Coventry University students develop cross-cultural understanding with young Jordanians

AMMAN — Fourteen students from the UK’s Coventry University recently spent nearly two weeks in the Kingdom participating in cross-cultural activities with young Jordanians.

The students, who participated in the fourth Majid AlSadi “Changing Lives Programme”, concluded their activities last week, according to a statement sent to The Jordan Times, 

During their stay in Jordan, the visiting students were exposed to various aspects of life through an intensive programme of visits and encounters with young Jordanians and university students in different parts of the country.

The programme, initiated in 2012 by Coventry University alumnus Majid AlSadi, is designed to encourage and inspire less fortunate individuals from different backgrounds through interaction.

To date, the programme has enabled 56 Coventry University students to visit Jordan and work with young people from various segments of society.

The Jordan Media Institute, Al Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans and the Madrasati initiative collaborated in creating a platform for Jordanian and Coventry students to debate topical issues and exchange experiences, the statement said.

Among the issues that generated the most discussion was the impact of the Syrian refugee crisis on the Jordanian economy as well as social taboos such as gender equality.  

Comparisons were also drawn between the educational systems of Jordan and the UK and how best to improve outputs in the light of scarce resources with a focus on increasing the chances for employment of graduates.

During their stay, the students visited Tafileh, 180km southwest of Amman, where some were involved in giving certain schools a face-lift, while others engaged with their Jordanian counterparts in English language teaching, sports activities, cooking and jewellery-making skills, the statement said. 

In Jerash, 48km north of Amman, they joined the “Civic Engagement Project” implemented by UNRWA and public schools under the Madrasati initiative.

“A highlight of the visit was a one-day mentoring and inspirational activity with orphans,” affiliated with Al Aman Fund.

“Cultural exchange is the most valuable tool we have for understanding a globalised world, and to have been in the midst of one of the most complicated, yet intriguing geopolitical regions of the world, sharing ideas with people who are students just like me was a great learning curve,” the statement quoted Tim Rutherford from Coventry University as saying.