Newsroom

The ALC training center is one of 13 English language institutes across Egypt that is affiliated with Amideast through an offsite service providers program that Amideast introduced in 2006 in order to serve Egyptians living beyond Cairo and Alexandria. OffSite Service Providers (OSPs) provide Amideast language education certification remotely, on their premises.

Amideast and ETS collaborated in providing a range of activities for teachers and other English-language professionals. These included a Propell^® teacher development workshop on effective teaching to prepare for both the TOEFL^® test and real life language needs. Amideast offers Propell workshops region-wide, offering teachers an opportunity for a credentialed professional development course.

Amideast is proud to join in today’s celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD).  Amideast is committed to making a difference in the lives of women across the Middle East and North Africa by expanding access to opportunities for training and education.  Here are some of the ways in which we are working towards this goal:​

Washington, DC, January 15, 2015—Amideast is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Donald Schmidt as its new country director for Saudi Arabia.  Mr. Schmidt will be based in Riyadh, where he will oversee a portfolio of programs and services in the areas of English language training, test preparation, standardized testing, management training, and scholarship management.  

“Skills for Success gives me, as a young woman, the chance to improve my skills in life, to be more confident, and to better understand myself and other people,” said Moroccan trainee Leila Rajouh as she eagerly began her English language and computer skills classes — the first two program components, followed by professional skills and job search modules.

New Initiatives Benefit Youth and Women

Enrollments at Amideast training centers in Rabat and Casablanca office have averaged around 10,000 in recent years, driven by the growing interest in English in the Francophone country and the need for specialized professional skills training. These numbers are beginning to rise as Amideast/Morocco embarks on new initiatives targeting the country’s youth unemployment challenge.

Enrollments of Egyptian students in U.S. institutions of higher learning have been rising modestly in recent years. Last year was no exception. According to the 2014 Open Doors Report, the number of Egyptians at U.S. colleges and universities rose nearly nine percent to reach 2,832 in 2013/14, the highest level in 15 years.

The economic participation of women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is lower than anywhere else in the world. MENA women have limited access to financial and training services, and face far higher unemployment rates than men. Added to this are common perceptions and beliefs that women should not be the financial heads of households.

Since Rhamna Skills was inaugurated in November 2012, close to 750 youths have completed the center’s employability skills training programs, leading to job placements for more than three out of five trainees — meeting a high priority in view of the country’s high unemployment rates, particularly among recent graduates.

Many students took two sessions, enabling them to make strides in tackling what is arguably one of the world’s most challenging languages. Their extended stay, moreover, gave them time to explore the country, deepening their familiarity with the country’s cultural riches, welcoming population, and natural beauty, while also providing opportunities to practice Arabic.