JMU Undergraduate International Exchange Program
with the Middle East and North Africa

JMU is one of five Virginia universities selected to participate in a project to promote greater understanding among peoples of Virginia and the Middle East, funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. Representative Frank Wolf recognized the value of exchange programs when he set aside money for the five Virginia institutions to establish exchanges between U.S. students and Middle Eastern or North African students.

Under the auspices of this project, the oIP has established tuition-waiver exchange relationships with four universities, including, in Egypt, The American University in Cairo and Misr International University; in the United Arab Emirates, American University of Sharjah; and in Morocco, Al Akhawayn University of Ifrane. These relationships allow for JMU students to attend these universities, and students from those four universities to attend JMU. In addition, the oIP would wish to facilitate faculty exchanges with any of these universities.

The oIP has also fostered development of two Study Abroad programs in North Africa to further facilitate JMU student study in the Middle East. The 9-credit Cross-Cultural Perspectives Program in Egypt with program director Mr. Kakahama Askary was inaugurated this summer, including classes in Arabic language, Religions and Middle East history. Summer 2008 will see the launch of a 12-credit summer study program in Morocco with program director Ms. Ouijdane Absi.

All participants in the above exchange and study abroad programs are eligible to apply for UIEP-ME/NA scholarships. The project goal is to support ten U.S. students and ten ME/NA students on exchange during both 2007-08 and 2008-09. For information on applying for an exchange scholarship, please see this web page:
http://www.jmu.edu/international/abroad/finaid_jmu_scholarships.shtml

For general information on this project, please contact Ms. Lorie Merrow