At the beginning of fall semester, Central Georgia Technical College became host to 17 students from Libya. As employees of the third largest oil company in Libya, Waha Oil Company, the students are here for workforce training in for the next year.
 
Upon arrival, the students took ESL courses to ensure proficiency. At the start of Fall semester, students began classes in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Instrumentations and Controls at the CGTC’s Macon campus. Waha is sponsoring the students’ studies to expand the skills of the Libyan nationalists.
 
In their programs of study, the students will learn specialized skills to employ upon their return to Libya. At Waha Oil, the majority of specialized jobs are held by expatriates who have the necessary education and training to perform more technical jobs. By training these students, the Libyan government and Waha hope to be able to expand opportunities for those native to Libya.
 
Rick Hutto, CGTC’s Global Initiatives director, has been the force behind igniting this international educational partnership. This partnership to train the Libyan students in America is the first of its kind for the College.
 
“Having 17 students from Libya is a great opportunity for us to interact with those from another culture, as well as offer those students the chance to experience America,” said Hutto. “After they complete their educational studies here in our part of the world, we hope these students return to their home having greatly benefitted both from their studies as well as from their personal experiences abroad.”
 
Fathi Abdulmunem has been working at Waha for nine years as a technician. Waha is upgrading from relay logic, a method of controlling industrial electronic circuits by using relays and contacts, to programmable logic controllers, which is an industrial computer control system. Abdulmunem is studying Instrumentation and Controls at CGTC to gain the skills he will need for the upgrade.
“We have an old system,” said Abdulmunem. “It will be replaced so it will be helpful when we get back home to have a lot of knowledge about PLCs.”
 
Soon, three more compatriots will join the others to take classes in Macon. Waha, as well as other companies in Libya, are looking to continue and expand upon the partnership that is being chartered by this group of students.
 
Abdulmunem explained that most of the Waha employees graduated from the Petroleum Institute, which specializes in petroleum science. By sending students to study engineering and industrial systems technologies, the companies will be better able to promote from within for specialized positions.
 
The process of coming to America for an education was lengthy and posed some challenges. The students had to be approved for this highly-selective program, and each student was vetted by the U.S. State Department via interviews in Amman, Jordan.
 
Abdulmunem described that day in Amman and the ensuing weeks as the group made their way to the United States.
 
“It was Ramadan, so I was fasting,” said Abdulmunem. “It was hot, and I had to wait for a good period of time for the interview. From Jordan we went to Turkey, where we spent 10 days sightseeing. From there we flew to Chicago and were detained for questioning. Finally, we travelled to Georgia.”
 
The students are adjusting to the American way of life. Abdulmunem said the CGTC ESL courses were very beneficial.
“They were helpful with teaching us about road signs, driving rules, and how to call a doctor or ambulance,” he said.
 
Their ESL teacher even taught them personally about shopping for the food that meets the requirements of their religious beliefs. Abdulmunem went on to say, “People here are very kind, especially elderly people. Even in supermarkets, we don’t hesitate to ask for help.”
 
The Islamic Center of Macon is aiding the students with acclimating to life in America.
 
“The Islamic Center is very good here,” Abdulmunem said. “They have helped us a lot and introduced us to others, such as the guys who are going to help us with getting a soccer field.”
As the manager of their soccer team, Abdulmunem said the students greatly miss playing soccer and are working to find others to play against locally.
 
The Libyan students have done some sightseeing around downtown Macon, and a few have even travelled to Florida do Disney World. Their first night in town, the students travelled downtown to find Bragg Jam, which gave them quite a surprise.
 
Abdulmunem said, “We can do more sightseeing than you do on TV. It will be adventure!”
 
Saed Masoud is a machinist for Waha Oil Company, and is studying engineering, one of the newest programs at CGTC.
 
“We are now studying CAD, or computer-aided design. Before we would sketch with pencil and paper, so using software and going through the computer will be more accurate and organized,” Masoud said.
 
When asked how he feels about being in America, Masoud stated, “It’s a new experience for me and my family. I want them to see how other people live, their education system, and the way people naturally deal with others.”
 
One thing that makes this study abroad experience unique is the students had the opportunity to bring their families along with them. Masoud brought his wife and four children with him. He’s working to get his wife enrolled in ESL classes at CGTC and his children are enrolled in local schools. While it’s been a somewhat of a difficult adjustment for them, Masoud said, “it’s gradually getting better. I feel it will be a good experience for them.”
 
Since arriving to Georgia in July, these students have settled in their new homes, discovered religious services, found soccer games to join, and learned a little bit about American customs. Their children are attending local schools, which have been very accommodating to the families. Before their adventure began, the students did not know each other, so on top of learning about America, they are learning about each other.