Amman- 17 November 2021
On behalf of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research His Excellency Dr. Wajih Mousa Owais, the Secretary-General of the Ministry, Prof. Mamoun Al-Debi’e, inaugurated the activities of the German Week at the German Jordanian University (GJU), in the presence of the German Ambassador in Amman Bernhard Kampmann, the Chairman of the Accreditation Commission and Quality Assurance for Higher Education Institutions, Dr. Dhafer Al-Sarayrah, the President of GJU Prof. Ala'aldeen Al- Halhouli, and Director of DAAD Regional Office Amman, Benjamin Schmäling.
The German Week, a Transnational Education (TNE) Activity, aims to strengthen the German dimension at the German Jordanian University through a set of activities and events that targets GJU staff/faculty members, GJU students, and other interested participants from other German and Jordanian universities.
The events included the opening of smart classrooms and the German lounge at German Language Center GLC, a tour of the German corner in the library, demonstration of the work and activities of the International Office, Office for Industrial Links, the Deanship of Student Affairs, exchange students, Syrian/Jordanian Education Program, the Goethe Institute, and participating German institutions. It also included sports, cultural and social activities.
Dr. Al-Debi’e expressed the ministry’s pleasure to see life return to universities throughout the Kingdom after a break from public studies for about a year and a half, as a result of the Covid-19 epidemic, which disrupted a lot of normal life.
He pointed to the distinction of the German Jordanian University and the qualitative addition to the HE mosaic scene in Jordan, offering education that is in many ways different and distinct. It is also an epitome of an auspicious and fruitful partnership, between the friendly governments of Germany and Jordan, and their respective cultures, offering our students both the technical and cultural skills that are so necessary for the workplace upon graduation.
The German Ambassador said, “The German Jordanian University with its German dimension and applied sciences approach is a lighthouse project in our bilateral cooperation and particularly close to my heart. It does not only have an excellent reputation as an academic institution but also embodies the many aspects of our foreign cultural and education policy – be it the promotion of the German language and culture, the support to application-oriented teaching and research, or the facilitation of scientific dialogue and knowledge exchange between academia and industry.
He added, “We have always found a very supportive partner in the Jordanian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research who appreciates the unique nature of the GJU as an institution, and I am sure that we will continue our excellent cooperation under the leadership of the new Minister.”
Prof. Al-Halhouli stated that the German-Jordanian University is a unique university in Jordan that follows the German Fachhochschule model of education. In that, via its structured courses that go hand-in-hand with practical relevance and enhanced embedded training, the university is to produce highly skilled and well-trained cadres and professionals. The university has established close ties with over 120 German partner universities. The partner universities host GJU students for one full year (one study semester, one industry semester). This exposes students to a wide range of scholars, researchers, and practitioners from other universities and industries.
As part of the German Week, The School of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (SEEIT) held the Data Literacy Conference to Introduce Data Literacy at German Jordanian University (IDL at GJU).
The project is funded by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with collaboration with German Partner Universities including Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (H-BRS), Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena, Hochschule Darmstadt, Hochschule Fulda and Technische Hochschule Brandenburg. The project aims at introducing data literacy education at German Jordanian University and other Institutions in Jordan.
