2023 Final Middle East and North Africa Regional Institute Attendee List
(Per data privacy laws, for email addresses, please utilize the Member Directory. As a reminder, this list is not to be used for marketing purposes.)
Session Downloads: Day 2
Session 1 - ALL: 9:00 - 10:00 AM
JOINT SESSION: REGIONAL UPDATE: TRENDS, CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES, MENA SCHOLARSHIPS
Time to kick off the 2023 Doha Regional Institute with a comprehensive update of the current higher education landscape in the MENA region including: mobility trends, changing student profiles, challenges, successes, and everything you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask!
- Melissa Deschamps, EducationUSA REAC: MENA
Session 2 - STREAM: 10:45 - 11:45 AM
SECONDARY SCHOOL
In this session, we'll look at how students can reflect on their studies across their subjects to help them find the right university course for them. Presented by two leading UK universities, this breakout will showcase the variety of courses in the UK and consider how students in the Middle East, with both breadth and depth, can prepare for the specialist nature of many UK courses but also the increasingly flexible options offered.
- Sara Roberts, Imperial College London
- Roshan Walkerly, University of Cambridge
POST-SECONDARY
YALLA, LET’S GO! STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE RECRUITMENT IN MENA
Recruitment in the Middle East can be quite a beast! To help you tame the beast, recruitment and admissions professionals from Canada, Italy, and the USA, with years of combined experience in the region, will provide their insights, tips and tricks on how to recruit efficiently and effectively. Members who are just starting out in the Middle East as well as seasoned veterans will benefit from these strategies to enhance outreach activities and maximize time on the ground.
- Rasha Abu Ramadan, Western University
- Barbara Prevosti, Bocconi University
- Jameela Abdullah, Kent State University
Session 3 - STREAM: 1:15 - 2:15 PM
SECONDARY SCHOOL
This session will discuss how to guide your students to find the right higher education institution for them. Among the topics discussed will be deconstructing university rankings, having tough conversations with parents, and understanding match v. fit. This session will help anyone advising young people from the MENA region about how to navigate their college search process, including university representatives and secondary school counselors.
- Melissa Deschamps, EducationUSA
- Aaron Jones, American School of Doha
- Phil Abraham, American Community School Abu Dhabi
- Hanan Abed, NYU Abu Dhabi
POST-SECONDARY
IS MY STUDENT ADMISSIBLE? UNDERSTANDING THE VARIOUS CURRICULA IN MENA
A typical high school senior in the MENA can be far from typical when it comes to the wide variety of courses, education systems, local and international curricula they complete by the time they are ready to apply to university abroad. This session will provide an understanding of how a student’s transcript or curricular background may present from an international school system in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. It will also look at some challenges or barriers to admissibility and how universities can evaluate students in order to facilitate admissions.
- Izzet Sengel, American School of Doha
- Amy Kurian, GEMS Wellington Academy, Dubai
- Brett Bowring, the KAUST School, Saudi Arabia
SESSION 4 - CHOICE: 3:00-4:00 PM
OPTION ONE: SUPPORTING FEMALE STUDENTS IN MENA
This session will discuss the gender gap among students who study abroad from the MENA region and the challenges to recruiting female students. The session will offer cultural perspectives and strategies to help university representatives in their outreach efforts to increase the number of female students who apply and study abroad, and to better serve and support them once on our campuses.
- Dan Marschner, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
- Dareen Tawil, American United School, Kuwait
- Jacqueline L. Nottingham, Academic Bridge Program, Qatar Foundation
In this session, the panelists will help the audience understand the comprehensive offerings of a college, employability, career trends, and career support. They will also present novel ideas of engagement such as scrapping the traditional university fairs so that we can transform the traditional college lineup experience into an interactive adventure which will build invaluable relationships with admissions counselors and pave the way for an extraordinary college application journey. Other ideas will be introduced, such as hosting alumni panels and connecting current students with former graduates who may be able to offer advice or mentorship.
- Buket Ayaz, Nord Anglia School, Dubai
- Moustafa Ezz, Huron University
- Carmen Page, Raha International School, Abu Dhabi
Session Downloads: Day 3
Session 6 - ALL: 8:45 - 9:45 AM
OPTION ONE: STUDENT PANEL (NO SLIDES)
Students from four Education City universities share their diverse personal stories, paths to higher education and reflections on life as college students and young professionals in MENA.
OPTION TWO: 1-2-3, PLEASE ADMIT ME: AN OVERVIEW OF CURRENT PRACTICES IN UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
This session will deliver a snapshot of the current landscape in university admissions for students from the MENA region, from four countries’ perspectives. What would a typical student need to gain admission to a Canadian, American, British, or Dutch university? What are some changes or trends with respect to both qualitative and quantitative entry requirements, submission of documents, standardized testing, English proficiency, and offer timelines? Seasoned recruitment and admissions professionals will discuss best practices from their institutional and national perspectives.
- Chris Vickers, Dalhousie University, Canada
- Denise Nijhuis, University College Roosevelt, Netherlands
- Serey Teleke, University of California, Los Angeles, United States
- Jess Bower, University of Bath, UK
Session 7 - CHOICE: 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
OPTION ONE: COUNSELING STUDENTS THROUGH UNCERTAINTY AND UNSTABLE COUNTRIES
In countries experiencing uncertainty, political and economic instability, and disrupted educational systems, advising high school students through the college search and application process presents unique challenges. We will discuss the impact of this instability on students' aspirations, access to resources, and educational opportunities, and offer guidance to support and empower students to pursue their college dreams in the face of challenging circumstances.
- Hicham Kharroub, EducationUSA, Lebanon
- Hasnaa Touita, US Mission to Morocco
Working with students in the GCC provides a unique juxtaposition of cultures, languages, communities, and curriculum; however, how does one successfully engage with all of these communities and still support/attract students as they plan for their futures? This session will examine pedagogy from a school counselor, governmental organization, and international university to discuss ways of engagement, strategies for success, and tips about working in this wonderful region of the world.
- Kevin Dupont, Deira International School
- Reem Ahmadi, Ibn Khuldoon National School
- Jacqueline L. Nottingham, Academic Bridge Program, Qatar Foundation
Session 8 - ALL: 1:15 - 2:15 PM
TRANSITIONS AND MENTORSHIP WORKSHOP
Members will conclude the Institute experience with an interactive mentorship workshop to synthesize their gained knowledge, strengthen connections, and apply newly learned strategies and insights to their respective professional roles.
- Michelle Chow-Liu, Western Academy of Beijing, International ACAC President
- Isthier Chaudhury, Swarthmore College