We have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to develop and implement study abroad programs on four different continents. Most recently we have worked in Europe, Mexico, Palestine and Panama. This fall semester the University of Arizona / CAPLA offered a vertical, interdisciplinary and international studio integrated into the core curricula of our three schools. We developed an interdisciplinary team of highly selected students to participate in a compelling urban design studio / practicum in Oman in collaboration with the planning offices of the Muscat Municipality. Their Director and Mayor of Muscat, Sultan bin Hamdoon Al Harthi, is a graduate of CAPLA in architecture, and has invited us to participate in the urban revitalization master planning of the Al Hamriya District of Muscat.

The basic pedagogical intent of the program was to enhance cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary awareness, collaboration and learning in the students and faculty of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Planning in both the University of Arizona and the Sultan Qaboos University. We trust that the processes employed and the community development solutions generated during this complex and multi-layered project will eventually gain relevance and bear witness in subsequent research and professional work of all student and faculty participants.