Yemen College of Middle Eastern Studies
Encyclopedia
The Yemen College of Middle Eastern Studies, commonly referred to as YCMES and formerly known as Yemen Language Center, is a private college
located in the historic
Old City of San‘a, Republic of Yemen
. The YCMES is located on the 26th of September St, close to the Yemeni Parliament building, and a five minute walk from Tahrir Square.
In 1993, the YLC expanded by founding the Yemen Center for Arab Studies, adding academic courses to those of language instruction. In 2006, to accommodate the increasing academic interest in Arabic and the Middle East, the Yemen Language Center and the Yemen Center for Arab Studies transitioned into the YCMES.
The YCMES is a project of president and founder Sabri Saleem, and Dr. Steve Caton, the honorary Dean of YCMES and Professor of Contemporary Arab Studies in the Anthropology Department at Harvard University. Dr. Caton has also directed Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard since 2004.
The school was established as a coeducation
al institution, and residences are shared by male and female alike, although they live on separate floors.
The educational programming of the YLC continues to provide Arabic instruction as the YCMES prepares for its inaugural semester in Fall 2008.
is a traditional Middle Eastern country located on the southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsula
. Compared to other Arabic-speaking countries, Yemen has one of the lowest-percentages of English speakers. This lack foreign language fluency by the native Yemenis, paired with the fact that the Arabic spoken in Yemen is conservative and close to the formal dialect
, provides a unique location for studying Arabic.
The Campus, Sanaa
The YCMES facilities are located on 26 September Street near Maydan Tahrir (Liberation Square). Maydan Tahrir is considered the transportation hub and commercial center of Sana’a, and is just a short walk from the Old City. The streets that meet in Tahrir are lined with hundreds of small shops selling a wide variety of goods, clothing stores, cafes and restaurants, street vendors, pharmacies, bookshops and banks. The main post office is located in Tahrir Square, as are the National Museum and Military Museum. With quick access to dubabs, buses and taxis in Tahrir, students are able to travel throughout the city very easily.
The college is situated between the Yemeni Parliament building and the Prime Minister’s office, making for a safe and quiet neighborhood within the city’s center. The area is famed for its gardens and located between the Old City and the old Jewish Quarter of al-Qa’a. Next to the Guest House lies the Imam Yahya’s old palace, now in ruins. The Yemen College of Middle Eastern Studies has avoided creating an isolated complex; instead, it has maintained separate buildings integrated into the surrounding neighborhood. Locals around the college have been used to international students for many years, allowing for natural interaction between students and neighbors.
The newest addition to the YCMES campus, the Main College Building is located next to the Prime Minister’s office. This is the largest site owned by the college, and includes a beautiful, green garden acting as the YCMES “quad.” The administrative part of the building contains offices for the president, deans, financial officers, program officers, and other administrators. Fully equipped, modern classrooms and shared offices for faculty members are also located on this campus. The site contains the newly renovated and expanding YCMES library, a snack shop, full wireless internet access, and most services students will need during their stay in Yemen.
Private university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
located in the historic
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
Old City of San‘a, Republic of Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
. The YCMES is located on the 26th of September St, close to the Yemeni Parliament building, and a five minute walk from Tahrir Square.
History
The Yemen College of Middle Eastern Studies was created from the standing buildings and reputation of the Yemen Language Center (YLC). The Yemen Language Center was founded in 1989 by Sabri Saleem, the former Associate Country Director for the US Peace Corps for twelve years.In 1993, the YLC expanded by founding the Yemen Center for Arab Studies, adding academic courses to those of language instruction. In 2006, to accommodate the increasing academic interest in Arabic and the Middle East, the Yemen Language Center and the Yemen Center for Arab Studies transitioned into the YCMES.
The YCMES is a project of president and founder Sabri Saleem, and Dr. Steve Caton, the honorary Dean of YCMES and Professor of Contemporary Arab Studies in the Anthropology Department at Harvard University. Dr. Caton has also directed Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard since 2004.
The school was established as a coeducation
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
al institution, and residences are shared by male and female alike, although they live on separate floors.
The educational programming of the YLC continues to provide Arabic instruction as the YCMES prepares for its inaugural semester in Fall 2008.
Location
YemenYemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
is a traditional Middle Eastern country located on the southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
. Compared to other Arabic-speaking countries, Yemen has one of the lowest-percentages of English speakers. This lack foreign language fluency by the native Yemenis, paired with the fact that the Arabic spoken in Yemen is conservative and close to the formal dialect
Literary Arabic
Modern Standard Arabic , Standard Arabic, or Literary Arabic is the standard and literary variety of Arabic used in writing and in most formal speech....
, provides a unique location for studying Arabic.
The Campus, Sanaa
The YCMES facilities are located on 26 September Street near Maydan Tahrir (Liberation Square). Maydan Tahrir is considered the transportation hub and commercial center of Sana’a, and is just a short walk from the Old City. The streets that meet in Tahrir are lined with hundreds of small shops selling a wide variety of goods, clothing stores, cafes and restaurants, street vendors, pharmacies, bookshops and banks. The main post office is located in Tahrir Square, as are the National Museum and Military Museum. With quick access to dubabs, buses and taxis in Tahrir, students are able to travel throughout the city very easily.
The college is situated between the Yemeni Parliament building and the Prime Minister’s office, making for a safe and quiet neighborhood within the city’s center. The area is famed for its gardens and located between the Old City and the old Jewish Quarter of al-Qa’a. Next to the Guest House lies the Imam Yahya’s old palace, now in ruins. The Yemen College of Middle Eastern Studies has avoided creating an isolated complex; instead, it has maintained separate buildings integrated into the surrounding neighborhood. Locals around the college have been used to international students for many years, allowing for natural interaction between students and neighbors.
Facilities
The YCMES owns three buildings used for housing. The 26th of September Dormitory, the largest, and the Guest House are located near the Main College Building, just a couple of minutes down the road on 26 September. The Bab al-Sabah dormitory offers students a more private residence in the Old City.The Markez: 26 September Dormitory
The six-story 26 September Dormitory is composed of two buildings connected by a small, enclosed bridge (referred to as the YCMES’ own “Shahara Bridge”). It contains over 30 dormitory rooms, accommodating up to 90 students in singles to quintuples. Shared bathrooms are on each floor as well as communal kitchens on the first and top floors. Quiet study rooms, common areas, and a computer lab with 24 hour high-speed internet access and word processing (in both Arabic & English) are found on the ground floor. A wireless network has been installed for students with laptops, with in-room connectivity. A small exercise gym has been recently installed and offers students a convenient location for working-out. The top floor on the larger building contains a traditional mafraj sitting area with satellite TV, and a large terraced roof that offers a spectacular view of the city and its surroundings. Laundry machines can be found on the roof of the smaller building.Bab Al-Sabah Dormitory
The Bab Al-Sabah dormitory is about a 10-minute walk from the Main College Building, located in the old Goldseller’s District on the edge of the Old City. A traditional Yemeni house from the outside, the inside has been completely modernized. The house contains ten rooms accommodating up to 25 students in singles and shared rooms. Most rooms have private bathrooms, and shared bathrooms are provided for those without. The top floor is a mafraj with satellite T.V. and a beautiful view of the Old City. From the mafraj, residents have access to a private, outdoor roof-terrace with an eating/sitting area. The bottom floor is a fully modern, shared kitchen and a dining area. A washing machine and a laundry line are providedGuest House
The Guest House is located just down the street from the 26th of September Dormitory and is used for housing professors, senior students, and other visitors. Three studio apartments have been added in this facility along with a mixture of single and shared rooms, some with private bathrooms and others with shared bathrooms. On the ground floor there is a shared kitchen and living room with satellite television and computers with internet hookup. Many guests choose to use the wireless connection available in-room or while sitting in the beautiful, private garden. As with all of our facilities the bathrooms and the kitchen are Western style and a washing machine is provided for residents to wash their clothes.Academic Facilities
College BuildingThe newest addition to the YCMES campus, the Main College Building is located next to the Prime Minister’s office. This is the largest site owned by the college, and includes a beautiful, green garden acting as the YCMES “quad.” The administrative part of the building contains offices for the president, deans, financial officers, program officers, and other administrators. Fully equipped, modern classrooms and shared offices for faculty members are also located on this campus. The site contains the newly renovated and expanding YCMES library, a snack shop, full wireless internet access, and most services students will need during their stay in Yemen.