Nusair sponsors the seminar "Um al-Jmal: History and Civilization - A Global Tourist Destination"
The President of Al al-Bayt University, Professor Osama Nusair, inaugurated the scientific seminar organized by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities in collaboration with the municipality of Um al-Jmal under the title "Um al-Jamal: History and Civilization - A Global Tourist Destination." The event was attended by the Vice President for Community Affairs and International Relations, Professor Hani Akho Rashida, and the Mayor of Um al-Jmal, Hassan al-Ruhayba.
In his welcoming speech, Nusair stated that this seminar comes in the context of affirming the university's cultural role and enhancing its presence in serving knowledge, culture, and humanity. Al al-Bayt University upholds its mission, expressed in its blessed name, Al al-Bayt al-Atahar, as a university that combines education, scientific research, and service to local communities. In harmony with this approach, this scientific seminar was organized to reveal, document, rehabilitate, and incorporate the heritage and cultural resources of Um al-Jmal into tourism strategies.
The Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities Professor Dr. Sa'ed Abu Khader confirmed that by organizing this seminar, the faculty embodied the university's vision and mission in deepening the bonds of partnership with the local community and shedding light on the archaeological site of Um al-Jmal following its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List, along with its development, rehabilitation, and sustainability from research, economic, and historical perspectives.
For his part, the Mayor of Um al-Jamal, Hassan al-Ruhayba, emphasized the importance of the seminar in enhancing civilizational and heritage awareness about Um al-Jmal, appreciating the university's role in developing and growing local communities and conducting studies and scientific research that serve the municipality in order to develop the local community.
The first session was chaired by the Vice Dean of the Faculty for Administrative Affairs, Professor Anwar al-Khalidi, who spoke about the municipality's role in enhancing infrastructure and preparing the nomination file for Um al-Jamal for the UNESCO World Heritage List. Engineer Bara'a Talilan from the Um al-Jmal municipality/Ministry of Local Administration discussed the role of local governing bodies in managing the heritage site of Um al-Jmal in collaboration with UNESCO. Dr. Ziad Talafha from the Safawi Museum project for Arabic inscriptions presented the first inscription of Um al-Jmal (the inscription of Fahar ibn Suleiman) and its significance for researchers, noting that it consists of an Arabic section and a Greek section and is preserved in the Mafraq Archaeological Museum. Professor Muhammad Wahib from Hashemite University addressed the journey of Um al-Jmal from its discovery to its entry into the World Heritage List and its location on the way to the Iilaf of Quraish during the Byzantine era. Dr. Darryl from Calvin University and researcher Farah Al-Dahamsheh highlighted the role of early travelers in the 19th century in rediscovering Um al-Jmal until it reached the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Professor Omar al-Zghoul from Yarmouk University discussed the civilizational intersections in Um al-Jmal as reflected in Nabataean, Byzantine, and Roman inscriptions and the significance of each inscription. For her part, Dr. Maysoun al-Zghoul from the Department of Geography at the university presented a proposal for a tourist route in Um al-Jmal that starts in Um al-Jmal and ends in Jawa, passing through the archaeological villages of Mafraq such as Al-Aqib, Subha, Al-Dafiyana, Salitein, Um al-Qatin, Hamra al-Suhim, Deir al-Kahf, and Deir al-Qun.
The second session, chaired by the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Community Service, Dr. Maysoun al-Zghoul, featured Dr. Kamal Ayoub from the Faculty of Engineering and Dr. Abdul Aziz Mahmoud from the Department of History discussing the building style utilizing basalt stone, which Um al-Jmal is known for. Professor Alian al-Jaloudi from the Department of History reviewed the early efforts of Al al-Bayt University in documenting and studying the archaeology and heritage of the Jordanian desert (works of the Samarkand Museum in field studies). In turn, the Chairman of the Department of University Requirements, Dr. Faisal al-Maiouf, presented ways to preserve and enhance intangible heritage in the Um al-Jmal area, ensuring its rehabilitation and conservation.
Chairman of the Department of History, Dr. Khadr al-Sarhan, emphasized that the tourist site of Um al-Jmal is a contributor to the national economy, as it requires the announcement of a strategy for developing sustainable tourism in its various forms for Um al-Jmal and its surroundings. The head of the Department of Applied Geography,
Dr. Aaid Taran, head of the Department of Applied Geography, presented the tourism potential in Um al-Jmal and emphasized the need to raise local community awareness about the importance of the archaeological city by involving it in initiatives to preserve Jordan's cultural heritage. Dr. Abdul Aziz Mahmoud and Dr. Fathi Al-Shawawra from the Department of History discussed human settlement in Um al-Jamal within the historical context, from the Nabatean period through the Roman era and into the Byzantine period.
Additionally, the university president, Dr. Nusair, and the mayor of Um al-Jmal, Hassan Al-Ruhayba, exchanged commemorative shields, and Nasir awarded certificates of appreciation to the participants. He also inaugurated a photo exhibition organized by the college on the sidelines of the seminar about the archaeological sites of Um al-Jamal.
At the end of the seminar, which was coordinated by Dr. Maysoun Al-Zghoul and attended by the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor Mahmoud Al-Daiki, Assistant Dean Dr. Hassan Al-Harbi, department heads in the college, and several academics, an extensive discussion took place among the attendees regarding Um al-Jmal and its historical and tourism significance.
