Oman and Jordan In Perspective

Oman and Jordan
In Perspective
Presented by:
Dr. Michael R. Lane
President, Emporia State University
May 16, 2011
Itinerary
• March 24 & 25 – Washington D.C.
• March 25 – 26 – Travel to Muscat, Oman
• March 27 – 30 – Visits in Oman
– U.S. Embassy & Ambassador’s Residence
(Ambassador Richard Schmierer)
– Oman Ministry of Higher Education
– Visit 5 colleges and universities
– Visit Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
• March 31 – Travel to Jordan
Itinerary - Continued
• April 1 – 6 – Visits in Jordan
– Residence of U.S. Ambassador Stephen
Beecroft
– Participate in the Columbia University Middle
East Research Center conference on research in
higher education
– Visit historical sites
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Petra
Madaba
Mount Nebo
Jordan River including the Baptism Site
Dead Sea
Itinerary - Continued
– Jordan Ministry of Higher Education, Minister
Wajih M. Owais, Ph.D.
– Executive Director of the U.S./Jordanian
Fulbright Commission
– Visited 6 colleges and universities
• April 8 – Return to Kansas City (27 hours)
Oman Overview
• 192,300 square
miles
• 3.37 million
residents
(approximately
580,000 foreign
nationals)
• Government –
Monarchy, Sultan
Qaboos Bin Sa’id
since 1970
• Religion – Ibadhi
Muslim
Oman Overview
• 1996 Sultan
Qaboos issued
“The Basic Law”
• 2000 he created
the “Elected State
Council” in addition
to the appointed
Council
• Recent changes
brought individuals
from State Council
into positions of
Minister (6)
Initial Orientation from U.S.
Embassy in Oman
Orientation
Mr. Dan Pattarini,
Assistant Public
Affairs Officer,
U.S. Embassy,
Muscat, Oman
Our Delegation
Oman
Ambassador Richard Schmierer,
U.S. Ambassador to Oman
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Inside the Grand Mosque
Panel Discussion at Sultan
Qaboos University
History of Basic Education in Oman
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Year
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
# of Schools
3
373
779
993
1,047
# of students
909 (all male)
106,000
355,986
554,000
540,000 (50.9%
male)
Visiting Omani Ancient City
Chancellor Ahmed Khaflan Al-Rawahi
speaks at panel discussion
Nizwa Fort
The Terrain
The Hashemite Kingdom
of Jordan
• A small country of
34,495 square
miles
• 6.5 million
residents
• Government –
Monarchy, King
Abdullah II
(Appointed Senate
and Elected
“lower house”)
• Religion – 92%
Sunni Muslim; 6%
Christian
Walking into Petra
Rock formation into Petra
Rock formation into Petra
The Treasury
Camels work in the Historic Site
Dwellings carved
into the mountain
More of Petra
Floor of Byzantine Church
Tombs
Madaba
St. George Church – map of the
Holy Land
Segment of the actual floor
Madaba - Continued
Mosaic Tile Art
My Purchase
Mount Nebo
On a clear day you can see…
Jordan River
Site of Jesus’ Baptism
A stone’s throw from Israel
A narrow border
Ambassador Stephen Beecroft,
U.S. Ambassador to Jordan
Jordan University of Science and
Technology (JUST)
JUST Veterinary School
Anatomy Lab
Yarmouk University
Our delegation members receive
Yarmouk University Pins
Amman Jordan by Day –
Original part of the City
Institute of Traditional Islamic Art
and Architecture
Student Art
Artist at work
Traditional Black Dress
Red Embroidery is Tribal
Our Delegation
with Minister Dr. Owais
Questions