The Exchange is an effort by Mideastwire.com and its partners to promote understanding and academic enrichment through a variety of city-focused conferences in and around the Middle East. During their stay, typically lasting from one to two weeks, students and professionals from around the world engage directly with some of the leading intellectuals, academics and political leaders in the country - representing all sides.
The First Exchange was launched in June 2008 in Beirut, Lebanon. Now, several years on, over 270 students from forty-four different countries have participated, with many going on to work as diplomats in their home countries, for NGOs serving the region, and as social entrepreneurs.
The Tenth Beirut Exchange will be held 17-24 November 2012;
The Second Tunis Exchange will be held 3-13 January 2013;
The Second Turkey Exchange will be held 14-24 January 2013.
To request an application for any of the above Exchanges, email info@mideastwire.com.
Click here to view a previous programs for each Exchange.
Note that tuition discounts, beyond standard financial aid allocations for those applicants with demonstrated need, are available for alumni of previous Exchange programs as well as students who wish to attend more than one Exchange. For more information, please email info@mideastwire.com
THE TENTH BEIRUT EXCHANGE (17-24 November 2012)
Application deadline October 20 2012
Limited spaces available/Rolling acceptance
The Beirut Exchange program rests on two tracks:
- Academic - Participants will attend a series of lectures and colloquia led by leading professors and public intellectuals. Topics will include: The Arab Uprisings; The Special Tribunal for Lebanon; The United Nations as peacekeeper and mediator; Engaging political Islam; Asymmetrical conflict: the July 2006 Lebanon war; Human Rights in the Middle East and other topics.
- Dialogue with Leaders - Participants will have the opportunity to meet, listen, and engage leading social, political and economic leaders from across the spectrum in Lebanon - with a particular (though not exclusive) emphasis on exposure to Islamist and opposition currents.
Costs
Tuition: $1,250; Partial financial aid is available for those students and individuals that can demonstrate need. Tuition is 50% refundable up to two weeks before the program commences should the situation in Lebanon warrant a cancellation by Mideastwire.com.
Accommodation: Recommended accommodation is at the Cavalier Hotel in Hamra, Beirut. Room rates vary depending on arrangements, but generally fall within the range of $300-$400 for the duration of the program (including breakfast). Alternative accommodation is available upon request, although most lectures will be held in the conference room of the Cavalier Hotel and across the street at our partner organization Altcity.me
Airfare: $600, approximate from the European Union.
THE SECOND TUNIS EXCHANGE (3-13 January 2013)
Application deadline 15 November 2012
Limited spaces available/Rolling acceptance
Mideastwire.com is pleased to announce the Second Tunis Exchange in partnership with CEMAT, the overseas research center of the American Institute for Maghrib Studies based in Tunis, Institut Tunis Dauphine and Tunisia Live. Like our other Exchanges, the ten-day program 3-13 January 2013 will engage students from around the world in a multifaceted discussion of some of the key issues facing Tunisia and the wider region.
The Tunis Exchange program rests on two tracks:
- Academic - Participants will attend a series of lectures led by leading professors and public intellectuals in Tunisia. Topics will include: Economic challenges facing Tunisia and North Africa; Political Islam and electoral politics; The status of women in Tunisia and the MENA region; Media coverage of the Arab revolts; Trade union politics in the post Ben Ali era; Emerging security challenges in the MENA region, as well as a range of other topics.
- Dialogue with Leaders - Participants will have the opportunity to meet, listen, and engage leading social, political, religious and economic leaders from across the spectrum in Tunisia.
Program Format: The Tunis Exchange will be held over ten days in total. Students are expected to stay at the hotel Le Majestic, unless permission for offsite stay at alternative hotels or accommodations is requested, since most meetings will take place in the conference room at Le Majestic. Off-site meetings will entail bus travel as a group in and around Tunis. At least three days of the program will entail travel to other cities and regions in Tunisia for meetings with local activists, intellectuals, academics and political/religious leaders, including in Sidi Bouzid, Sfax and Gafsa.
Costs
Tuition: $1,500; Partial financial aid is available for those students and individuals that can demonstrate need.
Accommodation: Seven nights of the program will be spent at Hotel Le Majestic in downtown Tunis, while at least three nights will be spent at hotels outside of Tunis. Room rates vary depending on arrangements, but generally fall within the range of $450-$500 total for a shared double room during the duration of the program (breakfast is included). Alternative accommodation, including in a single room, is available upon request.
Airfare: $450, approximate from the European Union.
THE SECOND TURKEY EXCHANGE (14-24 January 2013)
Application deadline 15 November 2012
Limited spaces available/Rolling acceptance
Mideastwire.com and politicsinthefield.com are pleased to announce the Second Turkey Exchange. The ten-day program (14-24 January) will be held over eight days in Istanbul and two days in Ankara, immersing students and professionals from around the world in some of the key issues facing Turkey and the surrounding region.
The Turkey Exchange rests on two tracks:
- Academic - Participants will attend a series of seminars led by leading Turkish academics, journalists, businesspeople, and public intellectuals. Topics will include: Turkey and the Syrian Revolution; The future of Turkey-EU and Turkey-US relations; Turkey`s role in the Middle East Peace process; Economic reform challenges now and on the horizon; Pipeline politics and Turkey`s energy role; The AKP party in domestic and regional relations; The Kurdish question; Terrorism and the PKK; Turkey`s constitution and justice system; Women in Turkey; Hydro-politics and Turkish foreign policy, among other topics.
- Dialogue with Leaders - Participants will have the opportunity to meet and engage social, political and economic leaders from across the spectrum in Turkey.
Program Format: The first six days as well as the final two days of the Exchange will take place at the Madison Hotel in downtown Istanbul, although there will be several bus trips to meetings arranged outside the conference center. Two days of the Exchange will be spent in the capital, Ankara, where a series of meetings with political and diplomatic leaders will be convened.
Costs
Tuition: $1,500. Partial financial aid is available for those students and professionals that can demonstrate need, including being a current recipient of financial aid.
Hotel: $120 for Ankara (shared double room, two nights) @ the Ickale Hotel http://www.hotelickale.com/tr/. $480 for Istanbul (shared double room, eight nights) @ the Madison Hotel http://www.madison.com.tr/
Airfare: $400 approximately from the EU.
About the Organization
Mideastwire.com is a Beirut-based media monitoring company that translates the Arabic and Persian language media into English.
Click here to visit the Exchange Facebook page.