Over the past twelve years, UME has established a serious and credible record with the successful organization of 31 academic programs in the U.S., Spain, Morocco, Jordan, and Lebanon that has benefited over 300 educators and community leaders in the Middle East and North Africa, over 100 American and European educators, and thousands of their students. Some programs like the Teacher Education Institute (TEI) and Civic Engagement Workshops (CEW) are repeated on a regular basis, while others take place only once in response to a specific goal or perceived need.

Program Highlights

Teacher Education Institute (TEI), ongoing, 1999-present
A 4-week “foundational” program for MENA secondary school teachers to promote critical thinking, civic education, and mutual understanding into their classrooms. All MENA educators must be admitted to the TEI in order to participate in the programs listed below.

Civic Engagement Workshop (CEW), ongoing, 2006-present
A 6-day workshop featuring MENA and American educators co-designing civic engagement after school activities for their schools.

Collaborative Art Initiative (CAI), 2008-2009
A three week program that included TEI alumni, American educators and NGO leaders, and American youth. This institute focused on the use of art to enhance critical thinking, civic engagement and community action.

Identity and Education Across the Mediterranean (IDEAmed), 2006-2008
A 5-day seminar on how identity influences classroom teaching. Participants designed actual lesson plans to implement in their classrooms.

Please use the navigation bar on the right to explore more about UME's current and past programs.