In the heart of Jordan’s City of Mosaics, next door to ancient churches and palaces adorned with magnificent examples of this fine art form, students work diligently to help piece together and restore the tesserae of Jordan’s rich history. These are students of the Madaba Institute of Mosaic Art and Restoration (MIMAR), which was formally opened in September 2007 and is set to lead the region in mosaic art and restoration training.

Formerly the Madaba Mosaic School, which was established in 1992, the school was upgraded into an institute of higher education - MIMAR - as part of a USAID/Jordan Tourism Development Project initiative implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA), Department of Antiquities (DoA), Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) and the Italian Government. The upgrade of the school began in early 2006 and funding for the renovation of the facility into a higher education institution came from USAID and the Italian Government.

According to Dr. Fawwaz al-Khraysheh, DoA Director General, the upgrade means that MIMAR will provide students with a scientific level education in this unique and specialized field, "The institute's students will have the opportunity to receive a higher level of education and training in mosaic restoration and conservation in terms of both the scientific and artistic levels."

The institute’s existing facilities will be expanded and upgraded to include state-of-the-art lecture halls, training workshops, laboratories, theatre auditoriums, an upgraded library, research studios, student facilities and an interpretative center. An estimated total of $2.4 million has been injected into this upgrade and the institute is forecast to be the leading regional center for the study, conservation and production of mosaic art. MIMAR also aims to contribute to enhancing the tourist experience in Madaba.

The institute will give tourists a glimpse of how mosaics are made, restored and conserved explained Dr. al-Khraysheh. 

“MIMAR will increase tourists' appreciation of Madaba's cultural heritage, which is represented by its numerous mosaic floors, and will thus help make Madaba a major tourist attraction."

MIMAR will also play a direct role in ensuring that tourism is sustainable by providing the proper skills and resources needed to preserve the country’s ancient mosaics. "By graduating students who are highly qualified in mosaic conservation and restoration, this will greatly help in protecting the rich mosaic heritage of not only Madaba, but the whole of Jordan and the region" said Dr. al-Khraysheh.

The Madaba Institute for Mosaic Art and Restoration offers four education and training streams for post-high school students, postgraduates, and professionals employed in archaeology in Jordan and throughout the region. It is projected that over the next five years more than 1,000 students and professionals will participate in and become certified through the wide range of courses available. All programs and courses will be accredited by Al Balqa University in Jordan in partnership with the institute. International accreditation will also be secured for specialist and professional development programs. A bridging arrangement has been agreed with Yarmouk University in Jordan to facilitate continued career advancement, enabling diploma graduates to join the Archaeology BA program at Yarmouk University.