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| 1. What is MEET U.S.? |
| 2. What training programs and industries are included in MEET U.S.? |
| 3. What type of training will MEET U.S. provide? |
| 4. What is an alumni event? |
| 5. Where is the training location? |
| 6. Which countries are eligible to apply? |
| 7. Who can apply? |
| 8. What language will be used during the training? |
| 9. Where do applicants send completed applications? |
| 10. How are participants selected? |
| 11. How many participants are selected for each program? |
| 12. How many times can an applicant apply for the program? |
| 13. What will be the schedule for the training? |
| 14. What about health insurance? |
| 15. What is the per diem allowance supposed to cover? |
| 16. Who to Contact? |
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| 1. What is MEET U.S.? |
| The MEET U.S. is a program funded by the U.S. Department of State, Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). This Presidential initiative supports economic, political, and educational reform efforts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and champions opportunities for all people of the region, especially women and youth. The MEET U.S. supports the MEPI mission by providing professional exchanges, training, and internships to promote entrepreneurship and expand executive and commercial relationships between the U.S. and the MENA region. |
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| 2. What training programs and industries are included in MEET U.S.? |
| The MEET U.S. training program consists of two separate industry-specific groups (three weeks in length): "information, communication and technology (ICT)" sector, and "business services" sector. Each group will have 20 participants. |
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| 3. What type of training will MEET U.S. provide? |
| The MEET U.S. training program is designed around a learning framework that takes into consideration each participant’s capabilities. The customized programs provide targeted and interactive pedagogy, leading faculty with practical business experience, focused industry site visits, and hands-on approaches to enhance the learning process to achieve a seamless transition between knowledge and practice. The instructors for this program will include American faculty with special knowledge about the region including region-specific case studies. The focus of the technology program will include international trade issues and industry technology standards. The business services program will focus in areas such as marketing, public relations, advertising, printing and other services that support business growth. |
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| 4. What is an alumni event? |
| All selected participants in MEET U.S. will be able to participate in special alumni events after their training experience. These events are designed to enhance the training and strengthen the networks of the participants. One alumni event will be held in May, 2006 in a location to be announced latter. |
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| 5. Where is the training location? |
| The MEET U.S. training program will be held in San Diego, California, a location that offers several important advantages for entrepreneurial training. The seventh largest city in the U.S., San Diego has a population of 1.3 million. The city is noted for an economic climate that features a diversified economic base including a broad range of technology companies and a robust business services sector. As such, it offers an excellent case study of a region that has developed a vibrant small business culture that includes a critical mass of technology enterprises, business service industries and a local network for potential business development opportunities. |
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| 6. Which countries are eligible to apply? |
| The MEET U.S. is open to citizens from the following countries and territories: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel (limited to Israeli Arab citizens), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank/Gaza and Yemen. |
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| 7. Who can apply? |
| Talented and high potential entrepreneurs, executives, and managers in growth-oriented companies who have demonstrated leadership ability in their companies and communities and who have a promising future in the region. |
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| Individuals in the following circumstances are NOT eligible for the Middle East Entrepreneur Training in the United States (MEET U.S): |
| U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States.Individuals currently participating in academic, training or research programs in the United States.Individuals currently residing or working outside the participating countries.Individuals who have participated in an exchange visitor program sponsored or funded by the U.S. government for a period of more than six weeks and who have not fulfilled their J-1 visa, two- year home residency requirement by the time of application.Employees and their families of non-profit organizations who administer the MEET U.S. on behalf of the United States Department of State. This provision does not disqualify self-supporting members of families who live apart from their parents.Local employees of the U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State are ineligible for grants during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment.Immediate families (i.e. spouses and dependent children) of U.S. Department of State employees for a period of one year following the termination of such employment. This provision does not disqualify self-supporting members of families who live apart from their parents.Persons arrested for, charged with, or convicted of a crime. |
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| 8. What language will be used during the training? |
| Although helpful, fluency in English is not required. The MEET U.S. Program will provide simultaneous interpretation into Standard Arabic and French. |
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| 9. Where do applicants send completed applications? |
| Submit your applications either on line at the AMIDEAST web site located at http://www.amideast.org or by mail or in person to the office address listed for your country of residence as outlined in the listing of AMIDEAST office addresses listed in the application. Submit all supporting documentation to the same office. |
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| 10. How are participants selected? |
| Participants are selected according to the following criteria: current position and personal business experience, size of business and potential for growth, prospects for working in an international business environment, educational background, willingness to learn and to mentor others, future leadership potential, and personal referrals. |
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| Candidates will be evaluated based on an initial assessment of written answers to several questions submitted as part of the application process. Promising candidates will then be interviewed in person by a nominee selection committee comprised of representatives from AMIDEAST, the U.S. Embassy, Chambers of Commerce, and other local business and entrepreneurship organizations as appropriate in each country. The interview and selection panel will nominate candidates from each country and will submit their dossiers to the Beyster Institute (BI). BI will submit a pool of recommended candidates from throughout the MENA region to the U.S. government, which will select the final candidates for each of the training programs. |
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| 11. How many participants will be selected for each program? |
| Twenty (20) participants will be selected to participate in each of the two industry-specific seminars. Alternates will be identified in the event a selected participant cannot participate for any reason. |
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| 12. How many times can an applicant apply for the program? |
| Individuals that are not selected to participate in a MEET U.S. program may re-apply for future MEET U.S. programs. |
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| 13. What will be the schedule for the training? |
| The schedule will run approximately from 8:00 am-5pm, and there will be a number of evening activities planned as well. While participating in this training program, you should expect full workdays, Monday through Friday. In general, weekends should be free, but the Program Manager may make arrangements for special activities. |
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| 14. What about health insurance? |
| The U.S. Government is concerned about the health and well being of each and every participant. To assist you, we will provide medical insurance for the duration of your training. The insurance will cover medical treatment for injuries, medical emergencies and medical evacuation, if needed. This policy does not provide benefits or cover care for pre-existing conditions or dental care (except for dental injuries.) As you may know, medical care is extremely expensive in the United States. You will be responsible for an out-of-pocket, non-reimbursable deductible payment (it was $75 last year – so it should be around that amount this year) for each appointment with a doctor, clinic, or hospital, and a co-payment for any medication you might need as a result of this visit. |
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| 15. What is the per diem allowance supposed to cover? |
| Participants will receive a per diem allowance for each day they are in the United States. The per diem is intended to cover modest meals not provided by the program and some incidental expenses such as laundering and tips. It is not meant to replace your salary or cover all of your expenses. We highly recommend that you use credit cards and avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Traveler’s checks are accepted as cash in most places and hotels will also cash them for you. |
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| 16. Who to contact? |
For further questions or information please contact the following:
AMIDEAST office in your country of residence (as listed in the on line application)Mohammed Bedrouni, Program Manager MEET U.S. Phone: (858) 822-6008, Email: mbedrouni@beysterinstitute.orgJoel Rubin, MEPI Economic Pillar, U.S. Department of State Phone: (202) 776-8508, Email: rubinJM@state.govFor technical questions: Email: infotech@amideast.org |
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