Middle East Partnership Initiative Providing More than $1.1 Million for U.S.-Middle East University Partnerships

• The William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan and Institut National de Commerce (Algeria) will train women managers to meet the changing needs of the Algerian business community.
• University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Qatar University (Qatar) will enhance news reporting and other journalism skills through the mass communication program at Qatar University. Enhancements will include a curriculum review, new course offerings, a student newspaper, the integration of new communication technology into the classroom, and a student and faculty exchange and internship program.
• Michigan State University and the Lebanese American University (Lebanon) will create a model information and communications technology education program in Lebanon to strengthen the capacity for ICT training and to help Lebanese educators, particularly women, as they develop new strategies for teaching.
• University of Michigan and University of Garyounis (Libya) will bring faculty from both universities together with the Arab Chamber of Commerce and the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Service to modernize business and economics teaching at UG.

The universities will contribute at least an additional $457,162 to the partnerships, which are implemented in cooperation with Higher Education for Development and USAID. The four partnerships join 17 others previously awarded as part of MEPI's U.S.-Middle East University Partnership Program promoting the development of democratic and prosperous societies. The partnerships leverage faculty expertise and best practices to strengthen the capacity of the Middle East institutions and improve access to education for young people so they can be informed citizens of free societies and effective participants in modern economies.

The Middle East Partnership Initiative provides tangible support to reformers in the region so democracy can spread, education can thrive, economies can grow, and women can be empowered. The initiative has invested more than $293 million in four years in more than 350 programs in 16 countries and the Palestinian territories. For more information, please visit www.mepi.state.gov.