MUSCAT: Dr. Juma Saleh Salim Al Ghailani, Founder and Managing Director of Mazoon University College and Bayan College recently participated in the Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Cultural Foundation’s fifteenth conference, entitled “Challenges of a Shared World” at University of Oxford. The conference was collaboration with The Middle East Centre and United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAC).

Being a promoter and delivering remarkable contribution to the higher education sector in Oman the organizers were pleased to invite Dr. Juma for the event. He was thankful for participating and receiving official invitation to the conference, which brought people of various countries together under one roof to discuss various global topics.

The conference, which counts on the participation of more than 400 experts,scholars and eminent personalities from across the world, addressed a number of pressing issues in five main areas; Refugees and International Institutions, Environment and Human Development, New Media and Social Networks, the Dr.Juma Al Ghailani invited to Participate in University of Oxford Conference Challenges of Youth and the Urban Challenge, in order to assess the situation and shape the future.

The main delegates attended the conference were, Former GCC Secretary Dr.Abdullah Bishara, former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, former Foreign Secretary of Malta Mr Michael Frendo, Jordanian Minister of Water and Irrigation Dr. Hazim Al-Naser, His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and former Commissioner-General and UN Under SecretaryGeneral of UNRWA.

Others who also attended were Mr. Filippo Grandi, Director for the Centre for Strategic Studies in Jordan Dr. Musa Shteiwei, former adviser to the King of Morocco, Mohamed Kabbaj, the Under Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, Dr Rima Khalaf
and The Moroccan academic and intellectual Abdelhak Azzouzi Dr. Juma said that, the foundation’s doors were open for all those, who call for
dialogue, peace and love, as it was always one of the main interest of the foundation: the dialogue of civilizations.

“I came to see useful and productive participation in the sessions by the guests. University of Oxford is not only an education academy, but also producer of thoughts, intellectuals and community leaders, throughout its long history. Middle East Centre and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations cooperation to support the message of the Foundation in disseminating culture of tolerance and dialogue is to be appreciated”, added Dr. Juma

The session began with an opening ceremony in which the Chairman of Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Cultural Foundation, poet Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain, addressed the gathering, “Welcome messengers of peace and amenity among all humans. Let us join together in order to turn off the blaze of hatred that destruction seekers are trying to ignite, knowing that if we can achieve this, wars will fade away on its own”, he said. Dr.Juma Al Ghailani invited to Participate in University of Oxford Conference

He also added that the 15th session comes at a time when the world is suffering from an unprecedented wave of terrorism and devastating civil wars that have led the world to be overwhelmed by refugees. “It is our responsibility to combat terrorism and dry up its sources through targeting it roots and urged the UV and the major countries to identify cooperation to stem civil wars and to provide a dignified living condition for the refugees”, Abdulaziz added.

Within the event the Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Cultural Foundation also announced the winners of the third session of “Abdul Aziz Saud Al-Babtain Global Prize for historical and cultural studies of Andalusia” which was dedicated to researchers who write the best papers about Andalusia.

Dr. Juma also said that this conference is important at this junction of history and will be a milestone in the efforts, carried out by the Foundation, in the dialogue of civilizations, as the world is currently undergoing major changes at all levels including political, economic, social and technological, as specified by the
organisers.

Dr. Juma represented Mazoon College and Bayan College respectively. Mazoon College is one of the leading colleges in the Sultanate which is affiliated to the Missouri University for Science and Technology (USA). Missouri is renowned as one of the oldest universities in America. Bayan College is the first private institution in the Sultanate to offer degrees in Media Studies in English, for itperceives the language to be the lingua franca of the job – market.

Bayan College which will shift to its brand new state – of – the – art Halbaan campus by February 2015, works under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education and is affiliated to the prestigious Purdue University, Calumet, located in the state of Indiana, the U.S.A.