Debate your hearts out! AUC’s Cairo International Model United Nations (CIMUN) swept the National Model United Nations in New York last month. Representing Nigeria and Montenegro, the 37-person team took home an impressive 14 awards, making AUC the most-awarded university at the conference.

Within those achievements, the team won two Outstanding Delegation Awards — the highest award a university can achieve— for their group representation of Nigeria and Montenegro. In addition, the AUC delegates won 12 individual awards across multiple councils, including the Human Rights Council, General Assembly, UN Environment Assembly, UN Economic Commission for Africa, International Atomic Energy Agency, Commission on the Status of Women, and Commission Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. 

"The amazing team of delegates we had this year led AUC to become the university with the highest number of awards at the NMUN conference this year, as well as the only university to receive not just one but two Outstanding Delegation Awards. I believe this team raised the bar for many years to come," said Ali Hussein, economics major and CIMUN organization committee head.

Getting ready for this conference took more than six months of practice and a rigorous selection process that included interviews as well as mock conferences and position paper writing. The preparation phase comprised general training sessions for the delegation overall as well as more specific training and strategies for the different councils, in addition to researching foreign policy and identifying key international agreements to support the team's stance. There were also simulations to fully prepare the team for all aspects of the conference as well as a comprehensive process for writing the position papers, "which is a very important aspect of the NMUN conference and yielded many awards for us," explained Hussein. "This year, the majority of our delegates were freshmen and had never experienced a conference of this scale before. This made the preparation process longer and more challenging, which made the victory at the end even more rewarding. That was what was most special about the CIMUN victory this year."

Farid Hani, economics major with a minor in international relations and CIMUN undergraduate academic adviser, echoed similar sentiments. "Working with each and every one of our delegates in training, selection and writing position papers builds a personal connection, and we were eager to see them shine in action. Indeed, they passed our expectations and demonstrated great leadership, presentation, research, analytical and diplomacy skills," he said, adding:

"This year marks the 35th CIMUN team, and it was our target to truly make an impact and prepare the next generation of leaders to partake in this rigorous and prestigious conference. What really made a difference despite our delegation's young age was their spirit, dedication and eagerness to learn. To me, seeing their hard work come into play and their development over the months of training was the true victory."

Walid Kazziha, political science professor and CIMUN's faculty adviser, commended the hard work put in by all those involved. "My sincere thanks goes to all colleagues and staff members who helped prepare CIMUN for its great success," he said. "Above all, we owe our students and their High Board a word of gratitude and true recognition for the relentless efforts they have made to maintain the high standards we always demand of them.”

For participating students, the conference taught them valuable lessons both personally and professionally. "Attending the NMUN conference this year as head delegate has taught me a lot of new skills and lessons," reflected Hussein. "The key lesson I learned was how to properly strategize and plan ahead with my fellow High-Board members in order to reach the best outcome possible, which we thankfully succeeded in doing. Other important skills that were reinforced, thanks to this experience, included discipline, leadership and diplomacy. I am now assured that if I put my mind to something, plan accordingly, trust the process –– and most importantly my team –– I will reach the goal that I had set out from the beginning."

As Lara Radwan, economics major and CIMUN secretary-general put it, "Year by year, our goals for NMUN increase, and this year, we were able to win the highest amount of awards amongst all competing universities. With the competition becoming stronger and the MUN scene growing day by day, we had to prepare our team to become the top competing university in this year’s conference. The process has definitely been challenging, but the amount of knowledge we gained en route and the experience of getting to meet participants from all over the world is indescribable!"
 

International student Sara Carere has never experienced a month quite like Ramadan in Egypt. Living in wust el balad, or downtown Cairo, Carere has fasted with friends from Assiut, eaten suhoor on the street with her neighbors and watched hours of musalsalat (Ramadan TV series). 

“I was most surprised by how special and collective fasting feels,” Carere says. “Back home in the Netherlands I had some Muslim friends who fasted, but seeing Ramadan on a country-wide scale is incredible.”

Carere fasted the first two days of Ramadan to understand what her Muslim friends and neighbors were feeling firsthand. “It was really hard for me,” Carere recalls. “Maybe it's because I haven’t done it before, but not drinking water was so tough. That first iftar was incredible, though; water and dates have never tasted so good.” 

As a Middle Eastern studies student from the University of Groningen, Carere has spent her study abroad year at AUC making friends from all over the world. Her iftars have included traditional Egyptian foods and sweets, like molokhia, mahshi, kunafa and atayef, in addition to international foods, like Spanish omelets and pasta bolognese.

“I’ve really enjoyed this month because my roommates and I always have dinner together at iftar. Planning the meals, going grocery shopping and visiting the local market in Sayeda Zaynab to see the lanterns has been a lot of fun,” Carere says. “The fresh fruit juice from the street vendors is so good. My favorite is the coconut drink, sobia.” 

Living in downtown Cairo has immersed Carere in the Ramadan spirit. “The first night we walked around downtown until suhoor. Everyone seemed so happy and energetic,” Carere recalls. “We spent the night playing dominoes at an awha (local coffee shop) and drinking tea. It’s been a great chance to practice my Arabic.”

Ramadan has also highlighted some amusing cultural differences between the Netherlands and Egypt, particularly with regard to watching musalsalat. “In the Netherlands, we usually watch a show in silence and discuss it after,” Carere explains. “Watching the shows here with my Egyptian friends involves a lot more commenting and asking questions. I like it; it's more engaging. My favorite shows so far are Al Maddah and Al Soffara.”

At other times, the month feels bittersweet for Carere. “Seeing everyone breaking fast with their families and spending so much time together does make me a little homesick,” Carere says. “Thankfully, my dad is coming to visit next month, and I am so excited to show him how special Egypt is during Ramadan.”

Coming from abroad or returning to their alma mater, AUC welcomed a new cohort of around 40 faculty members this fall.

While some members are experiencing Egypt for the first time, having moved from their homes in Germany, South Korea and more, other members are turning to their alma mater. News@AUC interviewed five members of this diverse cohort on their research, their decision to join AUC, and what they are looking forward to this year.

Shaimaa El Sherif

Instilling moral values such as acceptance and respect into her students is a key part of Shaimaa El Sherif’s, instructor in the Department of Rhetoric and Compositions, goals at AUC and her research in global citizenship education. She is currently working on two research projects, one on transformative learning and teaching and another on enhancing students’ 21st century skills. 

“I found out that there is no better educational institution in Egypt other than AUC to practice teaching and researching,” El Sherif states. “Honestly, I also owe AUC much of what I've learned academically and professionally throughout the past 10 years… I felt like it’s time to give back through teaching.”

El Sherif is excited to spend the year connecting with her students and helping them to become more well rounded through different teaching strategies in addition to working on her two research projects. 

Rodrigo Gratacós Brum

Guided by his academic background in philosophy and film, Rodrigo Gratacós Brum, associate professor of practice in the Department of the Arts, is a talented filmmaker and teacher who joined AUC because of its growing film program. 

“I saw it as an opportunity to have an impact in the area, helping to develop a program that is already very strong,” Brum explains. 

Brum is looking forward to getting to know his students better and learning how he can help them develop projects based on their own experiences and interests. 

Sanghyeok Lee

After studying in Australia and teaching in South Korea, Sanghyeok Lee, assistant professor in the Department of Economics, is ready for new academic adventures in Cairo. Lee studies micro-econometric theory, which includes event history and duration analysis, machine learning and treatment effect analysis.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to develop my knowledge and skills in a new place, and hopefully to be able to contribute to the local community as well,” Lee states. 

For the next year, Lee is most excited about the learning opportunities. After teaching in Korea and studying in Australia, New Cairo presents a novel experience for him to explore as an instructor and an academic.

Mariam Abdelazim

As an architecture alumna from AUC, Mariam Abdelazim, assistant professor in the Department of Architecture, is looking forward to the opportunity to give back to her alma mater. In her research she utilizes behavioral science to explore how people interact with public spaces. As a professor, she is excited to bring innovative teaching methods to her classroom. 

 “The attention span of students is different than before, so I always rely on interactive methods of teaching,” she explains. “I ask them to make TikTok videos on a building, or Instagram posts, or we play Jeopardy and do competitions, to get them interested through the type of media they are familiar with.”

Through the next year, Abdelazim looks forward to cultivating a learning community where students can learn from each other and she can learn from them.

Noah Farhadi

With over 27 years of experience in business administration, Noah Farhadi, professor of practice in finance in the Management Department and CIB Endowed Chair, is excited to continue his academic research on strategic finance, mergers and acquisitions and business ecosystems while teaching at the AUC. 

“I think to be a good professor, you need good students,” Farhadi explained. “The students at AUC are motivated, focused and engaged. So I made my choice to move here because it's a great platform for growth.”

In the next year, Farhadi is excited to experience Egyptian culture, connect with his students and contribute to the community. 

AUC's alumni left their mark at Egypt's Entrepreneur Awards, taking home a number of awards. The event is held to honor the country's brightest entrepreneurs. You can find the full list of awardees here. 

Best Egyptian Product: Salah El-Dardir '12

CLEO Pharmaceutical Industries 

FIntech: Omar Abdelwahed '16

Valify

Food and Beverage - Fast Casual: Sameh El-Sadat '05, Tarek El Nazer '06, Basel Mashhour '04

TBS Holding Ltd.

Food and Beverage - Fine Dining: Ayman Baky '96

Baky Hospitality Group LLC

General Tech Services: Tarek Bakry '02

zVendo

Media and Advertising: Dina Aly '04

Matter

Next Generation Family Intrapreneur of the Year: Shahira Diab '98

La Poire

Tourism: Youssef Fayez '04

Les Concierges Egypt

Transportation and Logistics: Omar Hagrass '10

Trella

UN Sustainable Development Goals - Environmental Sustainability: Yaseen Abdel-Ghaffar '09

SolarizEgypt

At its recent meeting, AUC's Board of Trustees approved the tenure of Assistant Professors Rania Samir, management; Nesrin Badawi political science; and Diaa Noureldin, economics. 

"Professors Rania, Diaa and Nisreen are all prime examples of AUC's commitment to excellence, and it  is a privilege to count them among our most dedicated faculty members. I am delighted to know that they will be educating AUC students for years to come while carrying out impactful and pioneering research. AUC continues to be fully committed to tenuring excellent faculty," said

Provost Ehab Abdel Rahman.

Samir has taught at AUC for 12 years, with the first four years being an adjunct faculty member.

"It is a great achievement that I have been working hard for during the past eight years," Samir said. "It will give me the drive to excel more in the different facets of work — teaching, research and service work."

Teaching in the Department of Management, her research interests include internet marketing, social media and innovation adoption. She has published a book on the Adoption of Web-based Marketing in the travel industry with Lambert Academic Publishing in 2011.

"AUC is a competitive environment that requires continuous self enhancement," she added. 

For Badawi, who teaches public and international law, tenure is a part of doing something she cherishes. 

"With tenure becoming a scarce commodity, particularly for mother academics, I feel extremely privileged and rewarded for a career that has been my passion for the past decade," she said. 

She has been teaching at AUC since 2010, and going into the next phase of her career, she intends to focus on examining the scope of judicial discretion and its impact on public life in Egypt. Her research interests include Islamic jurisprudence, international humanitarian law and the relationship between international law and Islamic law. She has experience working with UNHCR in refugee law and has offered consultancy work to several organizations on humanitarian law and Islamic law.

"I am extremely grateful to the tremendous support I have received from my department and my colleagues at AUC," she said. "I know I couldn’t have gotten there without their help and support. I am also indebted to my husband and my family without whom this wouldn’t have been possible and to my children who have shown great patience for the past years."

Noureldin, who teaches economics, has taught at AUC for 13 years. His research interests include econometrics, time series analysis, forecasting, quantitative finance and macroeconomics. He currently serves as advisor to the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies and as a research associate and thematic co-leader at the Economic Research Forum, a regional think tank focusing on the Middle East, in the theme of macroeconomics of natural resources, structural transformation and growth.

School of Business Dean Sherif Kamel was recently appointed as a trustee of the International Management Board of the Association of MBAs and the Business Graduates Association as well as elected as a board member of AACSB International as an "AACSB official representative of an organization from Europe, the Middle East or Africa," representing AUC.

"I am truly honored to be joining these two distinguished, diverse, and international boards that represent two of the leading authorities in the world of business and management education," he said. "I am delighted to be representing AUC and the school of business on the two boards, which I firmly believe contribute to raising the university and the school’s global profile, visibility, and footprint."

Kamel added that he looks forward to working with his colleagues at both entities to develop what he believes is society's most important asset — human capital. For him, the invaluable element of business schools is to help the future leaders, entrepreneurs, movers and shakers become more competitive and agile so they can always make a difference to their community and help realize a transformational, sustainable and scalable impact.

"The AUC School of Business —which celebrates in 2022 its 75th anniversary as a leading institution in business and management education serving the business community in Egypt and the region— has been AACSB accredited since 2006, and by adding both EFMD-EQUIS and AMBA accreditations in 2014, became among the top one percent of leading business schools globally that are triple-crown accredited. Today, the school remains the only triple crown accredited business school in the Middle East North Africa region," he said.

Around 800 prospective students attended AUC's first virtual Open Day last Saturday, and more than 20 faculty members engaged with the students. 

Prospective students from a diverse set of high school backgrounds explored the 40 majors and 55 minors offered at the University. Each school had a Zoom booth and was represented by a faculty member who answered questions about the different courses, tracks and programs found at the school. The Student Service Center also had a booth to answer any additional questions about programs and admissions

The business in marketing major was the most popular major, with 153 prospective students indicating their interest in it, followed by business and entrepreneurship, computer science and graphic design. 

Most of those who attended have an American high school diploma, followed by thanawiya amma and British diplomas. 

The School of Sciences and Engineering had the greatest number of participants with 1,915, followed by the School of Business, and Student Service Center.

Faculty Reflections 

The School of Business held six breakout rooms, where chairs, faculty and staff held parallel sessions with potential students and parents. The students were able to move between each breakout room to explore the different areas of accounting, business and entrepreneurship, economics, finance, management of information and communication technology, and marketing.

"I believe that the virtual Open Day was a great success and was really the result of effective collaboration among the different schools, offices across campus, and departments within the School of Business," said Ahmed Abdel-Meguid, associate dean for undergraduate studies and administration and associate professor of accounting. "I think this model should continue even post COVID-19, given its outreach and flexibility."

Faculty from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences met with hundreds of potential students and parents from Egypt and other countries who are interested in the school's 10 departments and 63 different programs.

"HUSS prides itself in developing critical, independent and creative thinkers who are ready to embrace, and make a positive impact in, the changing world," said Jillian Campana, professor of theatre and associate dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. "Our guests at Open Day understood that studying the humanities teaches the skills that today’s employers want, leaving graduates ready to embrace numerous career options in multiple fields."

Shahjahan Bhuiyan, associate professor of public administration and associate dean for undergraduate studies and administration at the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, said that although this was a new experience, the event went smoothly and participants seemed to have learned a lot.

"It was a well-coordinated event among the participating schools, the Office of Marketing Communication and Public Affairs, the Office of Enrollment and other relevant administrative units. I am very grateful to my colleagues at GAPP for their support, active engagement and hard work to make the event a great success," Bhuiyan said.  

For the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Firas Al-Atraqchi, professor of practice, said the event went on "without a hitch." 

"The students, who I assume were all high school seniors, were very enthusiastic and asked a lot of engaging questions," Al-Atraqchi said.

The Academy of Liberal Arts had almost 100 participants, and the team was able to explain to students the nature of liberal arts studies.

"Open Day was an excellent event," said Matthew Hendershot, associate dean of undergraduate studies and the ALA. "The ALA team had a great time interacting with students who were inquiring about the nature of Core Curriculum, what the liberal arts are about, and just the process of starting their studies at AUC. I hope to see some of those who visited the ALA booth as future students at AUC."

Every year, Forbes Middle East selects and ranks 50 powerful businesswomen from across the region. The women were chosen because they have "shown resilience, flexibility, and strength in the face of unprecedented adversity, both in the workplace and in their communities," according to Forbes. Egypt leads with the highest number of women on the list, eight, followed by the United Arab Emirates with seven. Five AUC alumni are featured on the list this year. You can find the full list here.

#16 Elham Mahfouz '84

Mahfouz is the CEO of the Commercial Bank of Kuwait and has been working in banking and finance for about 30 years. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with honors, from AUC. 

#32 Mervat Zohdy El Sayed Soltan '83, '89

Soltan has been the executive chairperson for the Export Development Bank of Egypt for 16 years. She has 36 years experience in banking. SHe graduated from AUC with a bachelor's in business administration followed by an MBA. 

#34 Nadia Al Saeed (MBA '92) 

Al Saeed has served as the CEO of Bank al Etihad for more than 12 years. She spearheaded the bank’s digital transformation by launching an app in 2019 that is now being used by 85% of the bank’s clients on a daily basis. She received her MBA from AUC.

#39 Yasmine '99 and Farida Mohamed Farid Khamis '00

Sisters Yasmine and Farida Khamis are executive board members at Oriental Weavers. Yasmine is also vice president of sales and marketing in the company and holds a  Bachelor of Arts in mass communication from AUC. Farida is vice president of corporate finance and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from AUC.

AUC welcomes the Class of 2025 in unusual circumstances — with new hopes and challenges awaiting them. AUC is still implementing a hybrid model of classes with an emphasis on maintaining a low-density campus.

Having the first month of the spring semester entirely online did not prevent the incoming students from enjoying their orientation and preparing for their AUC journey.

"We are all ready for the pandemic to end and active life to resume on campus, yet for the ongoing safety of the community, we conducted this year's orientation entirely online via Zoom," said Mohamed Gendy, manager of the First-Year Program. "This didn't stop the new students from fully engaging with their peer leaders during the sessions — asking questions, exchanging ideas, sharing stories and playing educational games. The energy and vibes were great."

The new undergraduate class — 54% females and 46% males — enriches the community's diversity, with students coming from Nigeria, Algeria, Yemen, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Likewise, on the graduate level, the class — 70% females and 30% males — comprises a diverse international body coming from the United States, Nigeria, Libya, Yemen, Canada, Kuwait, Palestine and Syria. 

Students expressed their hopes and eagerness to learn more about Egyptian culture, engage in a wide variety of cocurricular activities and improve their Arabic-language skills. News@AUC caught up with some Egyptian and international students during orientation week to learn about why they decided to join AUC and what they look forward to this semester. Here's what they had to say: 

Amanda Robles, an international student, studying at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., is looking forward to forming a strong base for Modern Standard Arabic and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic, in addition to acquiring a thorough understanding of the regions that practice those languages. "When it comes to subjects regarding the Middle East, [my home university] does not offer many options for courses," she said. "In comparison, AUC has an extensive list of courses which range from the culture of different areas in the Middle East to language, politics, and economics; this is why I chose AUC. I haven't seen a university that offers a list of courses as impressive as AUC, and since my university partners with AUC, I thought it would be an excellent option!"

Olivia Voss, an international student studying international relations at the University of North Carolina, is looking forward to improving her Arabic-language skills. "I wanted to come to AUC because it has a great reputation, and I want to improve my Arabic. I have wanted to travel to Egypt since I was a kid," she said. "Everyone has been so kind already, and my expectations going forward are to make many great and long-lasting friendships and to improve my understanding of the region."

Vebjørn Hole Uleberg, an international student pursuing a Master in International Management/CEMS, came to AUC because it is the only CEMS academic partner in Africa and the Middle East. CEMS, or the Global Alliance in Management Education, is also the only AUC program ranked by the Financial Times and The Economist. "I find Egypt — with its culture, language, and people — very interesting," he said. "AUC is also the only University in the MENA region that is part of the CEMS network, meaning that it must be of high quality while also giving a unique cultural experience."

Uleberg is also looking forward to "seeing and experiencing what Egypt is like, including learning Arabic, getting to know locals and traveling all over the country," he added.

Marissa Jean Haskell is joining AUC from the United States. She had previously studied abroad at AUC as an undergraduate student. "I loved being here and in Egypt so much that I was looking for an excuse to come back," she said. "One of the main reasons I returned to AUC is the quality of professors here. At AUC, it seems like every professor is a well-known scholar in their respective field, so I am excited to learn from such renowned professionals. I am expecting to not only substantially broaden my knowledge of education and global affairs but also take advantage of the opportunity to grow my international network."

Egyptian students are joining AUC from more than 12 governorates across the country, including Giza, Monufia, Beni Suef, Ismailia and Gharbia.

For freshman Marwan Gamea, one of the main reasons he applied to AUC is sustaining a reasonable balance between academics and cocurricular activities. Gamea's intended major is data science, which "is exclusively available at AUC."

Salma Omar, a freshman intending to major in graphic design, decided to join AUC for the balance that it offers between the quality of education and the cocurricular activities that allow her to find her passion in various fields. "I thought it would give me the best education and environment to thrive," she said. "I am looking forward to building a solid foundation for my future and enjoying college life while still learning about my passion."

Lama Khallaf is another freshman intending to major in electronics and communications engineering who has chosen AUC for its liberal arts education that would prepare her for a strong career. "I'm hoping to really enjoy the diversity of courses that are offered. Although I'm an engineering major, I still have interests outside my major that I want to be able to pursue," she said.

Fahad Muhammad Dankabo, a freshman intending to major in political science, expects to make the best use of his time at AUC on so many levels. "I want to be able to develop both academically and socially," he said. Dankabo was overwhelmed with the welcome he received from everyone since he joined AUC. "The peer leaders' dedication truly reflected on the three-day orientation. It was simply superb and worth emulating. Everything was well-coordinated and executed. What a way to set a high standard for newcomers. Thank you for making it easy for me to blend into my new family."

On the last day of classes, students surprised their professors with handwritten notes to express their gratitude for their ongoing support in online learning despite the unusual circumstances.

Walid Kazziha, professor of political science:

“A number of students sent me thank you notes during the semester. However, the most rewarding gesture of thanks that I received from them is when at the end of the last class, they unmuted the sound and video and each one of them carried a note of thanks expressing their appreciation. For me, it was a thrilling gesture, which I will always cherish."

Read more here.

Tarek Selim '92, '95, professor of ecomomics:

"A gratifying moment from my wonderful students in the feasibility study class (Econ 4012). They were one of the best feasibility classes I taught, and I have been teaching at AUC for the past 20 years."

Soraya Altorki, professor of anthropology:

"I was very touched by the message that I received from my students in ANTH 1099 on the last day of classes this semester. It reads: 'We love you professor! Thank you for the amazing course.' It is truly gratifying to get [my] students' feedback like this. It is an experience that says it all."

Hania Sholkamy '85, '89, associate professor at AUC's Social Research Center:

"In my Introduction to Community Development course (Anth 2201), my students surprised me. They are a wonder bunch and made the course interesting and dynamic. I am thanking them for their kindness. They said 'thank you,' and that really meant a lot to me. So in sharing this with you, I am thanking them."

Students in the marker research class also decided to surprise their professor, Hakim Meshreki (MBA '05), visiting assistant professor of marketing, and show him love and appreciation. Nathalie Nabil Kamel, senior, who decided to share with us the story on behalf of her class, says:

"A class member sent the idea in our project group, and then we created a students only group to coordinate. No one hesitated to join this celebratory action for Dr. Hakim, I guess because he's not only our doctor, [but also] he checked up on everyone who missed class, every class he asked how we were and gave us advice to help us mitigate the stress. All his classes were enjoyable, even the difficult chapters, and we wanted to show him the appreciation we had for him."

Hakim Meshreki (MBA '05), visiting assistant professor of marketing:

"Toward the end of the last class, students stunned me with a wonderful thank you note that represents the best reward an instructor can get from his students. Though they were not forced to do so, they showed that good work, care and dedication pay off. They were able to understand the essence of my teaching philosophy, which is knowledge, fun and love . For this, I am thankful and grateful to all of them."

 Sonia Zulfiqar, associate professor of chemistry, 

“It is an overwhelming experience for me to earn so much love, affection, and respect, given the fact that I am teaching this course for the first time."

Read more here.

Yasmine Saleh '91, associate professor of practice of clinical psychology,

“When the students asked me at the end of the class to stop sharing my screen since they had something that they wanted to share with me, I had no idea what was going on, and I was genuinely very surprised. This was unexpected and SO appreciated, after all we have been through together.”

Read more here.

Daoud Siniora, assistant professor of mathematics and actuarial science

"I feel honored to teach such beautiful minds and future stars. The main lectures were pre-recorded and sent to students in advance. On lecture days I hosted optional live Zoom sessions for further discussions on the material, homework problems, and beauty of mathematics. When the semester became very stressful, I made all deadlines flexible, meaning that students may submit their work as soon as they can. I also supplied my students with detailed lecture notes covering the whole course so they do not need to worry about taking notes. From time to time I give easy short quizzes so students can keep up with the course. We had a WhatsApp group that included the students, teaching assistants, and myself so that we all stay connected with each other as one team."