the middle east and north africa

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher EducationEducationUSA.state.gov

The Middle East and North Africa

Kristen Cammarata- Regional Educational Advising Coordinator (REAC) for the Middle East and North Africa

Karen Bauer, Senior Educational Adviser- Saudi Arabia

Rohayma Rateb- Senior Educational Adviser- Egypt

Soraya Eftekhari- Educational Adviser for Iran

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education

EducationUSA in MENA

EducationUSA.state.gov

Students:• 33,586 students in the U.S (Open Doors)

Centers: • 24 center in 18 countries• Embassy based, Fulbright, AMIDEAST,

virtual

Team: • 29 Advisers, one REAC, one Program Officer


Advising and PartnershipsOutreach:•Provincial cities- universities, libraries•MOHE/MOE•American Corners•School VisitsCenter Advising:•Group and Individual•Special Topic•Virtual, Social Media, Email and Phone


EducationUSA in Saudi Arabia


Saudi Students in America• 28,000 students and growing!• KASP program extended 5

years• Current KASP wave:

– 4,500 students– 90% graduate students– 58% women– Emphasis on medical

professions


EducationUSA in Egypt


EducationUSA in Iran


MENA Youth Bulge: 111 million


Top 5 Student Age Population

Students in U.S. 08/09

% change

% of student age population

Egypt 23m 249 6.9 0.00%

Iran 23m 3533 15.5 0.02%

Algeria 10.8m 172 -3.9 0.00%

Morocco 8.9m 1169 3.3 0.01%

Iraq 8.6m 359 16.9 0.00%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Data


Source: IIE Open Doors

MENA Students in the U.S. 2008/9 33,586


MENA Student Mobility


Why did we see decreases?•American branch campuses•Building up local universities •Local community college – Qatar•Bringing U.S. professors to the region•More investment in education•Economy in Dubai 2009/2010•Changes in scholarship managers


Trends in Education in MENA •Emphasis on capacity building•Promoting science and technology for the knowledge economy•Weak linkage between education and labor markets•Narrowing gaps equals a demand for higher education•Interest in life long learning


Significant Growth in MENA



MENA Government Scholarships


• Saudi Arabia

• Qatar

• Libya

• Iraq

• Kuwait

• Bahrain and Oman *


Collaboration with Host Governments


• First point of contact for high level government contacts

• Direct support to host country scholarship programs

• Information on trends in U.S. higher ed.

• Guidance on accreditation and transcripts

• Organizing linkages


U.S. Government Scholarships• Fulbright

• Near East and South Asia Exchange Program NESA

• Community College Initiative (Egypt)

• Opportunity funding

High school students

• YES Program

• Access MicroScholarships ProgramEducationUSA.state.gov


Fulbright Students in the U.S.



Top Destinations – MENA

U.S.

China

U.K.

Australia

Europe


MENA Regional Programming

• Integrated into USG programs (outreach, special events, and other exchange programs: Fulbright, Humphrey, YES, Access)

• Support for Host Country Programs• Alumni Associations, Pre-Departure Orientation, • Opportunity Funds in 10 countries• Competitive College Club • Regular training for and collaboration with private school

counselors



University of Ghana



Reaching Students



How to recruit MENA students- what can YOU do?

• Involve the parents.

• Personalize the process.

• Work with the EducationUSA center.

• Make sure you have what they are looking for.

• Invest your time in social media.

• Focus groups with current students.



What makes a MENA student happy?

• The opportunity to share their culture

• Meeting a host family and getting involved in the local community

• Taking the time to meet and treat them as individuals, not just one of the group

• Discussion of rules

• Support for Ramadan and other holidays



Malawi College Fair



Women

• Minders are required by governments • What to do with the minder to ensure success• Women only housing• Special orientation sessions• Listen and ask questions• Best practices from advisers



Challenges and Responses

• Financial issues

• Language issues

• Access to information

• Socio-economic issues

• Difficulty understanding apply vs. register

• Visa issues

• Media- parental perceptions

• Military service: Israel and Iran



MENA: Application Challenges

• Testing Issues- Low scores and availability

• Documents requested from impossible sources or not available

• Schools do not produce well rounded applicants competitive for UG scholarships.



EducationUSA makes a difference:

• Students make their own educated choices and arrive better prepared.

• Good relationships with host country, parents, U.S. Consulate, local academic community.

• Trying to prepare students from an earlier age through local and international programs.

• Competitive College Clubs or Opportunity Clubs• Long term positive relationships• Media reports- help us show the positive



Trends: What to Watch For

• More sponsored students with diverse needs.

• LMD graduates from Francophone countries- 3 year degrees

• Governments and students looking for cost share.

• More interest in opportunities for bridge programs, summer and boarding schools.



African: Yes, we can !



Upcoming Events in EducationUSA MENA

October:• UAE: UAE Government sponsored NAJAH

Education ExpoNovember:• Israel: MBA Fair• Libya: Linden Educational FairApril:• EducationUSA Regional Conference • Saudi Arabia: MOHE sponsored IEHE Expo