Professional Development Initiative
The Professional Development Initiative (PDI) is an important success story in promoting capacity-building in the Arab world. On a competitive basis, Arab graduates of universities in the United States are selected semi-annually to participate in the PDI program. PDI Fellows have been placed in yearlong fellowships with companies across the United States, including such firms as AECOM, Boeing Company, DOW Chemical Company, GE, Intel, MetLife, Philadelphia International Medicine, Schlumberger, and others.
SAMPLE HOST COMPANIES
Promoting Knowledge Transfer
The PDI is designed to benefit U.S. host companies and Arab graduates of U.S. universities. It is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) opportunity for U.S. companies to support education and cross-cultural exchange with the purpose of establishing stronger commercial relations between the United States and the Arab world. U.S. companies tap into highly motivated Arab graduates who bring the latest academic knowledge, specialized training, international experience, and understanding of the Arab market to these American companies. PDI Fellows have an opportunity to gain valuable on-the-job experience in an American professional work environment, thereby laying groundwork for Arab – U.S. leadership development, economic growth, and productive job creation.
PDI Objectives
The PDI is designed to benefit U.S. host companies and Arab graduates of U.S. universities. It is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) opportunity for U.S. companies to support education and cross-cultural exchange with the purpose of establishing stronger commercial relations between the United States and the Arab world. U.S. companies tap into highly motivated Arab graduates who bring the latest academic knowledge, specialized training, international experience, and understanding of the Arab market to these American companies. PDI Fellows have an opportunity to gain valuable on-the-job experience in an American professional work environment, thereby laying groundwork for Arab – U.S. leadership development, economic growth, and productive job creation.
PDI Objectives
- To strengthen U.S.-Arab business and economic cooperation through cross-cultural exchange;
- To introduce select American companies to some of the best and the brightest Arab graduates in the United States and to expand these companies’ involvement in the Arab market through knowledge transfer and long-term partnership;
- To provide select Arab graduates with real-world experience and on-the-job-training in U.S. firms;
- To create an alumni network of Arab PDI Fellows who, upon their return home, will be positioned to serve as mentors for future Arab graduates of American colleges and universities.
