no, because “…at the moment, the situation is too volatile.” Doubtless, this viewpoint is held by many worried parents and study abroad staff when evacuating their children and students.

“It’s hard to speculate,” Ahern said, “but when the situation stabilizes” the IPO would consider sending students back to Egypt.

Ahern elaborated that the office consults with the host university and the state department. If there is a travel advisory from the state department, such as in Egypt, the University will hesitate to send students into the region. The IPO then considers advice from its peers at other universities on the political climate of the region.

Though campuses are considered to be some of the safest places in the region, the changing political landscape lends itself to uncertainty.

Schools are still seeking to create campuses in the region despite the unrest, however. Stanford is currently evaluating countries in the region to find a suitable location for its forthcoming campus, but more factors than safety play into this decision. The United Arab Emirates is generally considered a “safe country” by many universities and will be the home of New York University’s Abu Dhabi campus in the future.

Thomas Barnes can be reached at [email protected].