Our Mission

The ultimate goal of the University of the Middle East Project is to create a system of interconnected educational centers promoting academic excellence, regional cooperation, development, and the values of equal human dignity, open inquiry and peace in the Middle East and North Africa.

In building the foundation to achieve this mission, UME offers summer institutes in vital areas, including teacher education, educational leadership, sustainable development, public policy and civil society. The curricula for the institutes and, ultimately, the graduate schools of education, reflect the values of the University of the Middle East Project:

Academic Excellence

Academic excellence is the basis of all programs, in every field and on every campus. Knowledge will be pursued as an instrument to build a better world community. UME emphasizes critical thinking, open inquiry, and creative approaches to learning. UME is interdisciplinary in structure, promoting the vanguard of research in a particular field, while simultaneously developing cross-disciplinary exchanges with other fields. Curiosity is encouraged and intellectual freedom is assured.

Diversity and Equal Access

UME actively seeks broad representation of students and faculty from all communities of the Middle East and North Africa. Drawing from a diverse pool of applicants, admission to UME is based solely on merit – not religion, race, nor socio-economic background. Students and faculty have the unique opportunity to exchange ideas in an academic setting where interaction is a daily occurrence. UME is committed to promoting mutual respect and appreciation of equal human dignity on the individual level.

Regional Cooperation

UME promotes the essential principles of regional interdependence among the communities of the Middle East and North Africa. Students are required to fulfill a core curriculum that conveys a collective sense of identity and creates a common link among the campuses of the University, each of which offering concentrations that address the most pressing educational needs for that particular community.