Last Friday, the Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies Program (CLCS) celebrated the beginning of the new academic year and welcomed six new students. Hiba Al-Zerkani, Julián Sanabria, Ala Aldojan, Bobbi Bins, Jahin Kaiissaar and Jayakumar Nair arrived from the countries of Turkey, Bangladesh, Colombia, Jordan and the United States to join our vibrant community of national and international scholars. These students are excited to conduct research on topics as varied and rich as the cultural and historical evolution of monsters, the construction of peace museums in the Philippines and ecocriticism.  

The CLCS Program provides advanced-level research training in comparative literature and cultural studies for students with previous education in various languages and cultures, national literatures or literary genres, offering either a master's or doctoral degree. The program prepares students to perform critical analysis, cross-cultural communications and international understanding. Students develop adaptability and excel in multicultural and intercultural competence, essential skills for a variety of pathways. This preparation allows students to communicate difficult ideas clearly and be at ease working and engaging with people in multiple cultural and linguistic contexts.

CLCS Director Erika Almenara further noted that this is a very exciting moment for the program as more students sponsored by the Fulbright Foreign Student Program are choosing CLCS and the U of A to study for a M.A. and/or a Ph.D. Dr. Almenara also mentioned that this year, two students are coming fully funded by their governments, emphasizing the visibility CLCS and the U of A are achieving.