The American Studies Resource Center (ASRC) officially opened its doors Monday at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Kairouan, in a ceremony presided over by United States Ambassador to Tunisia Bill Bazzi and University President Mhemmed Gandour.
The new center, funded by the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, represents a concrete expression of longstanding bilateral cooperation and a shared commitment to expanding educational opportunities for Tunisians interested in American culture, innovation, and academic exchange.
Its inauguration carries particular symbolic weight, coinciding with America’s 250th anniversary and the 70th anniversary of Tunisia’s independence. The ASRC is designed to extend American educational excellence to students and faculty in Kairouan and across the country, offering a wealth of resources including English-language books, digital materials, a virtual library, language-learning programs, and free Education USA advising services. It will also provide comprehensive information about academic exchange and research opportunities in the United States.
Beyond its physical collections, the center is positioned as a vibrant platform for intellectual and cultural exchange, with plans to host lectures, discussions, workshops, and cultural events throughout the year.
“Kairouan is known around the world as a hub for education,” Ambassador Bazzi remarked at the inauguration. “I am happy the U.S. Embassy can contribute to this legacy of educational excellence through the American Studies Resource Center.”
The ASRC joins the existing American Corners in Tunis and Sousse as part of a broader embassy effort to foster Tunisian innovation and deliver American educational resources. Officials envision the facility as a welcoming space for learning, dialogue, and discovery—not only for the people of Kairouan but for visitors from across the nation—that will cultivate greater mutual understanding between the United States and Tunisia for generations to come.
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