A UF faculty delegation, represented by Adegbola Adesogan, Samira Daroub, Gregory Kiker, Nargiza Ludgate, and Rafael Munoz Carpena, attended a two-day conference in Jordan held within the framework of the University Cooperation Network (UCN). UCN is a network of twenty Jordanian and U.S. universities aimed at strengthening strategic and long-term institutional collaboration in research and teaching between universities and developing new mechanisms for bilateral cooperation that enhance the productivity and impact of university linkages. The University of Florida is one of the founding members of the UCN.
The conference entitled New Approaches to US-Jordan University Collaboration for Sustainable Development (PULSE) took place on June 24th and June 25th at the Prince Al-Hussein Bin Abdullah II School for International Engagement at the University of Jordan. The conference was attended by more than six U.S.-based universities (including UF, Yale University, North Carolina State University, University of Nevada Reno, University of Arizona, and the University of Wisconsin Madison), and more than Jordanian universities, such as the University of Jordan (the host), Yarmouk University, Hashemite University, Mutah University, and others. UF delegation participated in the conference panels and scientific sessions to showcase UF’s global research and education portfolio and forge relations with counterparts in Jordan in the areas of food systems, food security, rangeland management, water and hydrology, and gender.
After the conference, the UF delegation visited Mutah University in Al Karak, Yarmouk University, Jordan Science and Technology University (JUST) in Irbid, the College of Agriculture at the University of Jordan, as well as the National Agricultural Research Center in Jordan. A visit to Mutah University was a return visit for UF faculty to reconnect with last year’s Fulbright scholars from Jordan who spent two months in Gainesville with four other Fulbright scholars from the Jordan Junior Faculty Development Program. UF delegation was greeted by the Academic Vice President of Mutah University and had meetings with the deans of the College of Agriculture and College of Engineering. Dr. Adesogan, Dr. Daroub, and Dr. Kiker also did a guest lecture for Mutah University students on topics related to the role of UF extension and agriculture, food security, rangeland management, and modeling. The UF Delegation also visited the Prince Faisal Center for the Dead Sea, Environmental and Energy Research to discuss environmental, water, and energy research and related activities.
At Yarmouk University and JUST, the UF delegation was greeted by the presidents of the universities and met with the deans and heads of departments related to engineering, water, food security, and social sciences. At JUST, UF faculty visited newly opened colleges and building to exchange ideas about funding opportunities to initiate research and teaching opportunities between UF and Jordanian university partners and make UF a destinate for incoming Ph.D. students from Jordan.
At NARC, the UF delegation exchanged experience in previous UF’s engagements in Jordan’s Badia which is the major dryland area in Jordan experiencing severe desertification and drought. UF along with NARC researchers explored areas of collaboration in water resource management and the inclusion of women in agriculture.
This visit was facilitated by UFIC’s Office for Global Research Engagement (OGRE) whose mission is to facilitate developing and strengthening partnerships in research and teaching among UF faculty and international partners. For more information about the visit please contact Dr. Sandra Russo and/or Dr. Nargiza Ludgate