“Change the world by changing the way you look at things."
— Suzan Sarees, MEPLI Fellow 2019
"As an instructional coach, I now realize the importance of empathy in my work with teachers."
— Hadi Basma, MEPLI Fellow 2019
“تجربة مميزة وفريدة
لقد تغيرت نظرتي إلى التعلم والتعليم.
أعود إلى بلدي بالكثير من الافكار القابلة للتنفيذ.”
Sarah Rahal, MEPLI Fellow 2019 —
Overview & Mission
The Middle East Professional Learning Initiative (MEPLI) is an initiative with Professional Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). Professional Education serves nearly 14,000 educators in almost 120 countries annually with transformative professional learning experiences. MEPLI supports teacher educators and system level leaders in developing practices, programs, and structures to help improve student opportunities for learning and achieving productive sustainable lives.
Recognizing the value of these opportunities and the enthusiasm of past participants from the Middle East, an alumnus of Harvard College and the Harvard Business School and his family made a generous gift to the School in 2016. This gift enabled Professional Education to collaborate with governmental and non-governmental entities alike to identify and support change-makers in the field of teacher education in the region. Thus began the Middle East Professional Learning Initiative (MEPLI).
Our Objectives
- Develop professional learning experiences that enhance educators’ knowledge of pedagogies that enhance students’ 21st century skills.
- Develop a cohort of teacher educators and their networks, with skills to facilitate and advance teaching 21st century skills.
- Support the capacity building of system-level leaders in the teacher development field.
- Support the development of case studies that are based on problems of practice in school leadership or teacher development in the Middle East.
Our Offerings
Middle East Professional Learning Initiative Fellowship (MEPLI) | Learn More
The MEPLI Fellowship aims to support educators committed to advancing teacher education systemically in the contexts in which they serve. Download a flyer to share with your colleagues.
*The selection process involves submission of an online application and participation in an interview. English proficiency is required.
Agile Thinking | Learn More
This course covers the fundamentals of Differentiated Instruction. A semester long course on this topic is also offered in English. Learn more about Differentiated Instruction.
*This course is offered in Arabic. The program will be delivered based on the request of 50+ participants. The date will be agreed upon with the participating organization.
Usable Knowledge | Learn More
This page offers relevant research for today's educators in Arabic.
Collaborating Organizations
MEPLI operates through collaboration with organizations in the region. A partial list of collaborating organizations is below.
- Queen Rania Teacher's Academy (QRTA)
- Teach for Lebanon (TFL)
- AMIDEAST
- Sonbola
- United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA)
- Khutwa/ Hani Al Qaddumi Scholarship Foundation
Faculty Advisors
- Fernando Reimers, Ford Foundation Professor of Practice in International Education, HGSE
- Sarah Dryden-Peterson, Associate Professor of Education, HGSE
- Katherine Merseth, Senior Lecturer on Education (semi retired), Teacher Education, HGSE