July 16, 2007
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University has signed a formal Memorandum of Agreement with Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan. Yarmouk University, located in the northern part of the country, is one of the most respected universities in Jordan.
The two universities have many common goals and interests and anticipate that the exchange agreement will foster a variety of cooperative and mutually beneficial activities. Areas of activity are expected to include student and faculty exchanges, short-term study abroad for undergraduate and graduate students, collaborative research and scholarship, and faculty and staff development. The goal is to build a closer working relationship so that each partner may gain from the cooperation.
The areas of particular interest to WKU students and faculty will include Arabic language study and Islamic studies, but exchanges in the social sciences, engineering, humanities, business, and journalism, among others, will also be encouraged.
Dr. Barbara Burch, WKU’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Fahmi Ghazwi, Yarmouk’s Faculty of Arts Dean, negotiated the agreement during a series of meetings in early May. The agreement was then signed by the two university presidents, Dr. Gary Ransdell and Dr. Mohammed Subbarini.
Yarmouk University was founded in 1976 by a Royal Decree and has grown in both size and stature over the years. It has become a leading institution of higher learning, known for its dedication to service, its innovative approach to academic management and human resource development, and its relentless pursuit of excellence in all fields of research and instruction. As chartered, the University is a governmental institution that enjoys a considerable degree of autonomy.
WKU and Yarmouk first collaborated on building a community radio station in Jordan through The International Journalism and Media Management Training (IJMMT) program at WKU. The IJMMT helps strengthen the capacity of local journalism to report on issues of interest and importance. The IJMMT is a partnership between WKU and Internews Network.
Yarmouk University and the IJMMT built Yarmouk FM, the first-ever student-oriented radio station in Jordan, to give students hands-on experience in journalism. The station commenced broadcasting on Sept. 17, 2006.
For more information contact the Office of Academic Affairs at Western, Phone: (270)745-5468; or e-mail john.petersen@wku.edu.
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For more information, contact Dr. John Petersen, (270) 745-5468.
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Office of Media Relations
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, Ky. 42101-3576
Phone: (270)745-4295 - Fax: (270)7455387 - E-Mail: western@wku.edu