Past Event
Special Series

Information Session 1 for Spring 2018 Student Delegation to Saudi Arabia

Harvard Faculty, Fellows, Staff, and Students

The Saudi & GCC Security Project will be leading a small student delegation to Saudi Arabia in Spring 2018. To find out more about the trip, please join us at one of our information sessions taking place Tuesday, January 23rd from 10:00am-12:00pm and Thursday, January 25th from 12:00pm-2:00pm in Bell Hall (B-500) at Harvard Kennedy School.

Rolf Mowatt-Larssen will give an overview of the trip and be available for any questions. The information sessions will be informal and anyone interested is encouraged to stop in (there is no need to stay the entire duration) to receive more information. Food and refreshments will be provided.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

About

This spring, the Saudi & GCC Security Project will be leading a small student delegation to Saudi Arabia from April 8-17 2018. The trip will include the opportunity to present and discuss research being done at Harvard, participation in lectures and focus groups at the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, site-seeing in Riyadh, Al Ula, Jeddah, and Dammam, and interaction and cultural exchange with local students and families. Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, the Director of the Intelligence Project and Saudi & GCC Security Project at Harvard Kennedy School, will lead the trip.

There will be two open house/information sessions on Tuesday, January 23rd from 10:00am-12:00pm and Thursday, January 25th from 12:00pm-2:00pm in Bell Hall (B-500) at Harvard Kennedy School. Rolf Mowatt-Larssen will give an overview of the trip and be available for any questions. The information sessions will be informal and anyone interested is encouraged to stop in (there is no need to stay the entire duration) to receive more information. Food and refreshments will be provided.

The trip is open to all Harvard graduate students and fellows with research interests in terrorism and Middle East (especially GCC) security issues. Selection will be competitive and preference will be given to students and fellows who are conducting research on behalf of the Saudi & GCC Security Project. However, all Harvard graduate students or fellows currently researching these topics are encouraged to apply.

Applications should include a CV/resume and a short (<5 page) statement introducing yourself and detailing your qualifications, interests, and research background. The deadline for submission is Thursday, February 1st and we will make selections in early February in order to provide enough time to secure visas. Please email submissions to Caitlin_Chase@hks.harvard.edu.

SUMMARY:

WHO: Harvard graduate students and fellows with research interests in terrorism and Middle East (especially GCC) security issues

WHAT: Harvard delegation to the King Faisal Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participants will present their research, attend lectures and participate in focus group, interact with local students and families, visit and enjoy the culture of various cities in Saudi Arabia.

WHERE: Riyadh, Al Ula, Jeddah, and Dammam

WHEN: The trip will take place April 8-17, 2018. We will work with professors to obtain official classroom excuses. 

WHY: (1) Present and promote the research being done at Harvard (2) To facilitate dialogue and promote cultural exchange amongst students and experts researching Gulf security and terrorism issues (3) To strengthen and grow the relationship between Harvard and the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies

HOW: Email a CV/resume and interest statement to Caitlin_chase@hks.harvard.edu

Sample Itinerary

Sample Itinerary:

  • Fly into Riyadh and stay for two nights. Includes a tour of the King Bdul Asis Palace, Masmak Fortress, and King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies.
  • Two nights in the desert of Al Ula visiting Madain Saleh and exclusive access to UNESCO World heritage archeological sites currently closed to the public and tourism.
  • Two nights in Jeddah enjoying the Red Sea, a diving and snorkeling trip, and a visit to KAUST University
  • Potential visit to Saudi Aramco in Dammam
  • Back to Riyadh for a full de-brief at KFCRIS and departure home