Creating a home-away-from-home on campus
ELI Interactions Special Edition — Gulf Region in Action
ELI Interactions Special Edition
Greetings from Newark!
I and the ELI team take a great deal of pride in the accomplishments of our ELI students and alums. It is rewarding to know that the entire ELI team coordinated efforts to provide students and scholars with an educational experience that prepared them for their future endeavors. This newsletter captures many of the moments during ELI and many after. Some of these moments are simple personal activities, such as a perfume-making workshop, or are more globally focused, such as World Cup celebrations.
Regional newsletters allow us to reflect on the varying contributions our students make to campus and to celebrate their successes. ELI brings the world to campus, opens the door to academic and cross-cultural experiences, and the students dance through that door, often to music from their homeland. It is a true joy experiencing it with them.
Cheryl Ernst
Director, English Language Institute
University of Delaware
Through multicultural and faith-based student organizations, ELI students from the Gulf region find community on the University of Delaware campus.
One of the most difficult challenges students face while studying overseas is adjusting to a new culture and way of life. Homesickness ensues, and students find themselves missing familiar comforts and a community of like-minded individuals.
At the University of Delaware (UD) there are multiple ways international students can find a little piece of home on campus. The English Language Institute (ELI) curates a welcoming environment, and student-led clubs, formally called registered student organizations (RSOs), create another “home-away-from-home” space. Read more.
Reflections from MariaJosé Riera, Manager of Special Academic Programs
Over the last decade, students from the Gulf region have been leaders at the ELI and on campus, through their scholarship and research contributions, and in their willingness to engage outside the classroom, sharing their culture, food and traditions with our Blue Hen community. Students from Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia represent top scholars in the College of Engineering, the Lerner College of Business and Economics, the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences.
It is with great pride that I have witnessed scholars from this region find their second home in Delaware. At the ELI, I have had the privilege of working with hundreds of Gulf region scholars as they perfect their English with the goal of completing their undergraduate studies in highly competitive programs across the U.S. Not only have they remained at the top of their game, academically, but they have created a cultural legacy on campus, creating a network of RSOs that celebrate a variety of traditions, and support student engagement through community outreach, service and scholarship.
Blue Hen nation is better because of our global and diverse student community. Students from around the world at the ELI, and American students on campus benefit and learn from their experiences engaging with our Gulf region scholars. I hope you enjoy a glimpse of the mark our students and young alumni from the Gulf region have made on our campus over the past academic year!
Perfume-Making Workshop
Omani student Alyaman Al Habsi hosted a perfume-making workshop for his ELI classmates this past spring. Al Habsi embraced this leadership opportunity and demonstrated how to combine essences and ingredients to create perfumes. ELI students took home free samples at the end of the event.
Gulf Students and the World Cup
Chinese Student Spotlights: youtube.com/watch?v=vo8h3t_rgXI
How do you say "Goal!" in your native language? Do you say "soccer" or "football"? ELI students, including one Kuwaiti and one Omani, answered these questions while sharing their excitement for the World Cup this summer.
Fostering connections between the University of Delaware and the ELI
The ELI helps students build connections with native English speakers and other UD students through participation in campus-wide events, clubs, competitions and more. Students also have many opportunities to share their own cultures with classmates, faculty and staff. Last year, Omanis, Kuwaitis and Saudis participated in the following events on campus.
Student organizations for Gulf region students
Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) are student-led campus communities where friendships form and skillsets are cultivated. UD's RSO offerings are expansive: students can rehearse and perform in musical theater or dance productions, play club sports, garden, write for UD’s student newspaper, volunteer for a good cause, debate politics, sing in an a cappella troop, play in an orchestra and so much more. Below, we've highlighted a few campus communities that are often a refuge for Gulf region students while abroad.
Muslim Graduate Organizations
Muslim Undergraduate Organizations
633 GULF STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE ELI BETWEEN 2019-2026
39
Kuwaitis
150
Omanis
444
Saudis
53 ELI students
MATRICULATED INTO UD FOR UNGRADUATE OR GRADUATE STUDIES
What have our Gulf students studied at UD?
Engineering – 25 students
Business and Economics - 19 students
Arts and Sciences – 6 students
Earth, Ocean & Environment – 1 student
Education & Human Development – 1 student
Health Sciences – 1 student
From studying at the ELI to pursuing a degree at the University of Delaware
Are you wondering what it would be like to attend the ELI or the University of Delaware? Learn firsthand through testimonials of Omani, Kuwaiti and Saudi alumni who graduated from the ELI and matriculated into UD to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees!
From football to field trips
Gulf students students studying at the ELI improve their English in and outside of the classroom through activities, field trips, cultural events, graduation ceremonies, retreats and more. Check out some of their recent adventures below.
The '25-26 Omani Foundation Year cohort graduates from the ELI in spring 2026.
ELI students prepare to play sports at the 2026 summer picnic.
An Omani student takes a photo with an "Omani Snowman."
Omani students in the '25-26 cohort smile with the Omani delegates visiting campus.
Students learned how UD supports student athletes and took a private tour of the athletics buildings.
A student shares Saudi culture at his booth at the Festival of Nations.
SABIC students use special glasses to watch the Solar Eclipse.
SABIC students in our '23-24 cohort on a student service trip in Puerto Rico.
Omani and Saudi students enjoy the snow on campus in adjunct instructor Patti Miele's class.
Kuwaiti student, Salem Almutairi, joins other Arab students on a hay ride at Milburn Orchards.
Lena Alrowais celebrates Saudi Arabia at the Festival of Nations.
Omani Foundation Year Students who pursued engineering degrees at UD, attend the 2026 Order of the Engineer Ring Ceremony.
Scott Stevens ELI Student Support Fund
The ELI has established the Scott Stevens ELI Student Support Fund to honor retired ELI director Scott Stevens’ service and vision of welcoming students from around the world into the ELI.
Your contributions will help us provide financial gifts that will be used for both educational costs for ELI programs as well as Student Life events. We know when students complete their programs at the ELI, it is the experiences that they remember with a sense of accomplishment and belonging. As we strive to expand and enhance our offerings, we invite you to continue your support, playing a pivotal role in the success of our students.
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