The Teacher Education Institute

The Teacher Education Institute (TEI) is a teacher professional development and cultural exchange program hosted annually by the University of the Middle East Project (UME) with follow-on programs that build off of the foundations of knowledge established in this first institute. The TEI is one of the many programs the UME implements to provide higher education opportunities of the highest standard for all the peoples and communities of the Middle East and North Africa.

TEI courses are taught in English by professors from prestigious institutions on the beautiful campus of a top university in the United States. The intensive program takes place during the entire month of July each year. A combination of lectures, discussion sessions, workshops and field trips immerses participants in a wide variety of innovative teaching methodologies. The TEI allows participants to learn about new and creative pedagogical tools that incorporate critical thinking and constructive dialogue for practical application to secondary school classrooms. Technological tools such as internet-based learning and educational software programs are also explored.

Click here to learn more about the TEI Curriculum.

Application Requirements

To apply to the Teacher Education Institute, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a citizen and resident of a Middle Eastern or North African community
• Be proficient in written English – all applications must be written in English
• Be proficient in spoken English – all interviews will be conducted in English
• Be a certified secondary school teacher of students 14-19 years of age, with at least two years of teaching experience
• Strong preference will be given to secondary school teachers of math, science and technology, and teachers of other disciplines involved in student groups and initiatives related to math, science or technology.

Applications are evaluated holistically on a number of levels. However, perhaps the most important part of application is the essay section. Strong applicants will write essays which demonstrate analytic thinking, creative problem solving, and self-reflection.

Application Materials

To download a copy of the application, click here: TEI 2009 Application

For all questions or comments, please email TeiQuestions@ume.org. State your country and family name in the subject line.

This page was last updated on 7 October 2009.