First Practical Phase in Dual Studies Completed

Amman- 9 October 2019

As the first University in Jordan GJU implemented a new study concept: Dual Studies. Students studying in this track are not only gaining theoretical knowledge but also practical experiences, through working a prolonged summer term within a company. Now the first 17 students (13 from Logistics Sciences and 4 from Computer Sciences) finished their first practical phase. This first experience was evaluated as a complete success from all sides. Here are some quotations, from the involved groups:

Students:

I was not sure if ‘Logistics’ was the right study choice, but this practical phase helped me to understand the opportunities of logistics and to connect the theory with practice.

It was a challenge to work 8 hours, but I had the feeling that I could support my colleagues and that my work makes a difference.

I have the feeling that I am different person; I learned time management and what it means to take responsibility.

Companies

We can shape a new employee from the beginning of his / her studies, this will pay back on the long run.

In-company-trainer-training helped us to sharpen our training plans and methods for the whole company.

The students sometimes are challenging you which their questions to think about processes.

 University Lecturers

The students learned to communicate in a different way; I can see big differences in emails I got from students before the practical phase and now.

When I was looking at the presentations, the students were giving, they are much better than what we usually see from first year students, they learned to speak technical language and how to introduce a topic.

 

The partner companies are:

Ikea, Amin Kawar, Petra Drugstore, Naouri Group, Zain, Masafat, Aqaba Logistics Village, Maersk, Central Trade & Auto (Toyota), CMA CGM, Fine Hygenic, Maani Ventures, Al Roward for Printing and Publishing, Umniah, Intrasoft

 

For more information, please contact: dual.studies@gju.edu.jo

 

GJU started pilot program for Dual Studies in Computer Sciences

After successfully launching a Dual Studies Track in the Logistic Sciences Department, the German Jordanian University (GJU) started a pilot for a new Dual Studies Program in Computer Sciences, which is supposed to be fully running by next year.

Four first-year students are currently in a practical training phase. This phase should equip them with first a hands-on experience within their study field already during their university education.

Two private sector companies are collaborating with the University to introduce the program: Umniah and Intrasoft Jordan.

The target of Dual Studies Track is to enrich the predomin

antly theoretical academic education on campus with extended practical application and training phases in participating companies. The Dual Study tracks shall provide the Jordanian labor market with well-educated graduates prepared to add real value to the companies from their first day of employment.

“We are closely monitoring the process and aiming to learn from this experience so that we will be able to set up a well-organized program with more students, next year,” explains Dr. Stefan Braun, Dual Studies Coordinator at the German Jordanian University.

Diana Saidi, Talent Acquisition Manager at Umniah, describes why the private sector is interested in such kind of programs: “Umniah, being a youth brand itself is always eager to collaborate with esteemed universities to take onboard interns and assist them with their career developments by providing them with opportunities for real work experience, where they can develop their professional skills and competencies.”

For more inf

 

ormation, please contact: dual.studies@gju.edu.jo

 

 

 

16th of April 2019

Two more companies join Dual Studies Program

On March 21, 2019, the German Jordanian University (GJU) enlarged its partner network by signing two more contracts with private sector companies to join the Dual Studies Program in Logistic Sciences.

The new partners are Al Roward for Publishing & Distribution and Maersk. The contracts were signed in the margins of a workshop on cooperation between the education and the private sector.

When asked about their interest in signing such agreement, Kara Williams, COO of Al-Rowad for Publishing & Distribution, explained that, in her opinion, the program is not only beneficial for students, but also for participating companies. By integrating students in our company, we are now recipients of fresh ideas, along with creating a direct exchange with academia. In summary, such a program will beneficially serve so many: the youth, the economy, and the country as a whole.

Rakan Madi, Maersk Managing Director for Jordan and Iraq, spoke about the already existing links between German Jordanian University and Maersk. Currently about ten graduates from GJU’s Logistics Program are working for the company and some have very successful careers. Getting involved in the Dual Studies Track is the result of this positive experience.

On behalf of German Jordanian University Prof. Dr. Dorit Schumann, Vice President of the university was signed the contract. ‘Being a logistician myself, it is a special pleasure for me to see seeing GJU’s Dual Studies Track in Logistics Sciences growing.’ she stated.

The Dual Studies partner network in Logistics consists now of 10 companies who are ready to welcome the first student intake for their practical phase in summer this year.

For more information, please contact: dual.studies@gju.edu.jo

 

 

15th of April 2019

Workshop on Professional University Teaching for Dual Study Tracks

The term “Shift from Teaching to Learning” is a synonym for the international higher educational teaching and learning community for sustainable learning. It means that students have to be activated in a systematically way to reach the intended learning outcomes. On top of this approach, generic competencies like soft skills play an important role for study programs to develop a holistic personality on the students.

By invitation of the School of Management and Logistic Sciences’ Dean Prof. Dr. Malek Alsharairi, the Dual Studies Advisor Dr. Stefan Braun - who has an international 20 years’ experience in running trainings in this field - conducted a 2-days workshop on Professional University Teaching on 28th of March and 4th of April at the Consultation and Training Center CTC. The participants discussed how to integrate aspects of the psychology of learning, the motivation of students as well as the inductive and practice-orientated way of teaching and activating methods in their lecturers. This group of innovative university professors will continue to widen their own teaching skills to provide excellent education to GJU students. More courses on innovative teaching and learning are foreseen in the future.

For further information, please contact: dual.studies@gju.edu.jo

 

 

31th of March 2019

Information session for Schools on Dual Studies at GJU

On Tuesday 26th of March an information session about the major impacts of cooperative educational concepts on curriculum design took place at GJU. Deans and representatives of the Schools for Applied Technical and Medical Sciences and the School for Management and Logistic Sciences joined the workshop facilitated by the Dual Studies Advisor Stefan Braun.

After a short introduction into the established structure for the Dual Study Tracks and the needful requirements on companies, Prof. Dr. Edda Pulst from the Westphaelische Hochschule Gelsenkirchen made a dynamic impulse presentation about the experiences she made within the last years with Dual Studies in Germany. She stressed out that the relationship between companies and universities as well as between companies and students are the keys for successful Dual Studies. The exchange of ideas between companies and academia leads to innovation and the monitoring and coaching of the students in the companies ends up in sustainable partnerships for all involved parties.

Finally, an open discussion on the challenges and chances of Dual Studies for the Schools and Department of GJU closes the event. Directly after the workshop the attending representatives of all schools expressed their interest to implement the Dual Studies.

We welcome our possible new partners and looking forward to manage to implementation process of Dual Studies at GJU together.

For further information on Dual Studies, please contact: dual.studies@gju.edu.jo

 

 

Dual Studies Logistics Science Company Meeting

 

On March 21 the German Jordanian University together with the National Sector Skills Council for Logistics and the German Development Cooperation giz conducted a private sector workshop for the Logistics Sector.

More than 20 companies joint the Workshop and have thus expressed their interest in cooperation with the education sector.

The main aim of the meeting was to strengthen the partnership between the educational sector and the labor market. For many years now, there has been a recurrent complaint from the private sector that young people, when they have completed their education, have not acquired the skills needed, to successfully enter the workforce.

By developing now cooperative education formats and involving the private sector in the training of young people this gap finally can get bridged.

The meeting was joined by GJUs Vice President Prof. Dr. Dorit Schumann who is also a member of the Logistics Science Department. Prof. Schumann spoke about her first Workshop when coming to Jordan. Within this Workshop the idea of having cooperative study programs in Jordan was born, and now we can actually see tangible results.

On behalf of the German Development Cooperation giz Ms. Eman Qaraeen welcomed the participants and expressed her delight by the great interest.

Structure and aim of the National Sector Skills Council where presented by Mr. Nabil Khatib and Eng. Abdullah Jabour. The Council consists of representatives from the private sector, educational institutes and the government. Its main purpose is to identify skills-needs in the private sector and support reflecting this in the design of educational programs.

GJUs Dual Studies Program was introduced by Dr. Abdelrahim Alsoussi, Academic Dual Studies Coordinator for Logistics Sciences. He explained the design of the Dual Studies Bachelor Track in Logistics Sciences and stressed out the advantages for the private sector when getting involved. Furthermore, he sent a clear message that GJU is very interested in collaboration with the private sector, as this is a program that can only be successful in cooperation.

Afterwards representatives from Balqa Applied University, the Vocational Training Cooperation (VTC) and the National Employment and Training (NET) were presenting their educational programs for Logistics on different qualification levels.

For more information, please contact: dual.studies@gju.edu.jo

 

 

 

08 November 2017

Visit to HIKMA Pharmaceuticals

On Wednesday 8th of November, the Dual Studies Advisor paid a visit to the warehouse of HIKMA Pharmaceuticals, accompanying a trip GJU’s Department of Logistics had organized for its students.

Upon arrival, the guests were informed about HIKMA's history and development, and about its mission & vision. Hikma is a major Jordanian company located in the al-Qastal area near the International Airport. Then, they were given an extensive tour through the company’s storage facilities. The visit included talks with Mr. Basem T. Bustami, the General Manager of the site, and Mr. Ayed M. Olayan, the Logistics Manager.

Founded in 1987 in Jordan, HIKMA produces branded and non-branded generic and licensed pharmaceutical products. The company has obtained approvals to export its products, which are mainly produced on demand, into the US and Europe, and has established branches in different countries such as the United States, Germany, Italy, Egypt, Morocco and Sudan, as well as in China and India. Hikma Jordan is still the biggest of its premises worldwide and is split in two locations: Production and Manufacturing is mainly done in Bayadir (northern Amman), whereas packaging is done in Qastal, with access to the airport’s free zone.

After having visited Petra Trading and Investment Company in July, the students experienced another warehouse and could see the differences in approaches and practical operations.The site visit was very illustrative and showed a great potential of HIKMA to become part of GJU’s Dual Studies initiative. It was agreed that respective follow up discussions shall be organized soon with the responsible people in charge at HIKMA Jordan.


24 October 2017

Visit to Petra Drugstore

Petra Drugstore is a Jordanian company who plays an important role in the country’s health care sector by providing products and services to the medical community in Jordan. Founded about 50 years ago, Petra Drugstore collaborates with major multinational companies, such as e.g. Ferring, Ipsen, Bausch + Lomb, Smith & Nephew, Hospira, Mentor (J&J), Celgene, Topcon, Grifols, DeltaLab and Holdipharma. As Petra Drugstore experiences rapid expansion, the company feels the need to upgrade the capacities of its Logistics Department, to better follow up on increased ordering and clearance and ensure timely delivery to stores and partners.

Being aware that GJU does not only run two Logistic programs (one BSc, and one Masters), but now also intends to open a Logistics program in dual mode to further enhance the matching between practical training and academic education, Petra Drugstore invited GJU to present its Dual Studies project. For this reason, GJU’s Dual Studies Advisor Randolph Galla visited the company on the 24th of October and met with Ms. Hala Al Azzeh (Human Resources Manager) and Ms. Sawsan A. Taqi-Eddin on the 24th of October at the premises of Petra Drugstore in Sweifiyyeh and gave a comprehensive introduction to GJU’s Dual Studies project, with a focus on Logistics.

As Sawsan A. Taqi-Eddin, Head of Petra Drugstore’s Logistics Department, put it “I would have been glad to be enrolled in a Bachelor program, which is so closely connected to the realities or the world of labor. But unfortunately, there was no such program in Jordan at the time I graduated.

Representatives of Petra Drugstore were very impressed with what has already been achieved and will discuss with the General Manager about the perspectives of becoming involved in the dual Logistics program as a company partner.


22 October 2017

Second GIZ Appraisal Mission visiting GJU, discussing progress of the Dual Studies project

On Sunday the 22nd of October, a second delegation from GIZ, headed by Dr. Rolf Peter, met with Dr. Manar Fayyad, President of GJU, Vice Presidents Dr. Dorit Schumann and Dr. Atef Kharabsheh, as well as with Dr. Anas Atieh, Director of Quality Assurance and Accreditation, Ms. Britta Kaehler, Director of the Office for Industrial Links and Mr. Randolph Galla, GJU’s Dual Studies Advisor.

Aim of the meeting was to discuss the progress made by GJU and the possibility of an extension of funding to a total of five years. Although no decision has been taken yet, the members of the appraisal mission are well aware that it would be very beneficial to extend the project in order to include the graduation of the first batch of students. The meeting between the delegation and the Presidency went very well, and naturally, we are hoping for a positive outcome to sustain the Dual Studies project.

GIZ, the German Foundation for International Cooperation (“Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit”), is Germany's leading provider of international cooperation services. As a federal enterprise, it supports achieving objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and education. GIZ works around the globe and has a large number of projects in Jordan.


04 - 05 October 2017

Exchange with Al-Quds University and Palestinian Companies on how to operate Dual Studies programs

On 4th and 5th of October 2017, GJU Vice President Prof. Dr. Dorit Schumann, GJU Dual Studies Advisor Randolph Galla and representatives of two GJU partner companies visited the three Dual Study programs at Al-Quds University (AQU), which are operational since October 2015 (Electrical Engineering and IT) and October 2016 (Business Administration). The visit served to gather real-life information on how Al-Quds University and the more than 100 Palestinian companies involved set up the programs, how they manage them, and how they tackle a number of challenges, such as matching academic and practical content, marketing the programs, monitoring students’ performance in the companies etc.

In the companies, dual students usually attend a freshmen training course, where company rules are explained to them and where they are given one small task per day. From the second month on, they actively contribute to larger projects. Often, dual students rotate between different departments in the company. Experience has shown, that the companies do not use the dual students for “gap filling”, but integrated them fully in the work processes and have them carry out smaller projects independently or in teams, with the intention to hire them after graduation.

Four dual AQU students reported that their expectations were fully met. When asked, all stressed that they would always choose to study in the dual mode again. Main motivations to apply to the Dual programs were the desire to experience a real business environment in combination with academic studies and to develop soft skills relevant to the job market. The good job perspectives and the small recompensation (200 US$/month) granted by the companies where another convincing factors.

 

 

Meetings / discussions in Ramallah

 

with CEO of Experts Turnkey Solutions, Mr. Mahmoud Yassin, and his staff

 

 

 

and with GM of National Beverage Company Coca-Cola/Cappy, Mr. Imad Hindi, and staff

 

 

 

The two representatives of GJU’s Jordanian partner companies -  Rula Milbes, Deputy GM of General Computers & Electronics / GCE, and Khaldoun Katouri, Operations Manager at MASAFAT - intensely exchanged with their colleagues about the experiences the Palestinian companies made so far. Both were very impressed by the degree of motivation the dual students displayed, and the seriousness and dedication with which the companies and AQU manage the dual programs. They therefore gladly offered their help to spread the information gained among other Jordanian companies, with the aim of convincing them to join GJU’s Dual Studies project.

Ms. Milbes: “Thank you for the opportunity you ‘ve given to GCE to participate in this pioneer program, our visit was very interesting and it enforced our commitment to participate in the program once launched by GJU.”

Mr. Katouri: “Thank you that you gave me the opportunity to participate in this program, which gives us a new experience in a new line of education, which will help students and companies. We are as Masafat ready to support and help!”


08 August 2017

Visit to STS

On Tuesday, 8th of August, the Director of GJU’s Office for Industrial Links, Britta Kähler, and GJU’s Dual Studies Advisor, Randolph Galla, visited STS (Specialized Technical Services) and had an extensive talk with its Sales Manager Zeid Mazahreh about cooperation in the field of Dual Studies project and other activities.

http://media.sts.com.jo/SiteAssets/about%20sts1.jpgSTS, an information technology solutions and services provider, considers GJU as a preferred partner and is happy to consider participation in the Dual Studies project. A meeting with other senior STS staff, such as the Head of the HR department and the Head of the Training department, shall be scheduled soon, to elaborate further on STS’ participation in the emerging Dual Study BSc program in Computer Science. STS is a Jordanian company with around 350 certified staff. It was founded in Jordan in 1989, and focusses on Financial Services, Governments, Telecommunications, Education, Health, Commercial and Small-Medium Businesses. Its head-quarter is in Amman, at the 7th Circle. STS runs offices in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Palestine, and Iraq.


27 July 2017

High-ranking GJU delegation visited Aqaba Logistics Village, met Chairman and General Manager to start intensified cooperation on Dual Studies

On Thursday 27 July 2017, GJU Vice President Prof. Dorit Schumann, accompanied by the acting Dean of the School of Management and Logistics Sciences (SMLS) Dr. Malek Alsharairi, Head of the Logistics Department Dr. Abdelrahim Alsoussi, Logistics Exchange Coordinator Dr. Ismail Abushaikha and Dr. Luay Jum’a, as well as Mr. Randolph Galla, GJU's Dual Studies Advisor, located in the Office for Industrial Links, followed an invitation of ALV Chairman Dr. Amin Kawar and General Manager Hakam Abul Feilat to visit the ALV.

The guests were given an extensive tour through the facilities of the Aqaba Logistics Village. ALV, with its 68 permanent staff members, offers a broad range of services to companies. It recently took over the entire storage activities of the International Red Cross (IRC), which serves Yemen and Libya from Aqaba. It is the first time that IRC, which runs its own storage houses and related logistics worldwide, commissioned this to another organization, and thus a real breakthrough for ALV.

ALV offered to host GJU students as interns, giving them a comprehensive overview about the different aspects of logistics. It was agreed to develop a special format for this purpose, and to integrate it, after successful testing, as “special ALV module” into GJU’s Dual Study BSc in Logistics. Staff from both sides will now jointly create a respective pilot module, giving the opportunity to a few preselected students to carry out the module already in the coming September in Aqaba. ALV will provide details of how it usually conducts and monitors internships, which provides a good base for the development of the module. ALV also voiced great interest in training for its middle and higher management, which GJU could possibly provide on the spot as short intensive courses. A needs assessment shall be carried out in form of a workshop in late September / early October, integrating a general lecture to all interested ALV staff members, to inquire about areas, formats and required levels of training.

ALV is in close contact with important stakeholders in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, among them the Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT), and the Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC). ACT, to which the delegation paid a short visit and had a talk with its General Manager, is operated, managed and marketed by APM Terminals, one of the world’s largest global terminal operators, since 2005, and could well be a potential partner in the Dual Study program, once it is established. ADC is the development arm of the Jordanian government for the Aqaba region. It’s Executive Director Eng. Mohammad Al-Sakran and Manager Transportation & Logistics Mr. Abdessalam Obeidat stressed the importance to invest in people from the area and showed great interest in GJU’s and ALV’s cooperation, especially in the idea to offer a compact package of skills for executives without a management background. Eng. Al-Sakran also mentioned that ADC aims to establish a specialized Logistics Research Center in Aqaba, and that his organization fully supports the idea to carry out GJU’s Logistics Network Meeting 2018 at the premises of the ALV.

ALV hosts and GJU guests unanimously considered the visit and the intensive discussions as very fruitful, outlining the great potential of cooperation between both organizations. Back home, SMLS staff will now work intensively on shaping the first pilot ALV module, as part of the Dual Study program, and on the preparation of a workshop to conduct a training needs analysis of ALV staff and potentially additional participants from the region.


26 July 2017

Visit to Petra Trading and Investment Company, to initiate cooperation

On Wednesday 26 July, GJU’s Dual Studies Advisor held initial talks about a possible integration of Petra Trading and Investment Company in the emerging Dual Studies BSc in Logistics.

Joining a group of students lead by Dr. Ismail Abushaikha from SLMS, he received an overview about the company’s mission, values and brands including a special briefing about its warehouse facilities.

The company’s senior management team, and especially it’s responsible members of the HR and Training Departments demonstrated great interest in getting involved in the set-up of this Dual Study program. On the other hand, the people- and development-centered vision of the company makes a good starting point of meaningful integration of existing training structures in the draft curriculum, which the School for Management and Logisitics Sciences (SMLS) has worked out.

It was agreed to continue the discussions in more detail over summer, in order to come to a structured cooperation in the framework of GJU’s Dual Studies project.


18 June 2017

MoU to create a “Special ALV Module”, facilitating use of theoretical knowledge obtained at GJU in a practical context at a highly specialized logistics service provider

An important Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the German Jordanian University and the Aqaba Logistics Village (ALV) On the 18th of June. This MoU foresees the establishment of a dedicated practical module with a duration of two month, taking place at ALV’s premises in Aqaba, which GJU Logistics students can take in their first year.

The module will offer practical insight and skills in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, in a variety of fields and at an early stage. It is offered to first year students of SMLS' BSc in Logistics and as such, it is also an important element of the Dual Study program in Logistics, as it will provide the students with early orientation in which sub-specialization of Logistics to specialize, or which company to choose during the practical phases of the Dual Study program.

Students will receive advice and guidance by GJU academics and ALV. The first group of students is expected to enroll for the ALV module already during this summer.


9 May 2017

Strategic Meeting on Dual Studies

On 9 May, the Presidency of GJU invited internal stakeholders for a Strategic Meeting on Dual Studies, to set the guidelines for the further development of the initiative.

Participants in this meeting were Prof. Natheer Abu Obeid (President), Prof. Dorit Schumann (Vice-President), Dr. Sahel Alouneh (Dean SEEIT), Dr. Loay Salhieh (Dean SMLS), Dr. Malek Alsharairi (Vice Dean SMLS), Dr. Laila Yaghi (Assistant to the President for Quality Assurance and Accreditation), Ms. Britta Kaehler (Director OIL), and Mr. Randolph Galla (Dual Studies Advisor). The meeting served to prepare a number of decisions to advance and formalize the implementation process.

The two involved Schools should follow a process of gradual adoption, together with the companies, preparing one Dual semester / year after the other.

The German Year shall be kept (maybe in a slightly shortened form), as it is an asset of GJU and very much recognized by its partner companies.

At each Department, a caretaker shall be identified for better coordination of the implementation process.

More feasible companies shall be approached and invited for follow-up workshops.

A channel of communication should be opened to the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions.

GJU has to provide ideas to a number of partner companies in order to enhance their training structures. For this end, external support, e.g. by GIZ, would be very welcomed.


8 May 2017

Visit to Sultan Center / Safeway Jordan

On 8 May, the Dual Studies Advisor at GJU, Mr. Randolph Galla, had the pleasure to inform CEO Dr. Laith Abu Hilal at Safeway’s first superstore in Amman about the GJU’s Dual Study project.

Discussing forms of involvement of Safeway Jordan in the upcoming Dual Study pilot program in Logistics, Dr. Laith expressed his deep interest and his support for the initiative, especially in the domain of logistics.

Dr. Laith also voiced his strong intention to participate in an information visit to the Dual Study project of Al-Quds University, operational since three years.

The Sultan Center group, headquartered in Kuwait and still using the well-established brand name Safeway in many countries, operates 14 stores across Jordan, plus service centers and warehouses. In 2014, it opened a Safeway store in the Zaatari Camp for Syrian refugees.


26 April 2017

Visit to Joramco Academy

On invitation of Mr. Ramzi Mansour, Head of Joramco Academy, Mrs. Britta Kaehler (Director Office for Industrial Links OIL), Eng. Jamil Alkhatib (Manager of GJU’s Program Innovation and Entrepreneurship - PIE), and Mr. Randolph Galla (Dual Studies Advisor at GJU) visited Joramco’s facilities located next to Queen Alia Airport on 26 April, to discuss various cooperation possibilities.

Joramco is the largest facility for aircraft maintenance in the region. The company has established its own Academy, which foresees to intensify recruiting and to target additional audiences. Mr. Ramzi informed that in the MENA region alone, around 60,000 posts for technical staff will have to be filled in the coming years in this highly sophisticated industry. Thus, exciting career perspectives are available for graduates with excellent skills in both the practical and theoretical domain. The topic of Maintenance Engineering could therefore be a very promising field for a cooperation towards a Dual Study program, after GJU’s two pilot projects have been successfully established.

For the time being, discussions on cooperation possibilities focus on three main topics: Internships, Graduation Projects, participation in GJU’s Innovation Space. Partners therefore agreed to look deeper into implementing graduation projects proposed by Joramco to GJU students, entrepreneurial activities like Hackathons, in which GJU and Joramco Academy students could jointly develop solutions for real life challenges, and the provision of used aircraft parts by Joramco, which GJU staff and students could use for practical exercises.

As the Joramco Academy aims to integrate academic principles in its education and administration, to enhance training of its teachers and to deliver more and different courses, it would like to exchange with GJU, and with its School for Applied Technical Sciences (SATS) in particular, on these topics.


24 April 2017

Visit to General Computers and Electronics (GCE)

On 24 April, Mr. Randolph Galla, GJU’s Dual Studies Advisor, and Dr. Ahmad Barghash, Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer Science in GJU’s School of Computer Engineering & Information Technology (SEEIT), visited GCE’s premises in Amman.

They meet with GCE Chairman Eng. Abdulrahim Milbes, and with Deputy General Manager Rula Milbes, to inform about GJU’s Dual Studies project, namely the pilot program in Computer Sciences, and to discuss ways to involve GCE in this pilot.

GJU’s initiative was met with great interest, and the top management representatives of GCE confirmed that they would see themselves as core partners of the Dual Studies project. Ms. Milbes also voiced her strong intention to participate in an information visit to a similar project in Palestine, where Al-Quds University has established three Dual Study programs, which are operational since three years.

It is expected that the discussion will lead to cooperation opportunities with GJU's School of Computer Engineering & Information Technology on other topics as well.

GCE was founded in 1985 and is one of Jordan’s leading IT companies. It provides cutting edge IT hardware, software, network & GIS solutions to the banking and industrial sectors, to universities and educational institutions, and others. Its sister company GCE Soft specializes in providing high quality software services with an emphasis on mobile computing.


21 February 2017

Network Conference

During the Network Conference, organized by GJU in coordination with Magdeburg Stendal University of Applied Sciences and DAAD, academics from GJU and its more than 100 partner universities met at GJU, to discuss joint projects, as well as ways to enhance ongoing cooperation. The gathering revealed a great interest on the German side to support the set-up of Dual Study programs at GJU, which will be crucial to offer the “German Experience”, the combined academic semester and internship semester, also to students in the future Dual Study programs.


23 January 2017

GIZ Appraisal Mission presents its findings, including Dual Studies

A GIZ Appraisal Mission had toured Jordan from 9th of January until 22nd of January 2017, to prepare a proposal for a new GIZ program (‘Promotion of labor-market TVET and applied Higher Education’), which shall be handed in to the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Many different sites have been visited, and more than 60 interviews were conducted.

On Monday 23rd of January 2017, the members of the Mission and other GIZ staff (among them GIZ Country Director Michaela Baur) and 18 representatives from various stakeholders of the Jordanian educational sector convened in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Amman, to discuss the findings and outcomes of the Mission.

On behalf of GJU, Dr. Ziad Abuelrub (Head of GJU’s Industrial Relations Committee) and Randolph Galla (Dual Studies Advisor in GJU’s Office for Industrial Links) attended the meeting and reported about the results to GJU’s Presidency. Other participants came from the Ministry of Higher Education, the Higher Education Accreditation Council, al-Balqa University, the Jordan Chamber of Industry, the Vocational Training Center, Prince Hussein Bin Abdullah II Technical University, and the Ministry of Planning.

The overall objective of the program is to enhance education in order to “increasingly meet the needs of the Jordanian labor market”. The program shall consist of three main components (“pillars”), Policy and Public-Private Dialogue, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Applied and Dual Studies.

In the discussion, participants unanimously voiced their strong support for the presented project design and are looking forward to the implementation of the different components of the program.


19 January 2017

Visit of Ms. Kirsten Freimann, GIZ Palestine, in charge of the Dual Studies project at al-Quds University (AQU)

Scope of the visit was the continuation of the ongoing exchange between AQU and GJU on Dual Studies.

As it was her first visit to the university, Ms. Freimann, who was accompanied by Ms. Sarah Griesbaum from the local GIZ Office in Amman, received a general introduction to GJU, including a short campus tour and a stopover at the Separation Lab of the School of Applied Medical Sciences (SAMS).

Meetings and discussions were held with GJU’s Vice President Prof. Dorit Schumann, Dr. Ziad Abuelrub, Head Industrial Relations, Dr. Loay Salhieh, Dean School of Management and Logistics Sciences, Ms. Britta Kaehler, Director Office for Industrial Links, and Randolph Galla, Dual Studies Advisor at GJU.

Finally, Ms. Freimann paid a visit to GJU’s new InnoSpace (in Building M) and was introduced to the Project Innovation and Entrepreneurship (PIE).


10 January 2017

GIZ Appraisal Mission at GJU

A delegation of the GIZ (“Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit”, i.e. German Development Corporation) visited the German Jordanian University (GJU) for one full day to inquire about how to support the Dual Studies project at GJU.

The members of the delegation evaluated the progress made by GJU positively and consider the project as a unique and innovative approach to provide the Jordanian economy with graduates who possess well developed practical and academic skills.

The delegation engaged in discussions with GJU’s President and both Vice Presidents, with the Deans and staff from the School of Management and Logistic Sciences (SMLS) and the School of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology​ (SEEIT), with the Head of the Industrial Relations Committee (IRC), with GJU students who already spent their German Year, and with Britta Kähler and Randolph Galla from the Office for Industrial Links.

The members of the Appraisal Mission praised GJU's dedication and, back in Germany, will discuss possibilities to support the Dual Studies project on a long term base.