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Nov212008
American education in the middle east---a diplomatic tool?
Friday, November 21, 2008 at 3:42PM
American style education in the Middle East may be a way to improve development and also assist U.S./Middle East relations, suggests David Arnold, President of the American University in Cairo.
The Brookings Institution discussion on “American Education in the Middle East: Smart Power for a New Era” encouraged the creation of American University branches in the Middle East, which have been popular expansion methods for several American Universities in the past decade.
Arnold believes using Liberal Arts education models in the Middle East will best prepare youths for the job market, which he believes is rapidly transitioning from the public sector to the private sector. Although higher education models in the Middle East have been heavily geared towards preparing students for work in government institutions in the past, Arnold believes changing to American models will make students more competitive in the international market and speed economic development.
The Brookings Institution discussion on “American Education in the Middle East: Smart Power for a New Era” encouraged the creation of American University branches in the Middle East, which have been popular expansion methods for several American Universities in the past decade.
Arnold believes using Liberal Arts education models in the Middle East will best prepare youths for the job market, which he believes is rapidly transitioning from the public sector to the private sector. Although higher education models in the Middle East have been heavily geared towards preparing students for work in government institutions in the past, Arnold believes changing to American models will make students more competitive in the international market and speed economic development.
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