Ala Ahmed Al-Mubarak saw firsthand how student activities at some higher education institutions in the Arab region are lacking. Al-Mubarak, a lab technician in the oil and gas industry in Saudi Arabia, studied English language and literature at the Arab Open University in Bahrain from 2004 to 2008.

“I don’t recall there being any activities on campus besides career day,” said Al-Mubarak via email. “There weren’t any clubs at the time I was there.”

Looking back on his student years, Al-Mubarak said, “I wished we could participate in sports activities or something that would join students outside the classroom,” such as a soccer team, or a club for each department. “I believe that campus life and activities are a very important part of any person’s college experience.”

Despite the scarcity of out-of-class programs in many public universities in the Middle East and North Africa, some institutions have worked on offering extracurricular activities to enhance the student experience and equip graduates with skills to succeed in the job market.

Find out how [Arab universities are adapting to a changing regional job market.]

With more than 665,000 higher education students in 2013-2014, 90 percent of whom are in the public system, Morocco‘s Ministry of Higher Education outlined in its draft 2013-2016 action plan the development of cultural, athletic and extracurricular activities in universities. The 2010-2015 national education strategy in Lebanon also encouraged the establishment of extracurricular activities, student organizations and civic engagement programs.

Kuwait University is one of a few Arab public universities that was founded on the basis of combining the academic and extracurricular components of education, a relatively progressive approach in the region.

“When the university was founded in 1966, it was important to make it not only an academic hub, but also a place where Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti cultures and civilizations meet,” says Mohammad Abdullah Al-Shaddad, director of cultural and artistic activities at the university. “Through culture and arts, we encourage Kuwaiti and international students to meet and interact with each other, and to bridge the cultural gap.”

Explore ways to [minimize culture shock at an Arab region university.]

Kuwait University organizes several on- and off-campus activities throughout the year to its more than 38,000 students. The university offers opportunities to join student clubs and unions, socialize at the open student lounge and use the campus art spaces. International students, particularly those living on campus, can participate in weekend activities as well as special holiday celebrations, such as those for Eid al-Fitr.

Private universities and schools and branch campuses of foreign universities also pay special attention to extracurricular activities. They tend to have a rich student life.

“Student activities at our campus have always been a priority,” says Renee Dugan, assistant dean of campus life at New York University Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. “Our activities are open to all interested students. They do not specifically target international Arab students, but some student interest groups such as the Arab Culture Club, the UAE Club, or the Muslim Student Association and Africa Global may be particularly interesting to students from the region.”

NYU Abu Dhabi ensures that its 720 students have the opportunity to get involved in activities on campus as well as connect with the larger UAE community.

Check out [the opportunities branch campuses offer Arab region students.]

“We offer a wide range of volunteer opportunities to choose from, including weekly commitments as mentors in local schools and centers, as well as one-time activities with important cultural events such as the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and Abu Dhabi Art,” says Dugan.

Al-Shaddad sees the importance of interacting with the local environment and encouraging students to better their communities.

“Without community service work, many youth would be idle and unemployed,” says Al-Shaddad. “Part of our mission is to inculcate students with good behavior and a sense of responsibility that could develop into future projects.”

International Arab students looking to learn more about what universities in the region offer may be able to meet with admissions officers from foreign branch campuses such as NYU Abu Dhabi in their own countries. Students may also check on university websites for information. Some public universities, however, provide minimal details about campus life online, which may make a phone call or a trip to the campus worth the effort.

Educators say that institutions and students alike are starting to place a higher value on extracurricular activities at universities. Al-Shaddad says he tells students, “You have to be active to get involved in student activities. Know what you like and what you want to achieve. If you like talking, for example, join the public speaking gathering. You will learn more, you will have more fun and it will pay off.”

With all that universities in the region have to offer students today, Al-Mubarak sees this as an opportunity one should seize.

His advice to students is simple: “Get involved, be active and don’t miss out!”

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Extracurricular Activities Grow at Arab Region Universities originally appeared on usnews.com