The University of the Middle East Project is proud to announce the successful implementation of the tenth annual Teacher Education Institute (TEI)!

This year's TEI participants were a dynamic and dedicated group of 25 teachers from eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Their demonstration of a deep commitment to their vocations as educators and to their students’ learning and growth, led to their selection from a pool of over 800 applicants.

The 2009 TEI was hosted by Simmons College, which provided a rich learning environment and resources that greatly contributed to participants' learning.

The first week of this year’s TEI was quite eventful. Dr. Farouk El Baz, prominent NASA Scientist, Research Professor and Director of the Center for Remote Sensing at Boston University, as well as a member of UME’s Board of Directors, had dinner with the 2009 TEI participants, who were delighted by his impromptu visit.

Visit from Dr. Farouk El Baz, UME Board Member

Also during the first week, Mr. Tom Johnston, Senior Program Officer of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, spent several days in Boston with TEI participants and staff, engaging in a lively dialogue about the participants’ impressions of the U.S., and exchanging ideas around education and development in the MENA region.

Tom Johnston, right, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Every year, UME organizes a scavenger hunt that takes the participants through Boston’s landmarks and historical sites. Divided in four multi-national groups, the 2009 TEI participants braved the rain to ultimately do a fantastic job at finishing all the assigned tasks and familiarizing themselves with some of Boston’s most renowned corners.

Discovering Boston through a Scavenger Hunt

One of the Teacher Education Institute’s yearly traditions is a luncheon hosted by UME friends and supporters, Bob Frank and Jennifer Coplon, at their Boston residence. After a MyTown tour of the South End guided by Boston Public School students, participants gathered at Jennifer and Bob’s for a delicious meal and exciting exchange among friends and colleagues from throughout the U.S. and MENA.

Lunch hosted at the home of Professors Bob Frank and Jennifer Coplon

Over the course of the month-long intellectual, cultural and professional exchange program, through hands-on class sessions, research projects and visits to cultural and educational sites, participants developed innovative teaching methodologies and acquired new tools and pedagogies to actively engage their students in the learning process, enhance critical and creative thinking, and foster student involvement in their local and global communities.

TEI faculty members were leading scholars and practitioners drawn from universities and institutions in the northeastern United States, with backgrounds from throughout the world.

Visit to the University of the Massachusetts at Dartmouth

Class on Promoting Cultural Competency in Teacher Leaders

Visit to Brigham & Women's Dept. of Emergency Medecine & Health

Visit to Charter High School, Academy of the Pacific Rim

The UME annual Summer Celebration was a wonderful evening of dynamic exchange among TEI participants, UME supporters, friends, staff, Board members and faculty, as well as distinguished invited guests. The President of AMIDEAST, Ambassador Theodore Kattouf and Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone were this year’s keynote speakers. During his speech, Mayor Curtatone reiterated his excitement and commitment to the sister city partnership between the cities of Somerville and Tiznit which UME is actively orchestrating.

From right to left: Amb. Ted Kattouf (President of AMIDEAST), Janice Delory (Mayor Curtatone's Chief of Staff), Somverille Mayor Joe Curtatone, Hala Taweel (UME President) and Ray Matsumiya (UME Executive Director)

The 2009 Teacher Education Institute culminated in a remarkable Professional Development Conference. Multinational and multi-disciplinary groups of participants presented interactive educational workshops that they developed throughout the Institute, with the support of TEI core faculty members Yamila Hussein and Liz Gruenfeld. Themes ranged from addressing violence in the classroom to pedagogies for promoting active learning in schools.

Professional Development Conference Presentation

Professional Development Conference Closing Picture

 

This program was primarily funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the United States Department of State.