MEPI in UAE

Ongoing MEPI Programs

The following provides descriptions of ongoing programs in Bahrain, as well as a list of Regional Programs in which Bahraini organizations or individuals participate.

UAE Programs

Mosaica  

Parental Engagement in Education Through Parent-Teacher Councils - In six UAE schools, Mosaica Education will conduct 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, train the new Parent-Teacher Councils (PTCs) to improve parental engagement and involvement; assist in the development and implementation of PTC action plans; and facilitate 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 will produce a PTC replication and best practices manual, and conduct 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 will result 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 will train 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 will be 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 will also address effective consideration and advocacy of student concerns

Dr. Mohammed Al Mutawa 

Polling UAE University Students on Democracy - The December 2006 limited election of half the Federal National Council has provided an opportunity to assess the attitudes and views of Emirati university students toward democracy, the future of democracy in the UAE, and the UAE’s first election. Political Science and Sociology professors, with the assistance of a consultant with substantial polling experience, will poll a scientific sample of 500 Emirati university students from all the major institutions of tertiary education in the Northern Emirates: the American University of Sharjah, Sharjah University, and the Higher colleges of Technology.  Thirty political science and sociology students will be involved and trained in the polling process.  The poll results will be analyzed and summarized, and the professor participants will lead campus and/or classroom based instruction and discussion of the poll and its implications to a wider group of students on their campuses.  The poll results and the professors’ summary and analysis of its implications will also be disseminated to the media and posted on university websites.

ELS Language Center 

From Language Skills to Leadership Skills - Tools for Tomorrow's Leaders - This project will develop tomorrow’s leaders by encouraging the development of leadership skills, and raising awareness of and interest in civic engagement. The participants are high school seniors who have previously taken part in the MEPI-funded English Access Micro-scholarships Programs through ELS Language Centers. Having raised their English abilities, these 300 students will be invited to write a short essay on – “My Future as a Citizen and Leader in the UAE”. Ten winning students will receive additional English language instruction from ELS, together with communication and public speaking training and then the winning students will be interviewed for a chance to attend the MEPI Student Leaders Program. The culmination of this, will be an event where all ten students will give a presentation based on their essay, to which the press, MEPI Student Leader Alumni, current English Access Program students and the Alumni, teachers, students, parents and interested public officials will be invited to attend. The presentations will also be uploaded on to the ELS Virtual Access Club Website.

Zayed University

The 21^st Century Emirati Woman: My Future as a Citizen and Leader - Encourages women's participation and leadership in public life and raises public awareness of the important role of women in the future of the UAE.  This project provides 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 will receive additional leadership training and take 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 trains a core team of Emirati businesswomen on small business development and practices. The UAE Businesswomen Council will use this core group to develop a center to train UAE women on how to start a small business. These members will be the core team who will in turn hold training for other UAE women entrepreneurs in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

Dubai Women's College (DWC)

Establishing an Entrepreneurship Center and Curriculum at DWC - DWC, with assistance from Temple University, establishes training modules and activities to provide instruction on entrepreneurship at an on-campus Entrepreneurship Center, and develops entrepreneurship curriculum that will be taught as part of the coursework for several academic disciplines beginning in the 2007-2008 school year.

Emirates Environmental Group (EEG)

Creating a Civil Society Organizations Network (CSON) for the UAE - EEG brings together ten UAE civil society organizations to establish a Civil Society Organizations Network in the UAE.  Expert assistance strengthens the institutional capacity of the participating CSOs, and guides them through the process of sharing expertise and best practices through their new partnership.  The project produces 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. 

Regional Programs

UAE individuals or groups participate in the following programs, which take place in two or more countries in the region (Click Here to see descriptions of regional programs). MEPI reform pillars are listed in parentheses.

• ABA/CEELI - Arab Women's Legal Netwrok (AWLN) [Women]
• ABA/CEELI - Middle East Legal Development Initiative [Political]
• Academy for Educational Development and Sun Microsystems - G-8 BMENA Global Learning Portal [Education]
• Association Liaison Office - U.S.-Middle East University Partnerships [Education]
• Beyster Institute - Middle East Entrepreneur Training in the U.S. (MEET U.S.) [Economic]
• Booz Allen Hamilton - Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Technical Assistance [Economic]
• Chugach - Middle East Finance Corporation Due Diligence [Economic]
• Chugach - Partnership Schools Due Diligence and Education Summit [Education]
• CLDP - Commercial, Judicial, and Legal Reform [Economic]
• FSVC - Partnership for Financial Excellence Part II [Economic]
• ICNL - Middle East Associative Rights Initiative [Political]
• International Finance Corporation - G-8 BMENA Technical Assistance [Economic]
• IREX - Middle East North Africa Development Initiative Alliance (MENA Media) [Political]
• IREX - Media Sustainability Index [Political]
• No Peace Without Justice - Strengthening the Democracy Assistance Dialogue [Political] 
• Junior Achievments - Economic Education and Job Skills Training in the Middle East [Economic]
• OECD - Middle East and North Africa Investment for Development Initiative [Economic] 
• The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars - Enhancing the Role of Arab Women in the Legislative Process [Political]
• UNDP -  Global Democracy Barometer Project [Political]