MEPI in UAE
Completed MEPI Programs
The following provides descriptions of completed programs in UAE, as well as a list of completed Regional Programs in which UAE organizations or individuals participated.
UAE Programs
Mosaica
Parental Engagement in Education Through Parent-Teacher Councils - In six UAE schools, Mosaica Education conducted a baseline analysis of the extent and impact of parental involvement in their children’s education; set up Parent-Teacher Councils at the six schools, trained the new Parent-Teacher Councils (PTCs) to improve parental engagement and involvement; assisted in the development and implementation of PTC action plans; and facilitated the transference of the six participant PTC’s experiences, best practices, and resources to six additional, new PTCs. To help expand the introduction and sustainable development of PTCs throughout the UAE, Mosaica Education produced a PTC replication and best practices manual, and conducted a public awareness campaign to garner attention and support for improved, organized parental involvement in their children’s schools via PTCs.
Ras Al Khaimah Men's College
Establishing and Operating an Elected Student Council at RAK Men's College - This project resulted in the election and effective operation of the first elected Student Council at Ras Al Khaimah Men's College. An expert in forming and running elected Student Councils trained existing student representatives, those interested in running for office, and other students at RAK Men’s College on the role of student councils in working with students and administrators to represent and serve student interests. Participants were taught how to form, organize, and operate a Student Council; and how to organize and implement a Student Council election. Training provided through workshops and consultation also addressed effective consideration and advocacy of student concerns.
Zayed University
The 21st Century Emirati Woman: My Future as a Citizen and Leader - Encouraged women's participation and leadership in public life and raised public awareness of the important role of women in the future of the UAE. This project provided communication skills training through workshops and one-on-one sessions, culminating in a public speaking contest about the Emirati woman's role as a citizen and leader. Contest winners received additional leadership training and took on roles as student leaders and mentors in Zayed University's new Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Center for Leadership.
Abu Dhabi Businesswomen's Council
Seed program for a Women's Entrepreneurship Center - This project trained a core team of Emirati businesswomen on small business development and practices. The UAE Businesswomen Council used this core group to develop a center to train UAE women on how to start a small business. These members were the core team who in turn held training for other UAE women entrepreneurs in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
Creating a Civil Society Organizations Network (CSON) for the UAE - EEG brought together ten UAE civil society organizations to establish a Civil Society Organizations Network in the UAE. Expert assistance strengthened the institutional capacity of the participating CSOs, and guided them through the process of sharing expertise and best practices through their new partnership. The project produced a strategic plan for the operation and growth of the new network, as well as a joint advocacy campaign on a public policy issue of mutual concern.
Mahmoud Zawawi
Strengthening Independent Journalism and Civic Engagement through Investigative Reporting - As part of the UAE Journalists' Association (UAEJA) efforts to improve the independence and capacity of journalism in the UAE, the UAEJA hosted Journalism expert Mahmoud Zawawi to provide training to journalists and editors on investigative reporting. The training strengthened the investigative capabilities and professionalism of UAE-based journalists in covering local issues of political, social, and economic importance affecting the citizens and residents of the UAE. In addition to equipping UAE journalists with the professional skills needed to investigate, report, and write their stories; and ensuring the publication of several in-depth, quality investigative articles in UAE papers; the program developed the professional ethical standards of the participating journalists and editors.
Emirati Women Short Stories Competition - Zayed University focused attention on the public perception of Emirati women and encouraged English language development in a project that resulted in a published anthology entitled “Emirati Women in the UAE Today”. Students at UAE University, Higher Colleges of Technology, and Zayed University submited short stories depicting modern Emirati women in business, the workplace, family, public life, education, as consumers, and as leaders. In addition to inclusion in the anthology, selected short story entries were broadly publicized in magazines, newspapers, and other media throughout the country.
i-EARN Start-up in the UAE - The iEARN Team Leaders Program provided 25 Emirati teachers with training and materials to integrate the internet into the classroom. The program consisted of a three-day workshop which was followed by a two-day train the trainer program, that resulted in a cadre of public school teachers that used the internet in their classrooms to work on projects and link with their U.S. classroom counterparts.
Establishing an elected Student Council - As a follow-up to a previous MEPI local grant, Dubai Women's College brought 3-4 students from Mt. Holyoke College, for one week, to train the student council on how to form an advocacy based organization vs. its current event planning/social role. The students learnt how to build an effective leadership team based on models of parliamentary/democratic procedures. They also learnt how to advocate on behalf of the student body to the senior administration. The training also examined the role of women participating in civil society.
Media Development Strategies for the Middle East and North Africa [Politcial] - The program provided a workshop on media assistance for 30 Middle East media professionals, international donors, and media assistance implementers. It also generates strategic guidance on media assistance activities. The workshop produced an analytical framework for Middle East media.
Arab Gulf Civil Justice Modernization Initiative [Political] - In this project, two study teams with 6 Emirati Participants went to California to study Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the California Courts.
Regional Programs
UAE individuals or groups participated in the following completed programs, which took place in two or more countries in the region (Click Here to see descriptions of regional programs). MEPI reform pillars are listed in parentheses.
FSVC – Partnership for Financial Excellence Part I [Economic]
Bahrain
UAE
