Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST)

One of the premier, comprehensive institutions of higher education in Jordan, JUST, as it is commonly referred to, boasts over 22,000 students studying in areas such as agriculture, architecture, computer and information technology, dentistry, dental hygiene and allied dental sciences, medicine and allied health sciences, pharmacy, nursing, veterinary medicine, engineering, and arts and sciences. JUST's goal is to become one of the top 500 international universities by 2012. The University is located in the Al Ramtha region just outside of Irbid, the second largest city in Jordan. Like most U.S. universities, JUST is interested in building a diverse student and faculty community and has invested in athletic facilities, the building of a new central library, and campus landscapes that include trees of pistachios, jojoba, and olives; flowers; manicured shrubs; and fountains. Most academic buildings are arranged in quads with beautiful interior courtyards for study and contemplation. An impressive castle-like, guarded gateway serves as the entrance to the campus, and clearly visible from that entrance point is the golden domed mosque that signals the importance of Islam in daily campus life.