Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA.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

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA.state.gov Advising and Partnerships Outreach: Provincial cities- universities, libraries MOHE/MOE American Corners School Visits Center Advising: Group and Individual Special Topic Virtual, Social Media, and Phone

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA in Saudi Arabia U.S. Embassy, Riyadh Karen Bauer, Senior Adviser Beth Franklin, Assistant Adviser U.S. Consulate, Dhahran Mona Lewars, Adviser U.S. Consulate, Jeddah Hanin Kamal, Adviser

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education 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

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA in Egypt American Center, Alexandria AMIDEAST Rohayma Rateb, Senior Adviser AMIDEAST, Cairo Hala Al Hawary, Senior Adviser Jennifer Gerard, Senior Advisor

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education

EducationUSA in Iran AMIDEAST D.C. Soraya Eftekhari

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education MENA Youth Bulge: 111 million EducationUSA.state.gov Top 5 Student Age Population Students in U.S. 08/09 % change % of student age population Egypt23m % Iran23m % Algeria10.8m % Morocco8.9m % Iraq8.6m % Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Data

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA.state.gov Source: IIE Open Doors MENA Students in the U.S. 2008/9 33,586

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA.state.gov MENA Student Mobility

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA.state.gov 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

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA.state.gov 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

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education Significant Growth in MENA Libya 330.3% Qatar 34.2% Saudi Arabia 28.2% UAE 23.9% Iran 15% EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education MENA Government Scholarships EducationUSA.state.gov Saudi Arabia Qatar Libya Iraq Kuwait Bahrain and Oman *

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education Collaboration with Host Governments EducationUSA.state.gov 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

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education 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 Program EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education Fulbright Students in the U.S. EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education Top Destinations – MENA U.S. China U.K. Australia Europe

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education 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 EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education University of Ghana EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education Reaching Students Video Conferencing, EdUSA Connects, web chats Facebook Participation in college fairs Outreach to schools EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education 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. EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education 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 EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education Malawi College Fair EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education 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 EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education 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 EducationUSA.state.gov

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

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education 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 EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education 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. EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education African: Yes, we can ! EducationUSA.state.gov

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education Upcoming Events in EducationUSA MENA October: UAE: UAE Government sponsored NAJAH Education Expo November: Israel: MBA Fair Libya: Linden Educational Fair April: EducationUSA Regional Conference Saudi Arabia: MOHE sponsored IEHE Expo