your official source on u.s. higher education educationusa.state.gov the middle east and north...
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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
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EducationUSA in MENA
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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
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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
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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
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MENA Youth Bulge: 111 million
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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
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Source: IIE Open Doors
MENA Students in the U.S. 2008/9 33,586
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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
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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
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MENA Government Scholarships
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• Saudi Arabia
• Qatar
• Libya
• Iraq
• Kuwait
• Bahrain and Oman *
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Collaboration with Host Governments
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• 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
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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
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Top Destinations – MENA
U.S.
China
U.K.
Australia
Europe
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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