Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JEDDAH454
2009-11-24 15:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:  

END OF A DRY SPELL: FULBRIGHT IS BACK IN THE

Tags:  KPAO SA SCUL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7227
RR RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR
DE RUEHJI #0454 3281519
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241519Z NOV 09
FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1620
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0312
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0403
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 1820
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 8601
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 4539
RUEHDH/AMCONSUL DHAHRAN 0174
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS JEDDAH 000454 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ECA/A/E/NEA-DIVES; ECA/A/E-RSWENSON;
NEA/PPD-PKABRA,DBENZE,PAGNEW; NEA/ARP-JHARRIS, JBERNDT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO SA SCUL
SUBJECT: END OF A DRY SPELL: FULBRIGHT IS BACK IN THE
KINGDOM

UNCLAS JEDDAH 000454

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ECA/A/E/NEA-DIVES; ECA/A/E-RSWENSON;
NEA/PPD-PKABRA,DBENZE,PAGNEW; NEA/ARP-JHARRIS, JBERNDT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO SA SCUL
SUBJECT: END OF A DRY SPELL: FULBRIGHT IS BACK IN THE
KINGDOM


1. (U) SUMMARY: After a five-year hiatus, the Fulbright
Senior Specialist Program recently resumed in Jeddah. The
Saudi Institute for Health Services (SIHS) hosted Dr. R.
Kirby Barrick, Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life
Sciences at the University of Florida, from October 9 to
October 30, 2009, for a series of workshops in Jeddah and
Hafoof. Dr. Barrick was very well received and thoroughly
enjoyed the experience -- his first -- in the KSA. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) After a five-year lacuna in the Fulbright Senior
Specialist Program in Saudi Arabia, SIHS hosted Dr. R. Kirby
Barrick, who taught four 3-day workshops -- two at SIHS and
one at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah -- and another
workshop at King Faisal University in Al-Hufuf, to faculty
members of both genders. The workshops covered course and
curriculum development, general pedagogical strategies, and
advanced teaching skills.


3. (U) As is customary in mixed-gender environments in Saudi
Arabia, the men and women who participated in the workshops
sat on opposite sides of the room, but Dr. Barrick noted that
the women participants were far more vocal and actively
engaged in the workshops than their male counterparts,
perhaps due to their advanced English-language skills.


4. (U) Dr. Kirby received full support from the host
institution and extremely positive feedback from the workshop
participants. He thoroughly enjoyed his experience in the
Kingdom, and expressed his intention to promote the program
among his peers in the United States.


5. (U) In a November 9 letter to the Consul General, received
today, Dr. Barrick captures his experience in Saudi Arabia as
follows: "While I will file a more complete summary of the
program with the Fulbright Commission, let me summarize the
experience for you. It was great! My hosts at the Saudi
Institute for Health Services and King Abdulaziz University
were more than gracious in meeting my every need. The
faculty who participated in the four workshops were receptive
and anxious leaners. They seemed to want more, so hopefully
that is one indication that the program was a success....
Hopefully, my experience will lead to further collaborations
between the University of Florida and the higher education
community in the Kingdom, as well as increased participation
in the Fulbright Senior Specialist program by U.S. faculty.
Both ventures are clearly worth the while."
QUINN