Study Abroad in the Arab World NAFSA

Study Abroad in the Arab World • NAFSA • Region VIII • November 2009

Presenters • Jerome B. Bookin-Weiner – AMIDEAST • Lucia Cucinotta – George Washington University • Christine Menand – Carnegie Mellon University, Coordinator of Study Abroad and Exchange Programs • Valerie Jeremijenko – Virginia Commonwealth University-Qatar campus (VCUQatar)

Agenda • Overview • Presentation: – AMIDEAST – George Washington University – Carnegie Mellon University – Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar • Survey review • Q&A

Region • • • Algeria Bahrain Comoros Djibouti Egypt Iraq Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Libya Mauritania Morocco • Oman • Palestinian Authority • Qatar • Saudi Arabia • Somalia • Sudan • Syria • Tunisia • UAE • Yemen

The Numbers… • Spring 2009 - 18 million students enrolled in US higher education institutions (2 -4 year colleges/universities) • 240, 000 studied abroad • 2, 200 studied abroad in the Arabic speaking world (22, 549 students came from the Arabic speaking world (to the US) • Over 80% of the 2, 200 studied in three countries: – – – Egypt (50%) Morocco (21%) Jordan (11%). Data from 2006/2007 Open Doors

Leading Destinations of U. S. Study Abroad Students 2006/07

Arab World Destinations for U. S. Study Abroad students From “Expanding U. S. Study Abroad in the Arab World: Challenges and Opportunities”, Institute for International Education. The study abroad white paper series, issue number 4, February 2009.

Academics • Often, language is the main academic focus of study in the Arab region • Between 2002 -2007 Arabic enrollment increased by 127% * • Arabic Language is now in the Top 10 for language enrollment • More US institutions offering Arabic – In 2002, 264 institutions offered Arabic – In 2006, 466 offered Arabic *Modern Language Association, http: //www. mla. org/pdf/flpressrelease_final. pdf,

Language Enrollments U. S. Study Abroad students 2006/2007

Increase Worldwide • 21, 509 international students in Jordan in 2006 (increase of 36% since 2003) • 17, 199 in Lebanon in 2006 (41% increase) • 6, 049 in Morocco in 2006 (18% increase)

Barriers • • • Safety and security (real & perceived) Credit Transfer Culture differences and lack of preparation • Resources (funding, support, marketing) • Homestays

AMIDEAST

AMIDEAST • Private, nonprofit organization • Established 1951 • Headquarters in Washington, DC • 24 field and project offices in 13 countries • Over 600 professional staff

AMIDEAST Program areas include— – English language training – Professional training and development – Educational advising – Testing – Exchange programs – Institutional development – Outreach to Americans

AMIDEAST

AMIDEAST • Became involved in Education Abroad in serious way in 2007 • Current offerings include: – Semester/Academic Year programs – Summer programs – Customized faculty-led programs for institutions ranging in length from a few days to two months, both summer and during the academic year

AMIDEAST • Morocco • Rabat: Modern Middle East/North African Studies (semester/academic year) • Rabat: Intensive Arabic (summer) • Ifrane: Al Akhawayn University (semester/ academic year) • Customized faculty-led programs • Egypt • Cairo: Modern Middle East/North African Studies (semester/academic year) • Cairo: Egyptology (semester/academic year) • Cairo: History of Engineering (summer) • Customized faculty-led programs

AMIDEAST • Tunisia • Tunis & Nabeul: Learn & Serve (summer) • Kuwait • Salmiya: American University of Kuwait (semester/academic year) • Jordan • Amman: Modern Middle East/North African Studies (semester/academic year) • Amman: Intensive Arabic (summer) • Amman: Desert Ecology (summer) • Customized faculty-led programs

George Washington University Approximately 25, 000 students – 10, 000 Undergraduate – 14, 000 Graduate – 1, 000 Non-degree (2, 100 international undergraduate and graduate students from over 100 countries) About 60% of GW undergraduate students study abroad

George Washington University • During the fall or spring semester undergraduate students can only participated in study abroad programs on our approved list (we have over 300 programs). During the summer undergraduate students can apply to any program as long as it is with an accredited academic institution or program. • At GW, a study abroad semester is comparably priced to an on-campus semester, including full-time tuition and a study abroad program fee. Most sources of financial aid, including most GW awards, merit scholarships, and loans, can be utilized during study abroad. Students who study abroad in the summer pay their programs directly. • To receive credit for study abroad courses students must: – Attend an approved study abroad program (unless studying in the summer). – Submit the Study Abroad Registration Forms online prior to departure and be registered for study abroad status (semester only). – Take a course for a letter grade and receive a passing grade of C or higher – Not duplicate coursework (especially language levels) already completed at GW. – Send our office an official transcript and submit course approval forms for all the courses listed on the transcript.

George Washington University

George Washington University • Issues: – Language Philosophy of Programs: when students return to campus have their skills improved, stayed the same, or gotten worse? – State Department Travel Warnings and Safety: students who go to Israel need to sign a Consent of Risk and Release form, students who want to go to Lebanon (AUB) need to petition (AUB is approved for graduate students) and sign a Consent of Risk and Release form – Student and Parent Concerns – Administrative and Cultural Differences (e. g. AUC and University of Damascus) • Goals: – Add more academically challenging programs with strong language components to our approved program list! Usually if a program runs successfully for two to four semester we will add it to our approved program list. If it is with a program provider we work with often it’s added automatically, if not the GW Study Abroad Academic Advisor Council determines if it should be added or not. – Tie our scholar-to-scholar and institution-to-institution relationships to our study abroad opportunities to the extent we can (e. g. AUB at the ESIA). – Educate students about programs in the Middle East. – Prepare a new generation of scholars, diplomats, and informed citizens.

Carnegie Mellon University Statistics: • 10, 700 students – 5, 700 UG – 5, 000 Grad • International – 40% Grad – 12% Undergrad • Language study not required – though 49% study a language. High for a research institution. • Arabic – offered as of Fall 2008. Previously cross register at the University of Pittsburgh.

Carnegie Mellon University • Background: – Open policy towards study abroad – Academic year study abroad • Exchange Program • Sponsored Programs • Direct/External Enrollment – Summer/Spring Break study abroad most popular • Prior to 2008, interest small in region (2 -3 students per year) • Qatar campus – increased interest

Carnegie Mellon University Growing interest… • Morocco (Summer 2008) • Qatar (Spring 2010) • Lebanon (Summer 2009) • Tunisia (Summer 2009) • Egypt (Summer 2009) • Palestine (Summer 2009) • CIEE Jordan (Spring 2010)

Carnegie Mellon University Tunisia, 1 Morocco, 4 Egypt, 10 Palestine, 1 Oman, 1 Lebanon, 1 Israel, 8 Qatar, 46 Qatar Israel Lebanon Oman Palestine Egypt Morocco Tunisia Data from 2006 -2009

Carnegie Mellon University Short-term programs in the region: • School of Architecture – Egypt • IMPAQT – Qatar – Initiating Meaningful Pittsburgh and Qatar Ties • Tepper MBA (student groups)– Dubai, UAE & Doha, Qatar.

CMU-Q http: //www. qatar. cmu. edu/ • Since 2004 • Offers – – – Computer Science Business Information Systems • 1 st graduating class May 2008 • Pre-Spring 2010 – – Course Assistants (CA) travelled abroad from Pittsburgh Received full-tuition/housing plus stipend and car allowance Inhibited students from going on exchange Now CMU-Q utilizes local CAs • Spring 2010 – 3 general students, plus 8 Architecture students

Education City-Doha, Qatar Part of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development – Virginia Commonwealth School of the Arts in Qatar [1997] • Graphic, Interior, and Fashion Design – Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar [2002] • Pre Medical and Medical – Texas A&M University at Qatar [2003] • Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, and Petroleum Engineering – Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar [2004] • Business Administration, Computer Science, Information Systems – Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar [2005] • International Politics – Northwestern University [2007] • Journalism, Communication

Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar

Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar The Branch Campus Experience A recent educational phenomenon focused in the Middle East • Includes NYU and Paris Sorbonne in Abu Dhabi, University of Michigan and University of Connecticut in Dubai, upcoming University of Nevada in Oman, Education City in Qatar. • In 2006 there were more then 82 international branch campuses with 1//2 of them launched by US universities. • Exchanges between branch campuses will have a different focus and nature altogether from study abroad programs.

Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar Exchange Programs: • Semester Exchange Program for VCU students in Fashion, Interior, Graphics (and Painting and Printmaking in 2010. ) – 6 students go to Richmond, 6 students come from Richmond each year • Tasmeen Conference Exchange Program • Student Government Exchange Program • Internships – a developing program for graduate students in Student Affairs – 16 students come from Richmond for an international design conference. This alternates with a Charette exchange where students come from Richmond to do a studio project. – President and Vice President of Richmond SGA come to Qatar to provide leadership training to Qatar SGA – Developing a program for 2 graduate assistants from Richmond each semester. None of these programs are language focused although Arabic language programs are available for semester exchange programs by cross registering into Georgetown University.

Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar The students/ the challenges • • • Funding Orientation Ramadan Transportation in the Middle East Gender Segregations • Class Sizes • Cross Registration • Doha Debates • Additional travel opportunities • In the lime light • Students Staying/Returning/ Transferring

Survey Results • 1. Does your institution have study abroad programs in Arabicspeaking countries? • 2. Do you currently have students studying abroad in Arabic-speaking regions? • 3. What is the current interest level of students potentially studying abroad in Arabic-speaking regions? • 4. Do you offer Arabic on-campus? • 5. Knowing that you, your students, and your students’ families will have concerns about study abroad in all regions of the world, do you have particular concerns that are specific to study abroad in Arabicspeaking regions? • 6. Which programs and providers does your institution approve for students to study in the Arab world? • 7. Have you added new destinations to Arabic-speaking regions in the past five years? If so, which cities or countries have you added?

Moving forward… • Scholarships – – Need based Merit based Academic study based Religious based • Working with smaller Institutions/less frequented countries • Collaboration among US institutions – utilize returned students at a variety of US institutions • Hollings Center

Q&A