The Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES) at the University of Arizona (UA) is a Title VI National Resource Center supported by the International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) office of the U.S. Department of Education (www.ed.gov/ope/iegps). CMES was created in 1975 with federal and University support and has grown to include 117 members, 89 of whom are faculty. The Center supports and promotes Middle East language- and Middle East studies-related teaching and research throughout the University, and fosters understanding of the Middle East through an extensive program of outreach to schools and the wider community.
CMES provides undergraduate and graduate students with information and support for UA and other study abroad programs and funding opportunities. UA has formal links to universities and programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Syria, Turkey, the UAE, and Yemen. CMES regularly organizes scholarly conferences, workshops and a lecture series.
The Center is active in bringing Middle East studies to diverse audiences through well-attended public forums and cultural events. CMES offers annual for-credit workshops for K-12 educators, for whom it plans educational tours to the Middle East. The Center also organizes workshops on the Middle East for media, business, law enforcement, and federal, state, and local agencies.
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