July 2-16/Application deadline May 1, 2011
Limited spaces available/Rolling acceptance
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In an effort to further its commitment to promoting dialogue and understanding, Mideastwire.com, in partnership with The Syria Report, is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for the second Damascus Exchange. The two-week program July 2-16 will engage students from around the world in a multifaceted discussion of some of the key issues facing Syria and the region.
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The Damascus Exchange program rests on three tracks:
Academic – Participants will attend a series of seminars led by leading academics and public intellectuals in Syria. Topics will include: Economic reform challenges; The evolving relationship between Syria and Turkey; Syria’s role in the Middle East peace process; Arab nationalism; Hydro-politics in the Levant; and, Doing business in Syria: Barriers, opportunities and practices, including several other topics.
Language – Participants will have the option of attending 20 hours of Arabic language instruction. Modules will be available at different levels.
Dialogue with Leaders – Participants will have the opportunity to meet, listen and engage political, economic and religious leaders in Syria.
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Program Format:
The period 9am to 11am (Sundays-Thursdays) will be taken up by small group Arabic instruction. From 11am to 1pm there will generally be a lunch break at the student’s discretion. From 1pm to 5pm – and often from 7pm to 9pm – the academic seminars will be held at the hotel where students will listen to presentations from speakers and engage in a moderated discussion on the specific topic. On some nights, optional leisure activities will be offered.
Weekends are broken into three parts: Friday mornings the entire group will board a bus and travel to meet with a prominent political/religious leader; a lunch break will ensue. In the afternoon, a second such meeting will take place. On Saturdays, the entire group will travel to different sites across Syria. All transportation costs are included in the tuition.
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Costs:
Tuition – $2,000; Partial financial aid is available for those students and individuals that can demonstrate need, including being a current recipient of financial aid. Note that this year, the Beirut and Damascus Exchange can be taken together at a discounted rate. The tuition for both programs, before financial aid, is set at $3,500, with one "break" week June 27-July 1 occurring at the student's discretion in either Syria or Lebanon.
Hotel – The conference will take place at the Fardoss Tower Hotel. Under Mideastwire.com’s group rate, shared double rooms are available for approximately $70 per night, per student, including all taxes and breakfast ($980 for the 14 nights of the program). Single rooms are available for approximately $130 per night. For the hotel website please visit, www.fardosstower.com
Airfare – Airfare rates vary depending on point of origin and the exact flight period. Note that July is the tourist high season in Syria so participants are advised to book their air travel as early as possible.
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Our Partner:
The Syria Report is the leading source of economic, business and financial information on Syria. The website features a large database of economic news, the only online directory of Syrian corporations, a weekly tenders list and an events section. For more information, please visit: http://www.syria-
Click here for a previous program.
Apply before May 1, 2011
To request a downloadable application and/or financial aid information, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
