OXFORD, Miss. – On its name alone, it’s not hard to figure
out which academic fields are emphasized at the Jordan
University of Science and Technology. But thanks to a
burgeoning relationship with the University of Mississippi,
the Middle Eastern school is seeking to broaden the scope
of its offerings.
Leaders from JUST met with Ole Miss officials Tuesday in
Oxford to sign an agreement that creates exchange
opportunities for faculty, students and researchers.
“The most important thing about an agreement like this is
that it puts our two institutions together to exchange
experiences,” said Wajih M. Owais, president of JUST. “Both
our university and UM can benefit culturally,
scientifically and in other ways. I’m really proud to have
this agreement signed and we hope this will open many doors
for cooperation between the two universities.”
The agreement provides a framework for the two institutions
to work together, said Michael Metcalf, UM associate
provost for international affairs.
“Now we’re going to drill down into the details,” Metcalf
said. “Over the coming months and years, we’ll work
together to develop the specifics of the relationship.
We’re really thrilled about the prospects.”
The agreement is the latest development in an ongoing
relationship with the Middle Eastern nation, a relationship
established in 2006 when His Majesty King Abdullah II of
Jordan spoke on the Oxford campus.
Last June, UM was the only American university to
participate in the Joint Engineering Science and Technology
Conference, a four-day event in Amman. Two representatives
from JUST, located near Irbid, Jordan, visited UM after the
conference, said Kai-Fong Lee, dean of the UM engineering
school.
“During that visit, they talked to a number of people and
found that we are the right university to establish this
relationship with,” Lee said. “The School of Engineering
already has a number of graduate students from JUST, and
we’d really like for them to send us more. Our faculty
would also like to collaborate with their faculty in
research, particularly in the areas of water resources,
nano-engineering and wireless communications.”
However, as thrilled as Owais is with the scientific
aspects of the partnership, he said he is equally excited
about the opportunities for cultural exchange through
JUST’s Civil Society Development Center. Along with two of
his top aides, Owais met with Bob Haws, chair of the newly
formed Department of Public Policy Leadership, to discuss
exchange possibilities.
Those options include UM sending professors to teach
elective courses that aren’t offered at JUST. The addition
of humanities courses, such as history, music and
philosophy, will help round out the education JUST offers,
Owais said.
“We are really opening the way for our students to speak
out and give their points of view,” Owais said. “Our
students like to hear speakers from outside our campus and
nation. So we’d like to have lectures with speakers sharing
their experiences, and students can share their ideas.”
The partnership also offers unique learning opportunities
for UM faculty and students, Haws said.
“The fact that Dr. Owais, as president of JUST, came here
personally and is committed to such an arrangement is very
promising,” Haws said. “If we have a shot at taking faculty
and students to a part of the world where foreign policy
will be so critical in the coming years, it’s a tremendous
opportunity for our students.