A UO delegation visited Kuwait and United Arab Emirates in the Middle East.

The visit was a first step to establish strategic contacts to promote study abroad and internship programs in the area, recruit students from these countries and explore new research opportunities that benefit the UO and countries in the region.

The UO delegation, which included Vice Provost for International Affairs Dennis Galvan and Assistant Vice President for Development John Manotti was welcomed in Kuwait by a group of more than 30 international alums and host Mr. Jameel Al Sane.

Galvan described the conversations with dignitaries and alums as incredibly positive and hopes the visit may have set the foundations for new projects and partnerships in the region.   

To explore faculty exchange possibilities, the delegation met with Robin Dada (UO alum ‘92), interim dean of the College of Education in Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, as well as leaders from the Gulf University for Science and Technology, and the American University of Kuwait in Kuwait City.

As part of the next steps for the region, UO leadership hopes to visit Saudi Arabia in 2013. Of the 168 students from the Middle East region enrolled in the UO fall 2012, a total of 101 come from Saudi Arabia, 20 from Kuwait and 12 from UAE. In 2012, the UO enjoyed a total of 23 visiting scholars from the Middle East, the majority from Iraq.

About the Office of International Affairs
The Office of International Affairs (OIA) works to make the University of Oregon a more global university. OIA works to support and integrate the wide range of international engagements, global-scale projects, and transnational partnerships launched and maintained in our many academic units.

Chakris Kussalanant
Office of International Affairs