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Varied Career Options Attract Politics Graduates From Arab Universities

By U.S. News & World Report

Politics and current affairs at the local, regional and international levels have always interested George Khoukaz. So it was a natural fit for him to attend the University of Balamand in Lebanon, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in political science and international affairs.

“Personally, I always believed that citizens should have the ability to play a role in their societies and stand against the imposed marginalization they were facing by their regimes,” says Khoukaz, who notes his degree will enable him to do so.

Khoukaz, from Syria, chose the school based on its program, small class sizes and faculty, whom he says promote active participation in discussions, critical thinking and communication skills. Sami A. Ofeish, chairperson of the department of political science and international affairs, says the university offers an undergraduate degree in political science and international affairs; a Master of Arts in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean politics; and a minor in political science and international affairs to undergraduate students outside the department.

[Find out the factors to consider when choosing a university in the Arab region.]

“I’m interested in tackling inequality at the international level, especially between the Middle East and the more advanced part of the world,” says Khoukaz. “I believe in the ability of Middle Eastern societies to develop socially, politically and economically and I think that tackling the causes and reasons that prevents development is a first step we need to do.”

Ofeish says undergrad and grad students can use their degrees in various fields. These include working in regional and international organizations; nongovernmental organizations at the local and national levels; media and journalism; foreign service; teaching; public relations; administrative and management positions in the private and public sectors; research centers; and consultancies.

[Explore how the tourism boom is a boon for Arab region students.]

The University of Wollongong in Dubai offers a Master of International Studies degree. Program director Feras Hamza calls the degree an “asset for anyone who is currently working, or would like to work for, a government or private organization that manages diplomatic or business relationships with other countries.”

He says students and grads work as members of government and civil service intergovernmental organizations, country or region heads, analysts, policy specialists in think tanks, diplomats, managers in the travel and tourism industry and academics.

“Our graduates have gone on to pursue executive director roles at NGOs and worked in positions at embassies around the world,” says Hamza.

Syrian Sami Salloum is currently pursuing a master’s in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern politics at the University of Balamand. He chose to study in Lebanon because he says in his country these kinds of majors “are very politicized by the state.”

[Learn what parents should weigh before sending a child to an overseas Arab region university.]

“Lebanon is not that hegemonic over the educational system, unlike all other Arab countries where criticizing the politics of the regimes and exposing the violations of human rights is totally forbidden,” says Salloum.

Salloum says he would like to work for the United Nations in a diplomatic role “to establish negotiations and open platforms of dialog between conflicting parties.” He says the crisis in Syria has only increased his interest in establishing peace and promoting stability in his homeland.

Private sector careers are a big draw for students of Mehran Kamrava, director of the Center for International and Regional Studies and professor at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar.

“This is particularly the case because of Qatar’s rapid economic development and its emergence over the last decade or so as one of the main centers of commerce, finance and infrastructural development in the Persian Gulf region and in the broader Middle East,” says Kamrava.

Former students have gone on to work for international banks such as HSBC, oil companies ExxonMobil and Shell, consulting firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers and many major local private or state-related firms and foundations such as the Qatar Foundation, Qatar Petroleum and telecommunications provider Ooredoo.

Georgetown’s Qatar branch offers a Bachelor of Science in foreign service in four majors: culture and politics, international economics, international history and international politics. It also offers three certificates in American studies; Arab and regional studies; and media and politics.

Basil Mahfouz, a 2011 grad from Lebanon, obtained a Bachelor of Science in foreign service, with a major in international politics.

“I was always passionate about international politics, having taken part in the Model United Nations and my school’s debating team,” says Mahfouz. “Qatar was also close to home not to mention full of opportunities. I figured, I’d study there, get my foot through the door as I seek my potential in Qatar.”

Mahfouz plans to enter the field of environmental policy and development and work with NGOs, companies or government associations to consult on effective and sustainable policies and strategies. He works as a manager at BLJ Worldwide, an international strategic consultancy firm, where he leads his own team. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in public administration or environmental management policy in Germany or the United Kingdom.

University of Balamand grad Khoukaz will begin his J.D. degree at the University of Missouri School of Law in late August. He plans to gain legal work experience there and join an international organization focused on the Middle East that addresses development.

“Kofi Annan once wrote that in order to help his own country and the African continent, he believed in the need to join some powerful international organizations and work from within these organizations,” says Khoukaz. “I’m also looking forward to (coming) back to the Middle East and (working) from within these societies.”

See the complete rankings of the Best Arab Region Universities.

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Varied Career Options Attract Politics Graduates From Arab Universities originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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