Student Leaders Depart for Summer Program
June 23, 2009

Muscat -- The U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs office hosted a pre-departure orientation on June 22 for seven Omani college students who will be participating in the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders. The exchange program will take them to the United States for six weeks beginning June 28 to understand more about American culture and learn leadership skills. 

 “I’m very excited about the program,” said Moosa Mohamed, one of the students attending this year’s summer session.

This particular MEPI student program is designed to foster student leadership in Oman through exchange programs with various American colleges. The first five weeks of the program is academic and introduces students to the academic structure in the U.S.

The students will interact with Americans and students of other nationalities to share ideas about leadership and projects they can implement when they return to their home institutions.

The last week of the program gives the MEPI scholars an opportunity to visit a few other cities in the U.S.

The students come from different colleges in Oman, such as Sohar University and Modern College of Business Studies in Muscat. Though their travels will start in Washington, DC, each student is placed in a different college in states like Delaware, Illinois, Rhode Island, and even Montana.

“I like their style,” said Noura Al Ajmi, when asked why was looking forward to go to the U.S., “I want to learn how Americans live, and it will give me the opportunity to communicate with people from different cultures.”

During the briefing, the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, L. Victor Hurtado, stopped in to chat with the students about their upcoming travel.

Muntadhar Al Lawati, a MEPI alumnus from 2006, told the students to be open to the experience and enjoy their time there. He advised them on what to expect, and how they can use what they learn when they return to Oman. “I was a changed person after coming back from this program,” he said.