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Established in 1951, America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST) is a private American nonprofit organization engaged in international education, training, and development assistance work. Based in Washington, DC, it has over 20 field and project offices in the Middle East and North Africa and more than 600 dedicated professional staff working with international, regional and local partners on the ground. AMIDEAST provides programs and services to improve educational opportunities and quality, strengthen local institutions, and develop language and professional skills for success in the local economy.
Deeply committed to strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation between Americans and the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa, AMIDEAST also offers study abroad programs for Americans interested in learning more about this important region.
In 2007, AMIDEAST:
- Provided English language and professional skills training to over 82,400 students and professionals
- Provided information on study in the United States to more than 260,000 individuals
- Administered 130,800 computer-, paper-, and Internet-based tests
- Supported scholarship and exchange programs for nearly 1,500 individuals
AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs in the Arab World provide students with opportunities to study in Arab countries for a semester, an academic year, or during the summer. AMIDEAST also works with colleges and universities to create short-term education abroad opportunities in the region.
For more than two decades, AMIDEAST field offices have assisted U.S. colleges and universities and other study abroad organizations with their programs in the region. In 2007, AMIDEAST launched its Education Abroad Programs in the Arab World, beginning with a semester program in Rabat, Morocco. In 2009, AMIDEAST will add a Summer Intensive Arabic Program in Rabat, a summer Learn & Serve Program in Tunisia, and semester/academic year programs in:
Cairo, Egypt
Amman, Jordan
Salmiya, Kuwait
With nearly 60 years of experience on the ground in the Middle East and North Africa, AMIDEAST is recognized throughout the region, enjoys close connections with the local societies, and benefits from a deep understanding of the cultural, health, safety and security issues affecting [or impacting] study in the Arab world. Guided by an Arabic Language Advisory Board and an Academic Consortium that represents a cross-section of U.S. higher education, AMIDEAST's programs are designed to provide excellence in Arabic language study and area studies. Programs also include ample opportunities to interact with local university students and to reflect on the intercultural encounters in structured settings.
For more than two decades, AMIDEAST field offices in the Middle East and North Africa have supported study abroad programs organized by U.S. colleges and universities and by provider organizations such as the School for International Training and Council for International Educational Exchange. Institutions that AMIDEAST has assisted include:
- Brigham Young University
- Carleton College
- George Mason University
- Grand Valley State University
- John Jay College of the City University of New York
- Norfolk State University
- Swarthmore College
- University of Washington
- Westfield State College
- Vassar College
AMIDEAST's Education Abroad Programs in the Arab World share a set of distinctive features:
- Arabic language instruction in both Modern Standard and Spoken Arabic
- Program-related excursions
- Facilitated dialogue discussions with students from local universities
- Activities to develop students' intercultural and global competence
- An AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program Manager familiar with the local environment to coordinate housing, orientation, excursions, issues discussions, and other program-related activities
AMIDEAST's Education Abroad Programs in the Arab World are built on a set of core principles. These are that all programs are
- student centered
- structured to maximize students'
- acquisition of the Arabic language
- development of knowledge of the host country and region
- exposure to the host culture
- development of intercultural sensitivity and global competence
- overseen by an Academic Consortium consisting of U.S. colleges and universities that jointly provide quality assurance for the programs through ongoing review and periodic site visits to meet with students, faculty and program staff
- large enough, in terms of student enrollment, to assure valuable discussion and diversity but not so large as to isolate students from the host society or become unwieldy and unmanageable
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