Nyja Casey was pleasantly surprised when she learned that the College of Communication and Information (CCI) offers a study abroad program focused on artificial intelligence (AI).
The applied artificial intelligence major’s first study abroad experience was this past winter as part of the inaugural cohort for the UTK CCI in Morocco program.
Casey said the experience combined her desire to study abroad in a country rich with ancestral history and culture but also aligned with her academic focus on AI, user experience (UX) design, and data science.
“This experience strengthened my understanding that UX design is indubitably human-centered and culturally responsive. Immersing myself in Moroccan culture made it clear that users are not universal,” Casey said.
“User needs, accessibility, language, history, and culture all shape user behavior. It reinforced the importance of designing systems, especially AI driven ones, that are inclusive, ethical, and adaptable. Studying abroad allowed me to see UX beyond interface design, but as problem-solving rooted in empathy and lived experience.”
The program expands CCI’s study abroad offerings through the newly established Linda and David Bohan Center for Global Engagement to the African continent and is the first study abroad program offered through the School of Information Sciences (SIS).
The program is designed for students to learn about AI in a different cultural context through classroom instruction and hands-on projects in collaboration with Moroccan-based companies and peer students from the country’s universities, said SIS Professor Dania Bilal, and the program leader.
For example, she said students used Moroccan datasets provided by the National Institute of Statistics and Applied Economics, and specialized AI tools to analyze and visualize data as part of their assignments. Students also learned about an innovative AI start-up company that collects voice data from citizens and trains large language models to understand different Moroccan dialects through voice conversations.
In addition to course-related activities and projects, students visited higher education institutions, organizations, and businesses engaged in AI development and data analytics; toured historical sites; and took lessons in Arabic speaking and cuisine.
“While we can teach students theories and skills and help them gain knowledge through classroom instruction, a global experience is invaluable because it allows them to interact not only with different cultures but also with students and professionals from cultures different from theirs,” Abebe Rorissa, professor and SIS director, said. “This will serve them well when they enter a global workforce.”
Growing While Abroad
Traveling to Morocco was not only Casey’s first study abroad experience, but her first time visiting another country.
“The experience was grounding, expansive, and transformative. It required presence,” Casey said. “Morocco doesn’t let you move on autopilot or rush. It is necessary to observe, adapt, and engage.”
Rorissa said Morocco offers unique cultural and educational experiences not many University of Tennessee, Knoxville, students are exposed to. Even as a veteran visitor to the country, he still falls in love with something new about its rich and diverse history, culture, and geography every time he visits.
Morocco recently launched its national AI roadmap, “Maroc IA 2030,” as part of a coordinated strategy to invest in AI solutions and adapt to the rapidly evolving global landscape prompted by the technology. Rorissa said it was a “happy coincidence” that the country he enjoys visiting regularly remains as an emerging world leader in AI and data analytics.
Casey said AI is being used intentionally in education, infrastructure, storytelling, and sustainability. Observing technology grow alongside tradition in Morocco helped her understand that progress doesn’t mean erasure, Casey said, adding that is the balance she wants to see reflected in her work.
She recommends anyone interested in AI, data analytics, data storytelling, or just seeking a unique study abroad experience at UT to consider UTK CCI in Morocco.
“This experience didn’t just give me something to add to my résumé, it realigned me,” Casey said. “It sharpened my purpose and reminded me that my work in AI and design is meant to be culturally aware, intentional, and empathetic.”