On the afternoon of Wednesday 21 January 2009, a student delegation from several colleges in the US Midwest region visited RIIFS as part of their study tour of Jordan’s Culture and Religious traditions. The Delegation was lead and organized by Professor Paul Parker, Professor of Christian Ethics of the Baltzer Distinguished Chair and Chairperson of the Department of Religious Studies, and Professor Inam ul Haq, Adjunct Professor and Islamic Studies Coordinator at the Department of Theology and Religion at Emlhurst College in Elmhurts, Illinios, USA. 

The delegation was received by Ambassador Hasan Abu Nimah, the Director of RIIFS and was briefed on the philosophy, mission and activities of RIIFS. The Briefing was followed by a discussion with the students on issue pertaining to the understanding of Islam in the west, on religious culture of Jordan, interreligious dialogue and Christian Muslim relations in Jordan.

On Sunday 18 January 2009, RIIFS received Mr. Mike McCartt, Program Director Global Exchanges and Mr. Aaron Mitich, Program Officer (Emerging Markets Development Advisers Program (EMDAP) at the Institute of International Education (IIE) in Washington DC. The visitors met with the Director and discussed possibilities of cooperation with IIE, especially with the new program currently being developed under the name “Small Step”. The program aims to create deeper understanding of the Middle East by arranging visits to the Middle East for student delegations from the US. 

The challenges and opportunities for such programs were discussed in addition to the possible of cooperation with RIIFS and other universities or organizations in Jordan for the purpose of this program.