Market Brief for Egypt

Egypt boasts a population of more than 71 million and is giving special emphasis at present to upgrading the quality of education at all levels. There are 18 million school students in Egypt, of which some 16.5 million are enrolled in government schools and 1.5 million in private schools. The student population is expected to increase to 18.5 million by 2006. The number of university students in 2004 increased to 1.8 million, up from 1.3 million in 2001. There are some 435 government and private universities, faculties, and institutes in Egypt, and in 2004, some 400,000 students graduated from Egyptian universities.

The Ministry of Higher Education sends many Egyptian university staff overseas every year on scholarship to obtain advanced degrees. Their budget is estimated at $55 million per year for this purpose. The U.S. has the lion’s share of Egyptian students studying overseas (50%), followed by the U.K. (20%), Canada (15%), Germany (10%), and France (5%).

America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST) has served Egypt since 1956. AMIDEAST is a private, non-profit organization, founded in 1951, headquartered in Washington, DC, with a network of offices in Egypt and ten other Middle Eastern countries. It plays a leading role in promoting U.S. education services; its field offices receive 70,000 student visits and inquiries on U.S. education each year. It also organizes an annual “American College Fair” in both Cairo and Alexandria, which allows U.S. educational institutions to link with a wide variety of Egyptian and international students who are interested in undergraduate and graduate studies in the U.S. (approximate ratio 65% graduates, and 35% undergraduates). In collaboration with Amideast’s American College Fairs 2004, the Commercial Service (CS) in Egypt hosted two highly successful Study USA events in both Cairo and Alexandria on October 13 and 14. Amideast reports that some 400 students visited the fair in Cairo, while the event in Alexandria attracted about 300. This fair received very positive feedback from U.S. college and university representatives.

The number of Egyptian students enrolled in U.S. universities increased from 900 in 1999 to 1035 in 2000, 2255 in 2001, and 2409 in 2002. For 2003/2004 the figures decreased slightly. Last year, Egyptian students paid some $45 million for tuition fees in the U.S. They focus primarily on graduate and undergraduate programs in the fields of business administration and economics (especially MBA programs in finance, marketing and international business), engineering, computer science, biotechnology, biochemistry, genetics, sociology, literature, medicine, pharmacology, dentistry, and education. Amideast reports that all U.S. educational entities are welcome in the market including community colleges, especially if they offer scholarships and financial assistance.

For additional information please contact Sr. Commercial Specialist John Abdelnour, Tel: +2(03) 487-6330, Fax: +2(03) 486-9199, Email: John.Abdelnour@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov

Market Brief for Israel

Israeli students represent a distinct opportunity for American suppliers of accredited post-secondary educational services. In 2003-4 there were 3,474 Israeli students studying in the United States and in 2004 more than 25,000 Israelis requested information about studying in the United States. Best prospects are for accredited U.S. educational institutions that offer a degree integrated with practical work experience.

Student Demographics and Recruiting Israel has a population of 6.8 million and boasts one of the highest per capita rates of university graduates in the world. The average first year undergraduate Jewish student tends to be older, post army, 21-22 years old. He/she may be married and working full time while going to school. 80% of the target audience interested in studying in the U.S is unreachable through local high schools, but rather through educational fairs, advertising, special outreach presentations at local universities and organizations such as the United States-Israel Education Fund. The other 20%, mainly Christian and Moslem high school students, are not required to do army service and therefore may be targeted directly at the high school level.

Matriculation Exams In Israel, the matriculation certificate (Bagrut) is awarded to every high-school graduate who successfully fulfills all the educational and legal requirements of the Ministry of Education. The certificate is awarded by the examination board, which is responsible for holding the external state examinations, and by the schools. 44% of recipients continue undergraduate studies.

Market Background and Characteristics In the academic year currently ending, the student body and university degree takers in Israel numbered 200,145. Of that number, 151,486 students, representing 75.7% of the entire student body, were undergraduates. Post-graduate students taking masters’ degrees numbered 40,715, or 20.3% of the student body. PhD students numbered 7,944, or 4% of the student body. The Council of Higher Education accredits all new institutions and programs and authorizes them to award academic degrees. The growing number of entering BA students has changed the profile of Israeli higher education. The growth in the student population has led to the establishment of new colleges to meet the demand of qualified students. These colleges are accredited and must offer the same quality of education as the BA's taught in the local universities. Undergraduate students are entering these institutions in ever-increasing numbers (42% of all undergraduate students in 2004), thereby allowing the seven universities to focus more on graduate and research level studies. Today, institutions of higher education in Israel include 8 universities, 8 regional colleges associated with universities, 23 other regional colleges, 22 teacher training colleges, 12 institutions that offer a diploma recognized by the Ministry of Education, 11 art schools, and 59 technological colleges. In 2003, revenues of the top 20 local universities and community colleges exceeded $2 billion.

U.S. Special Scholarship Programs Almost all undergraduate students who go to study in the United States pay their own way. However several graduate and postgraduate scholarship programs are available to Israelis. They include the International Visitors Program (IVP), the Fulbright Scholarship Fund (FSF), the Ford Foundation Fellowship Program and the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program (HHFP). The (IVP) program is funded by the Department of State and managed by the Public Diplomacy (PD) section at the American Embassy in Tel Aviv.

The United States-Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF), an American education NGO, administers the Fulbright exchange program between the United States and Israel in addition to a wide range of other programs. Grants are awarded to outstanding graduate and post-doctoral candidates as well as to researchers and professionals. For more information about USIEF and its programs, please visit http://www.fulbright.org.il

Preferred Specializations Israeli undergraduate students typically apply for law, psychology, medicine, veterinary medicine, engineering and fields that are not offered as BA's in Israel such as hotel administration, advertising, art and therapy. Short-term or non-degree study includes fields such as English language, culinary arts, sound engineering, jazz or acting, architecture and institutions offering sports scholarships. Popular majors include: law, clinical psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, MBA, culinary arts, film, music, video editing, advertising, East Asian studies, international relations, computer sciences, architecture, social work, mass communications, pre-med, and life sciences. Increasingly popular are ecology, environmental sciences, make up artistry, image consulting, drug and substance abuse counseling, and various expressive therapies.

Israelis Like to Study in the USA Israeli students value U.S higher education institutions because of the high standard of education they offer, the wide choice of specializations and the experience of living in the United States. Cultural and family ties also play an important part. Typically Israeli students apply to universities situated in cities with large Jewish communities where they can be close to family and friends. Israeli students are interested in American undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, high school, short-term study, non-degree, and correspondence study programs. However graduate and undergraduate studies are the first two choices. According to 2003 statistics, a total of 25,000 Israelis requested information and showed interest in study programs in the States. In 2003-4 there were 3,474 Israeli students studying in the United States. (Breakdown: 1584 under-graduate, 1,674 graduate and 216 other).

Opportunities for American Providers of Higher Education Services Israelis pay, perhaps, even more attention today to secondary studies and relevant accreditation, be it degree, diploma or certificate as a result of the recent hi-tech financial crisis in which Israel was one of the hardest hit countries, and the ensuing limited job market. With this, and the current security situation in mind, Israelis are looking to broaden their horizons both professionally and personally and are investigating opportunities to study overseas. The numbers of students traveling to the States each year shows a steady increase and best prospects for U.S. educational facilities is to offer a degree integrated with practical work experience.

Embassy-sponsored Trade Promotion Opportunities The U.S. Commercial Service in cooperation with USIEF(Fulbright), is organizing a "Study USA" event, September 29-30,2005. The event will be staged with the full cooperation of the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and USIEF. State Department educational specialists and Commercial Specialists from the U.S. Commercial Service in Tel Aviv will actively promote and participate in the event.

U.S. Commercial Service in Israel: Our Website, Programs and Services The U.S Commercial Service, with offices in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, assists American companies to succeed in Israel by providing professional trade promotion, consultation, market research, and customized contact facilitation services. CS Israel offers the Gold Key Matching Service (GKS) for personalized business appointments, the International Partner Search (IPS) to help you find local partners and licensees, the International Company Profile (ICP) when you need to conduct due diligence on a potential Israeli partner, SCP and Customized Market Research as needed by the client. For complete up-to-date information on our events and services please visit our web site at: http://www.BuyUSA.gov/israel

For further information on the topic or trade promotion opportunities, please contact Alan Wielunski, Commercial Assistant, Tel: 972-3-519-7390, Fax: 972-3-510-7215, E-mail: alan.wielunski@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov

Market Brief for Jordan

Jordan has a population of more than 5.3 million and priority is given to education with a literacy rate of nearly 90%. English is systematically taught as a second language, and a large number of Jordanian students are proficient in English. There are 104,000 students enrolled in nine public universities (80,000 students) 14 private universities (30,000 students) and 21 community colleges (29,000 students). In 2001/2002 there were 179,335 secondary students in 1,167 secondary schools of which 91 were private.

For more than a decade, the US has been the most popular study-abroad destination outside of the Arab World for Jordanian students. Nearly half of current Jordanian cabinet ministers are graduates of US universities, as are a large number of the faculty of Jordan's universities. Jordanian students value US higher education because of the high standard of education US institutions offer. According to 2002-2003 records, a total of 2,173 Jordanian students are studying in the United States. These included 897 undergraduates (41.3%), 1,187 graduate students (54.6 %) and 89 "other" (4.1%). Jordanian students are most interested in studying engineering, business, computer sciences and medicine.

The Ministry of Higher Education, in cooperation with private institutions and government entities, sends many Jordanian students to overseas every year on scholarship to obtain advanced degrees (undergraduate, postgraduate and Doctorate). They include among others the Fullbright Scholarship Fund (FSF), and Royal Palace Scholarships. The U.S. has the largest share of Jordanian students studying overseas, followed by UK and Canada.

The Ministry of Education budget for 2003 allocated about $ 403 million to expand teaching of the English language and computer skills. The education budget expenditures include 35 projects divided among general education, higher education, universities, and vocational training. Educational reforms include increasing the number of kindergarten classes; development of e-learning capabilities; centralization of schools to provide quality coverage; clear and efficient criteria for assessing performance; reform of higher education; and Vocational training.

The "Jordan Education initiative" unveiled in 2003 supports two programs aimed at fundamentally redefining learning outcomes in education at all levels in the country. With over $120 million of World Bank support, Jordan's Education Reform for Knowledge Economy Program is the largest ever education reform program approved by the World Bank. This program is designed to improve public education through renewal of the national curriculum and learning assessment methods, improving facilities and equipment, and deploying new ways of learning through information and communications technology. The second program, the National Broadband Learning and

Research Network, will connect all of Jordan's schools, community colleges, universities, and community access centers, reaching 1.5 million learners by 2006.

The Commercial Service in Amman works closely with America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST) to maximize outreach to the local students. AMIDEAST is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC. It has a long and active history in Jordan since opening it first field office in Amman in 1958. In 2002-2003, more than 13,000 people visited the AMIDEAST field office in Jordan to request information about studying in the U.S., it supports all Jordanians in their pursuit of higher education and professional growth, providing a range of professional training, academic advising, testing services, and development programs in Jordan. It offers cultural exchange activities as well as information and advice on U.S. educational opportunities.

For additional information, please contact, Commercial Specialist Muna Farkouh, Tel 962-6-590-6057, Fax: 962-6-590-0146, E-mail: Muna.Farkouh@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov

Market Brief for Lebanon

Lebanon is a small country, just over 10,400 square kilometers in size, with a population estimated to be around 4,000,000 citizens. Since Lebanon has been a trading nation for centuries, its citizens have always had a strong proficiency in foreign languages, particularly French and English. Thus, the official language is Arabic but most people speak English and/or French. The literacy rate in Lebanon stands at 89 percent. It is among the highest in the region.

Lebanon has one of the best educational systems in the Middle East. There are currently about 50,000 students enrolled in private universities and 75,000 at the Lebanese University, a public institution established in 1953 with 47 branches across the country.

Lebanon has some 40 colleges and universities and numerous institutes of higher learning. The American University of Beirut (AUB) and St. Joseph University (USJ) are the oldest. Both were established in the 1800s. Other top universities include Beirut Arab, Lebanese American (LAU), Kaslik, Balamand, and Notre Dame (NDU). These universities offer a wide range of specializations. Recently, several colleges have opened liberal arts faculties that encompass areas such as communication, hospitality, computer software, and money and banking.

The cost of higher education varies considerably. At the Lebanese University, Lebanon's public university, students pay an annual registration fee of around $140. In American-style private universities that follow the credit system, such as AUB and LAU, students pay an annual fee of around $8,000. Other credit-based universities, such as NDU, American University for Science & Technology (AUST) and USJ, charge an annual fee of around $4,500.

America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST), a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC, opened in Lebanon in 1968. It serves over 50,000 visitors each year. It supports all Lebanese in their pursuit of higher education and professional growth, providing a range of professional training, academic advising, and development programs in Lebanon. It offers cultural exchange activities as well as information and advice on U.S. educational opportunities.

AMIDEAST was one of the few American organizations to continue its operations in Lebanon during the civil war. This presence helped preserve a vital link between Lebanese and Americans during difficult times.

Market Brief for Morocco

Morocco has a population of 30 million, of which 91,079 are currently enrolled in the baccalaureate level of secondary school. The high school system in Morocco still follows the French model and students in the 10th grade have to major in one of the following areas: Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Math and Physics, Economics and Technical Sciences. By the time they graduate, they are fluent in Arabic and French and have an intermediate level in a third language, usually English, Spanish or German.

In Morocco, there are 14 tuition-free state universities scattered around the country, which have most of their curriculum in French, except for schools teaching languages or theology. Al Akhawayn University is the only English speaking state university with an American educational system. In addition, 120 private universities help absorb most of the baccalaureate degree holders that were denied access to the public universities. Admission to state universities is based on the grades of a nationwide centralized examination given at the end of the 11th and 12th grades, plus special schools examination.

There are 277,428 students enrolled in state universities in which major areas of studies include:

• Law, economics, social sciences and business: 42%
• Literature, translation and education: 34%
• Engineering and technical sciences: 17%

Students wishing to study abroad usually go to France because of language, career path, or availability of scholarships. Universities in Spain and Canada are also solicited for proximity or language reasons. However, there is a growing number of Moroccan high school students who are taking English and expect to be at the advanced level when they graduate. They usually aim to pursue a US degree because it is prestigious, assures a carrier, and/or allows specialization in a good quality environment. According to IIE (International Institute of Education), in year 2003/2004, 4341 Moroccan students registered in US universities, an increase of 113% over the year 2002/2003.

Most popular areas of studies in the US include:

• Business management, computer science, political science, economics, linguistics, arts and social science for the undergraduate level
• MBA, MSIS, engineering and law for graduate levels.

In Morocco, Amideast plays an advisory role in directing students to adequate US schools and assisting them with registration procedures. Amideast also administers admission tests that are required by US schools (TOFEL, GMAT, GRE, SAT…). They have offices in Rabat and Casablanca. In year 2002/2003, Amideast assisted 1296 Moroccan students to register in US undergraduate schools and 628 in graduate levels.

The Consular Service in the US Consulate in Casablanca supports students seeking any degree at a US educational institution (including community colleges), as long as the student demonstrate good knowledge of the program, adequate skills and could clearly explain his/her choices and objectives. Financial backing is also a requirement.

Market Brief for Turkey

In 2003, Turkey ranked number eight in terms of international students studying in American schools and colleges. More students from Turkey -- nearly 12,000 -- were in the United States than from any other European or predominantly Muslim country. The only countries that surpassed Turkey were Asian countries – China, India, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

In Turkey, admission to higher education is centralized and based on the nationwide examination administered by the Student Selection and Placement Center (OSYM). The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) given in the United States was used as a model for the Student Selection Examination test that has been used in university placement in Turkey since 1960. The test is basically in two steps consists of a verbal section and quantitative section. This takes place once every year in June. In 2004 almost two million students took the Student Selection Exam for the 2005 academic year. However, given the shortage of space in Turkish universities, only one-tenth of the students taking the exam will be able to enroll in Turkish universities. Students who are unable to enroll in a university in Turkey will be looking at the opportunities of studying abroad.

According to the Council of Higher Education (YOK), some 50,000 Turkish students annually receive university education abroad. It is estimated that of this number 13,489 students are studying for a bachelor's degree, 3,617 are studying for a master's degree, 2,103 students are pursuing doctorate degrees. The remaining number of students are enrolled in language schools; short-term certificate programs (from 1-9 months); and high schools.

Attendance at a typical public university in Turkey costs around $3,000 including room and board for an academic year. In contrast, private universities costs between $15,000 - $20,000.

Generally, majority of the Turkish students prefer the United States and Germany for a university education. France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Austria and Kazakhstan are the other popular destinations. Turkey is ranked 11th in the world for number of students receiving education abroad.

Most Popular Fields of Study:

1. Business administration and economics: 41 Percent (Especially MBS programs in finance, marketing and international business)
2. Engineering, computer science and other technical fields: 19 Percent
3. English as a Second language: 11 Percent
4. Short-term certificate programs and/or summer programs: 8 Percent (Mostly in business or ESL)
5. Social sciences, humanities and arts: 7 Percent (Mainly psychology, political sciences, architecture and law)
6. Medicine and other medical fields: 6 Percent (For the most part, advanced level residencies)
7. Natural and physical sciences: 4 Percent
8. Mass Communications: 3 Percent (Radio-TV)
9. Other fields: 1 Percent

For more information on the Turkish educational services sector, please contact: U.S. Commercial Service Inci Ciloglu, Commercial Assistant Istanbul, Turkey Tel: [90] (212) 251-1651 Fax: [90] (212) 252-2417 E-Mail: Inci.Ciloglu@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov or Ozge.Cirika@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov

Market Brief for the West Bank and Gaza

Summary Palestinian students represent a distinct opportunity for American suppliers of post-secondary educational services. In 2003, more than 7,000 Palestinian students in the West Bank and Gaza requested information about studying in the United States. In 2002, 38,411 Palestinian students graduated from 554 high schools.

Student Demographics 1. The West Bank and Gaza (WB/G) have a population of around 3.9 million and boast one of the highest per capita rates of university graduates in the Arab world. Palestinians have a long-standing tradition of spending generously on higher education, regarded as an asset. 38,411 students graduated from WB/G high schools in 2002. About 18,000 enrolled in local institutions for advanced studies. There are ten universities and twenty community colleges in WB/G. Enrollment in these schools reached 89,668 students in 2002. The Open University accounts for 29,845 students. In 1999, revenues of local universities and community colleges reached $45.1 million. During 2003, 7,235 Palestinians requested information from AMIDEAST and the U.S. Consulate Jerusalem about studying in the United States.

Opportunities for American Providers of Higher Education Services 2. There is an excellent niche opportunity for American universities, colleges and other educational organizations to capture a larger part of the Palestinian higher education services market. The opportunity is greatest in the Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jerusalem areas, where there are many private schools that graduate students with high English proficiency, prime candidates to continue higher education in the United States. Family incomes in these areas are the highest in the West Bank and Gaza (WB/G).

Market Background and Characteristics 3. Until local universities were established in WB/G in the early 1970’s, Palestinian students enrolled at universities in the United States, Lebanon, the U.K., Jordan and Eastern Europe. The early university graduates established themselves in the job markets in the Arab world, particularly in the Gulf States, since the early sixties and became role models for Palestinian high school graduates. In the past ten years, however, Jordan has become the primary choice for a large number of Palestinian students because of its proximity and the proliferation of Jordanian private universities. Tuition fees at these universities are high, comparable to, and in some cases higher than, those at some American universities.

U.S. Special Scholarship Programs 4. The vast majority of Palestinian undergraduate students who go to study in the United States pay their own way. However, several graduate and postgraduate scholarship programs are available to Palestinians. They include the Fulbright Scholarship Program (FSP), the Presidential Scholarship Fund (PSF) and the Ford Foundation’s International Fellowships Program (FFIFP).

5. AMIDEAST, an American education NGO based in Ramallah, runs the Fulbright Scholarship Program (FSP) and the Ford Foundation’s International Fellowship Program (FFIFP) programs. The Presidential Scholarship Fund (PSF) is another relevant program, funded by USAID that provides scholarships to Palestinian graduate students. The (PSF) is managed by the Academy for Educational Development (AED), which has a contract from USAID to run the program through 2007. The most active program is the Fulbright Scholarship Program, which has been running in WB/G since 1970.

Preferred Specializations 6. Palestinian undergraduate students select a wide range of specializations, but the greatest demand is for business administration, computer science and technology, pharmacology and the various engineering fields. Graduate students’ preferences also cover a wide range of majors, mainly business administration, chemistry, education and civil engineering.

Level of Interest in American Education 7. Palestinians in WB/G are interested in American undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, high school, short-term study, non-degree, and correspondence study programs, but graduate and undergraduate studies are the two most popular choices. According to 2003 AMIDEAST statistics, a total of 5,938 Palestinians requested information and showed interest in graduate studies, while 1,297 requests were made for information on undergraduate studies programs.

Matriculation Exams and the School System in WB/G 8. Out of a total of 554 high schools in the WB/G, 64 are private. In Ramallah, there are 10 private schools that operate on the American curriculum. Many Ramallah students are related to Palestinian immigrants living in the United States. Missionaries run many private schools in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, where great emphasis is placed on foreign language skills.

9. All public school students have to sit for the matriculation exam known as “Tawjihi” at the end of twelve years of schooling. The results of this exam are the sole criterion for getting accepted at a university and the choice of major in WB/G and Jordan. Private schools on the other hand offer students the choice of two curricula, the “Tawjihi” or the General Certificate of English (GCE). The (GCE) exam entitles passing students to be accepted at universities in the U.K. At the ten private schools in Ramallah that run the American curriculum, senior students sit for the (SAT) exam.

Why do Palestinian Students Study in the USA? 10. Palestinian students choose to study in the U.S. because of the quality of education, the wide choice of specializations and the experience of living in the United States. Family connections also play a major role, especially in the Ramallah area. It is estimated that around 60,000 Palestinian immigrants in the United States are related to residents of Ramallah and its environs. These immigrants have maintained strong family ties with their hometown, and the United States has become the natural choice for university education for many high school graduates in this city.

11. WB/G universities are limited in the scope of specializations currently offered. Studies have often been interrupted over the last four years because of the current unrest in the area. Public universities in Jordan are subsidized by the government and have always been the first choice for Palestinian students. However, when a quota system was introduced at Jordanian universities, the number of eligible students from WB/G sharply decreased, and Palestinians started enrolling in the private universities that have mushroomed in Jordan in the last ten years. Private universities have more limited fields of specialization and do not always carry the same level of prestige considered important for landing the best good jobs after graduation. The “Tawjihi” scores also limit acceptance and the choice of major. Acceptance at universities in Lebanon and Egypt has also become more difficult because of travel restrictions currently imposed by those two countries on Palestinians coming from WB/G.

12. Palestinian high school graduates are proficient in English language and academically prepared to study in American universities. In WB/G, English language is a must, starting from first grade in all public and private schools. There are also several private schools that run American or English curricula, particularly in the cities of Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jerusalem. High school graduates of these schools are good candidates to enroll in American universities.

Israeli Arab Students’ Demographics 13. Another niche market that American institutions of higher learning can tap into is the Israeli-Arab sector. Statistics reveal that in 2002 the number of Israeli Arab students in the senior class was 13,019. Out of that, 11,640 sat for the Israeli Matriculation Certificate (Bagrut) exam and 6,843 passed. That same year 4,151 high school graduates became eligible to study at local universities after passing the unified Israeli university entrance exam known as (Psychometric). Also in 2002 the total number of schools in the Israeli Arab sector, (secondary and elementary), was 123 while the schools’ population stood at 56,514 students. Israeli-Arab students and their families will be encouraged to attend either the Tel Aviv or the Jerusalem events.