Addressing Digital Divides in International Higher Education - Tapa dura

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Jabbar A. Al-Obaidi received his Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and obtained his master from Hartford University, Connecticut, and a bachelor from Baghdad University. Currently, he is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Bridgewater State University (BSU) and serves as the Academic Director of Global Programs of the Minnock Institute of Global Engagement. Presently at BSU, he serves as the Chair of All University Committee (AUC) at BSU, he is also engaged as the Project Co-Director for the US Department of Education, Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Languages Program, Grant # P016A200027. He served as the Co-Chair of BSU Steering Committee for Reaccreditation, and Co-Chair of Subcommittee 3: Education, Training, and Continued Learning Opportunities for Faculty, Staff, and Students. Previously, Al-Obaidi served as the director of the Center for Middle East Studies and the chairperson for the Department of Communication Studies. In addition to his extensive teaching and administrative experiences in the US, he taught in Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, United Arab Emirates and China. He is the author or editor of three books: Media Censorship in the Middle East, Broadcast, Internet, and TV Media in the Arab World and Small Nations and Mass Communication. He has published in several peer-reviewed scholarly journals and presented research papers at major national and international conferences around the world. Professor Al-Obeidi's administrative contribution, scholarly work, and teaching cover curriculum and programs, management and leadership, assessment, COIL and virtual teaching, intercultural communication, and media in the Middle East. He also produces and hosts INFOCUS a cable television program and makes documentary films. He organized and participated in numerous workshops and training sessions in intercultural communication, professional development, curriculum assessment, online learning and teaching, and institutional strategic development. Al-Obaidi initiated and facilitated the organization of several international conference on education between BSU and universities in Jordan and Morocco. He worked closely with BSU administration to implement academic international partnerships with many universities in the Middle East and Asia. He led study abroad programs, undergraduate research, and internship and traveled to various countries.

Madhusudana N. Rao obtained his Ph.D. in Geography from Kent State University and is currently a Professor in the Department of Geography at Bridgewater State University (BSU). He is also the Director of the Middle East & North Africa Studies Program, Minnock Institute of Global Engagement. Presently at BSU, he is involved as the Principal Investigator for the US Department of Education, Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Languages Program, Grant # P016A200027. His practical experience adds value to the teaching and learning environment within the classroom both in the technical and cultural elements of Geographic education. His research interests lay at the intersection of geographic themes such as cultural and environmental sustainability as they relate to climate change, regional development, renewable energy, technology, and emerging economies, especially in the context of the developing world in the mix of globalization. He has published in several peer-reviewed scholarly journals and presented research papers at major national and international conferences around the world. He received research grants from federal and state agencies in the USA. He offers consulting services in geotechnology education to several reputed public and private organizations, which keeps him on the pulse of current topical concerns in the field of educational learning.