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 The Middle East Partnership Initiative's Undergraduate Institute on American Studies and Leadership at the University of Delaware is a special program designed for students from North Africa and the Middle East who will be entering their 2nd or 3rd year of undergraduate study in the Fall, 2008. The overall goal is twofold: a) to empower young Middle Eastern elites to take leadership positions that will foster educational and political reforms and women's empowerment in their home countries; and b) to expose them to the contemporary American life and appreciate its many aspects: political, economic, cultural, academic, societal, etc. This U.S.-based program is operated under the auspices of the University’s Center for International Studies and is funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative. Applicants are nominated by US Embassies and are selected by the Department of State. Since the creation of the Middle East Partnership Initiative in 2002, UD has been selected five times to host the program, and has welcomed over 80 participants from across the Middle East and North Africa to the University's main campus in Newark. The participants have been a mix of second and third year male and female students from different religious and cultural orientations, as well as diverse areas of academic interest. Through a series of seminars, lectures and roundtables the participants have been introduced to themes covering the US political, social, and economic environment, the history and evolution of American society, and the culture and values of Americans, including such principles as freedom of expression, equality and civic participation. In addition to the on-campus academic component, study tours have included trips to Washington D.C., New York, Atlanta, Memphis, and the America West in the US. Six-month follow-up meetings have been held in Tunis, Tunisia; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Cairo, Egypt; and Marakesh, Morocco to further strengthen participants' interest in leadership and civic participation. The University of Delaware has long been recognized as a leader in international education. It was an early pioneer in study abroad and now regularly hosts groups of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from aboard providing them with creative programs blending academics and cultural enrichment. |
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