In the presence of the representative of the Turkish Cultural Center

A scientific introductory session on the "Hejaz Railway Chair for Ottoman Studies in the Middle East at Al al-Bayt University" project.

On behalf of the President of Al al-Bayt University, Professor Dr. Osama Nuseir, Vice President Professor Dr. Hani Akhu Rasheeda sponsored the scientific introductory session on the "Hejaz Railway Chair for Ottoman Studies in the Middle East - Al al-Bayt University" project, organized by the Department of History in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, in the presence of representatives from the Turkish Cultural Center, the representative of the Department of Public Antiquities, and the representative of the Jordanian Hejaz Railway Corporation.

During the session, Vice President Professor Dr. Hani Akhu Rasheeda affirmed that this qualitative initiative aligns with Al al-Bayt University's strategic directions in linking scientific research with cultural heritage and sustainable development. He added that the Hejaz Railway is not merely an archaeological landmark but a symbol of cultural communication and economic and cultural integration among the region's peoples.

The Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Professor Dr. Saeed Abu Khader, explained the historical and geographical connection of Mafraq Governorate to the Hejaz Railway. He also stated that the idea of establishing a Hejaz Railway Chair provides a scientific opportunity to study Ottoman sources and documents, catalogue maps and records, conduct field research, and build scientific networks with specialized universities in Jordan and Turkey.

For his part, the Head of the History Department / Session Manager, Dr. Khader Al-Sarhan, clarified the importance of choosing Al al-Bayt University in Mafraq Governorate to establish the Hejaz Railway Chair. He emphasized that it would restore Mafraq Governorate's position in the national narrative and provide the initial incubator for establishing a laboratory or center at the university for teaching Ottoman and Turkish languages.

Dr. Alaa Saadeh and Dr. Abdul Majeed Al-Hajj from the Department of History presented interventions clarifying the strategic dimensions of the project, the motivating objectives for partners, the expected outcomes of the project, the roadmap, and implementation phases. In turn, Dr. Hind Fakhri from the Lamassu Organization for Culture presented an intervention via Zoom about the historical importance of the Hejaz Railway.

The representative of the Hejaz Railway Corporation, Engineer Ali Odeibat, referred to the efforts made by the corporation to preserve the historical legacy of the Hejaz Railway and rehabilitate a number of its stations. The representative of the Mafraq Antiquities Directorate, Engineer Muhammad Khader, also expressed the Directorate's readiness to work jointly to accomplish this historical national project.

At the end of the session, the representative of the Turkish Cultural Center expressed the center's readiness to cooperate and work jointly to ensure the success of the project and contribute to teaching the Turkish language to students at Al al-Bayt University.

A number of faculty members from the Faculty of Arts and representatives from the governorate attended the session.