The Fiscal Year for ASAI starts on July 1^st and ends on June 30^th and has been the same for every year.  The following programs are planned for this fiscal year:

• Interest Free Loans:  ASAI plans to provide limited number of interest free loans to qualified candidates for  Masters and Doctorate studies. More information follows in section on “Requirements for Qualifications.”
   

• Fund Raising: In order for ASAI to sustain fund raising initiatives plans to  follow rigorous planning, sound strategy, and build on previous experience, network, and human and financial resources.  Plans are made to visit the several Arab States, as well as explore possible projects financed by Arab, European, American, Canadian and other institutions for possible funding to enhance the scholarship grants' opportunities:
   

  • Graduates who received financial assistance from ASAI are instrumental human resource for fund raising by two means:

    • Pay back their interest free loans on time

    • Make contacts to promote ASAI programs. Other venues will be explored, such as joint projects with International Agencies of group or individual countries. Old contributors are also encouraged to renew their support.
       

• Take positive, firm and supportive measures to ensure loan repayments of former graduates and those who are currently receiving financial aid. The objective this year will be increase collection by 20%. ASAI will employ every possible measure for that purpose.
   

• Explore possible endowments and steady contributions through the regional committees and former graduates who occupy senior positions in their respective countries.
   

• Ensure tax exemption status in the Arab countries where ASAI regional committees are established to facilitate contributions and the transfer of loan repayments.
  
  

• Financial Assistance to Universities in West Bank / Gaza Strip
  
  Due to the increasing need for academic as well as infrastructure development of Universities in West Bank and Gaza Strip, financial assistance  in the form of interest free loans is considered for the support of human resources development. MA & Ph.D. studies  in priority areas of specializations to enhance academic excellence

• Strengthening Relations with Academic and Research Institutions

  Over the years, ASAI has established professional relations with a number of reputed institutions with varying areas and fields of cooperation and exchange.

  We will continue to build up new relations that will positively contribute and reinforce the achievement of objectives.   Such institutions include: reputed universities, research institutes, fundraising agencies, leading NGOs in the State of Ohio, and international cooperation agencies like USAID, CIDA,  E.U., Union of Arab Universities and others.   The types of relations envisaged cover: cooperation on projects, acting on their behalf, exchange of publications, attending their meetings and joining as a member. 
   

• Follow up on Loan Repayment

  Since repayment of loans is one of the main sources of income, all possible means will be utilized to ensure the full payment of loans including legal intervention, incentives, and letters to those concerned.   At present, rate of collection is about $ 60,000 a year and is expected to increase by 20% each year.
   

• Training in Improving Management Skills

  Training the Trainers program, has proven to be necessary as well as timely and effective, although it does not entail income. However, the outputs and outcomes of training courses held during the past five years in West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Egypt and  Lebanon proved to be a valuable investment.  The training  programs were well organized and gave ASAI a new area of intervention in regards to enhancing the manpower development and empowerment of NGOs, GOs, Universities and (in part) the private sector. We believe that the training has provided key skills, knowledge and attitudes instrumental to the leaders of civil society institutions for improving the social and economic development schemes in their respective local and national communities.   

  ASAI will continue to support training programs for senior staff and decision makers involved in the promotion of civil society monetary support ranging between 50-75 thousand US Dollars for the current fiscal year, inclusive of all expenses.
   

• Increase Public Awareness of ASAI – Prelude to Fund Raising
  ASAI has been very active in creating public awareness about its activities in areas of loans, grants, training courses, as well as expressing views on higher education abroad.  Several means of communication were used such as auditor’s reports, newsletters, radio interviews, and press coverage especially in the Arabic language.  Further uses of these methods are being planned.