The Transformation of a Program
MRel to MTh in Middle Eastern Studies
“ABTS's ultimate goal is to serve the Arab Church by equipping potential theologians and intellectual leaders who can make a meaningful impact within their own context. The Master of Theology in Middle Eastern (ME) Studies program focuses on topics related to the Middle East, such as religion, history, politics, and economics, from a theological perspective. This program is crucial as it enables the church to comprehend its local context, ensuring that its ministry is integrated with and rooted in its Eastern context, rather than foreign to it.” Academic Dean, Walid Zailaa
The MTh in ME Studies is a result of one journey that God led us on. It had long been the desire of ABTS, especially within the purview of its once Institute of Middle East Studies, to develop an international program that trains leaders to be involved in the issues that affect the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. To achieve that, the MRel (Master of Religion in North African and Middle Eastern Studies) was launched in October 2012. This graduate program had been quite unique in its design, devised for students to acquire a solid academic foundation while giving them the hard skills needed to implement projects in our region.
The MRel was our only degree taught in English. With our mission focused on serving the Arab Church, all our other programs are taught in Arabic. However, we wanted the MRel to be an exception because of its international nature. Our strategy was to enroll students from both inside and outside the MENA region, knowing that this mixture will enrich the experience of both. Our hope was that enough interested Arab students would have the language qualifications to enroll in this program. This proved to be a challenge from the outset, which kept the enrolment numbers less than what we had hoped for.
The MTh in ME Studies is a result of one journey that God led us on. It had long been the desire of ABTS, especially within the purview of its once Institute of Middle East Studies, to develop an international program that trains leaders to be involved in the issues that affect the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. To achieve that, the MRel (Master of Religion in North African and Middle Eastern Studies) was launched in October 2012. This graduate program had been quite unique in its design, devised for students to acquire a solid academic foundation while giving them the hard skills needed to implement projects in our region.
The MRel was our only degree taught in English. With our mission focused on serving the Arab Church, all our other programs are taught in Arabic. However, we wanted the MRel to be an exception because of its international nature. Our strategy was to enroll students from both inside and outside the MENA region, knowing that this mixture will enrich the experience of both. Our hope was that enough interested Arab students would have the language qualifications to enroll in this program. This proved to be a challenge from the outset, which kept the enrolment numbers less than what we had hoped for.
MRel residency in classroom, 2024
MRel residency during cultural trip, 2024
At the ten-year mark of the MRel, we decided to conduct a complete assessment of the program. We already have a culture of assessment at ABTS. We believe in continuous improvement and in regularly evaluating our programs considering the changing realities around us. We started with an internal assessment, followed by an external one. We contracted Jessy Jaison, an international consultant and an expert in theological education. Jessy conducted a full review of the program after interviewing leadership, faculty, students and alumni, and submitted a report in which she affirmed the uniqueness and the value of the MRel as well as the challenges it is facing.
The assessment also took into consideration the recently launched research-based MTh in Biblical and Theological Studies. This is a second-degree in theology that is taught in Arabic. However, students need enough English comprehension to use English resources and listen to lectures in English without translation. But students are expected to write in Arabic. The question that came up in the assessment is whether this new MTh eliminates the need for the MRel or not.
The assessment also took into consideration the recently launched research-based MTh in Biblical and Theological Studies. This is a second-degree in theology that is taught in Arabic. However, students need enough English comprehension to use English resources and listen to lectures in English without translation. But students are expected to write in Arabic. The question that came up in the assessment is whether this new MTh eliminates the need for the MRel or not.
Jessy during presentation
This question was easy to answer. These are two distinct programs. One specializes in biblical and theological studies while the other specializes in contextual studies, although both are theological. One is a second degree in theology, requiring prerequisite theological background, while the other is a first degree in theology. The opportunity, then, is to find synergies between the two programs and to leverage the strengths of each one in benefit of the other.
Based on that, we ended up making significant changes to the MRel program and rebranded it to reflect all these changes. As of October 2024, the MRel degree will be called Master of Theology in Middle Eastern Studies.
First, we changed the language requirements to match that of the new MTh to make it more accessible to Arab students while still remaining accessible to non-Arabic speakers as well. We also incorporated more theology into the program, making it a solid option for students pursuing a degree in theology, while keeping its strength in contextual studies. The degree now specializes in Middle Eastern studies, rather than generic MENA studies, to better ground it in our context.
In addition, we changed the funding model of this program, also to increase its accessibility by Arab students. We also developed two options for the final project, a research-based option and a practice-based option, to make the degree desirable by both scholars and practitioners.
Currently, we are changing some elements of the curriculum, such as the six-month-long modules, while keeping the strong elements, such as the short residencies in Lebanon, so that the rhythm and schedule become more workable for the students. We also aligned the academic year with that of the MTh so that we can benefit from common components in the curriculum, such as the offering of elective courses.
Our desire is that God continues to use ABTS, our programs, our students, and our graduates, so that Christ is acknowledged as Lord in our region. In the words of our Graduate Program Lead Kees van der Knijff: “This is a long-term investment in the ministry of the Church in the region. At the same time, the program helps people from outside the Middle East to understand the region in a more profound way, enabling them to come alongside the Church in more helpful and fruitful ways.” May this be a reality for God’s glory.
Based on that, we ended up making significant changes to the MRel program and rebranded it to reflect all these changes. As of October 2024, the MRel degree will be called Master of Theology in Middle Eastern Studies.
First, we changed the language requirements to match that of the new MTh to make it more accessible to Arab students while still remaining accessible to non-Arabic speakers as well. We also incorporated more theology into the program, making it a solid option for students pursuing a degree in theology, while keeping its strength in contextual studies. The degree now specializes in Middle Eastern studies, rather than generic MENA studies, to better ground it in our context.
In addition, we changed the funding model of this program, also to increase its accessibility by Arab students. We also developed two options for the final project, a research-based option and a practice-based option, to make the degree desirable by both scholars and practitioners.
Currently, we are changing some elements of the curriculum, such as the six-month-long modules, while keeping the strong elements, such as the short residencies in Lebanon, so that the rhythm and schedule become more workable for the students. We also aligned the academic year with that of the MTh so that we can benefit from common components in the curriculum, such as the offering of elective courses.
Our desire is that God continues to use ABTS, our programs, our students, and our graduates, so that Christ is acknowledged as Lord in our region. In the words of our Graduate Program Lead Kees van der Knijff: “This is a long-term investment in the ministry of the Church in the region. At the same time, the program helps people from outside the Middle East to understand the region in a more profound way, enabling them to come alongside the Church in more helpful and fruitful ways.” May this be a reality for God’s glory.