FY12 Professional Fellows Program

Economic Empowerment through Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

sponsored by the U.S. Department of State is recruiting Israeli small business owners, private sector development specialists and business educators

Applications deadline: December 15, 2012 

Goals:

The main goal of this program is to expose entrepreneurs, small business owners, private sector development specialists

and business educators from the MENA region to best practices in innovation and small business growth in the United States.

Participants will increase their understanding of the links between entrepreneurial activity and free markets, as well as the

importance of transparency and accountability in business and government through first-hand experience in American small

businesses and entrepreneurship support organizations. 

Applicants:  

The program will focus specifically on young men and women who are entrepreneurs, small business owners, work for

entrepreneurship support organizations, either state run or non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or teach entrepreneurship at

either the high school or university level. To be eligible to participate in this program, you must be: 

• Fluent in English
• From one of the following eligible countries: Egypt, Libya, Israel, Palestinian Authority, and Tunisia
• Entrepreneurs or those directly involved in promoting entrepreneurship among young people. 

Expenses Paid:

The University of Michigan will pay for participant travel, food, lodging and local transportation

Location:

Ann Arbor, Michigan (3 weeks) – participants will be lodged in a local hotel

UM campus (1 day a week) – professional development training

Local industry/Organizations (4 days a week) – fellowship placements

Dearborn/Detroit/Ann Arbor community (evenings/weekends) – networking with business leaders, cultural events

Washington D.C. (1 week) – Department of State Professional Fellows Conference, Professional development and cultural events

Timing:

 Applications Due: December 15, 2012

Notification of Acceptance: By January 15, 2013

Program Dates: Session 1: April/May 2013 (4 weeks)

Session 2: October/November 2013 (4 weeks)

In-Region Follow Up Events: January/February 2014 May/June 2014

download application form (word doc)

For more information, please contact: Barbara Peitsch, 1 734 615 9372, bpeitsch@umich.edu