Press Release
December 16, 2004
Jordan Binational Fulbright Commission Increases Endowment
(JD 3 Million Increase Enables Additional Academic and Professional Scholarships to U.S.)
AMMAN -- The Binational Fulbright Commission in Jordan received a JD 3 million ($4.2 million) increase to its endowment today, December 16, enabling the Commission to offer more opportunities for Jordanians to pursue fully-funded study, scholar and professional programs in the United States. The increase was made possible by a grant agreement between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Jordanian Ministry of Finance, which will receive and transfer the funds to the Fulbright Commission.
U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Amman, Mr. David Hale, participated in the signing of the grant agreement along with Jordanian Minister of Finance Dr. Mohammad Abu Hammour, Chairman of the Board of the Binational Fulbright Commission Dr. Adnan Badran, Commission Executive Director Mr. Alain McNamara and USAID Jordan Mission Director Ms. Anne Aarnes.
The additional funds received by the Jordan Binational Fulbright Commission today will increase the Commission’s endowment to a total of JD 8 million ($11.2 million). These funds are invested by the Commission to provide annual revenue that enables expanded scholarship opportunities for Jordanian students, academics and professionals in the United States.
In remarks delivered at the signing ceremony, Mr. Hale said: “Academic and professional exchanges are the building blocks for greater understanding. The exposure Fulbright scholars and professionals receive in the course of their programs often results in new and creative approaches in their profession or field of study. We need to encourage more such opportunities so that we might further this exchange of ideas, approaches and points of view.”
The Binational Fulbright Commission in Jordan is an independent, non-profit organization responsible for the administration of prestigious grants awarded on a competitive basis to Jordanian and American students, teachers and scholars to study, teach, lecture and conduct research in the United States and in Jordan. Through its history in Jordan, the Fulbright exchange program has supported hundreds of Jordanian graduate and post-graduate students, as well as academics and professionals to complete higher education in the United States, and gain academic and professional experience that is later transferred back to Jordan upon their return. The exchange of ideas, experiences and viewpoints inherent in these exchanges contributes to furthering America’s understanding of the Middle East and its rich and diverse culture, while leaving behind lasting contributions towards thoughtful appreciation and decision-making about Jordan’s advancement in higher education with the mutual responsibility to support international understanding, professional respect and peaceful relations.
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