Yemen College of Middle Eastern Studies
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Established | 1989 |
| President | Sabri Saleem |
| Location | Sana'a, Yemen |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | ycmes.org |
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.
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 coeducational 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.
Yemen 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 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.
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.
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