Ambassador Barbara Joziasse special guest at Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies

The faculty of Theology and Religious studies will give students the opportunity to ask questions to the Dutch ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Mrs Barbara Joziasse. Mrs Joziasse will visit the faculty on 5 September as a special guest to mark the Opening of the Academic Year of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies.

College Tour

Mrs Joziasse will start with a lunch with all new first-year students of the Faculty, during which the students will have ample time to get acquainted with her. Directly afterwards, the Faculty hosts a College Tour with the ambassador open to all students at the University of Groningen. This will take place in the Van Swinderen Huys (Oude Boteringestraat 19) between 2.15 and 3.15 p.m.. Students can send in their questions to the ambassador beforehand. Dr. Jason Zurawski will moderate the discussion.

Opening Academic Year

During the Faculty Opening of the Academic Year, Mrs. Joziasse will talk about the role of religion in the work of a Dutch diplomat. The opening is organized in cooperation with the Protestant Theological University in Groningen.

Barbara Joziasse

Barbara Joziasse has Master’s degrees in Middle-Eastern Studies from the University of Leiden, the University of Damascus, and Oxford University. She also has a Master’s degree in Finance from the University of Tilburg. She started working for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1997 as the director of the economic and trade department of the Dutch Embassy in Caïro, Egypt. This was followed by positions as Deputy Director of the Centre for the Improvement of Import from Developing Countries, Deputy Director of Foreign Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and National Coordinator for International Appointments at International Organizations. Before she became the Dutch Ambassador to Jordan in 2017, she was stationed as ambassador in Zimbabwe (2010-2013) and Oman (2013- 2016). We are delighted that she is able to join us for this event, and share some of her experiences across her varied career.