Amman- 3 July 2019
Within the framework of the DAAD funding, "University Dialogue with the Islamic World" in the project "Middle East Innovation Lab (MESIL)" and coordination of Nürtingen-Geislingen (HfWU), the School of Architecture and Built Environment (SABE) at the German Jordanian University (GJU) participated in developing projects for sustainable tourism in Jordan.
The aim of the project is to develop, in close cooperation with local actors and civil society, concepts and business models that will focus in particular on the sustainable development of tourism in Kufranja region in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border.
Students and teachers from universities in Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, and Germany are trying to find answers to this multifaceted challenge and to develop solutions.
Ten days of joint project work in Jordan included ideas of how can the impressive cultural heritage of the city be nurtured and made tangible for tourists, how can households and small businesses be involved in tourist activities (e.g. hiking trails through the nearby mountains), Moreover, how can young people be inspired to plan their future permanently in the region.
Teachers involved on-site from GJU were Dr. Omaimah Ali and Arch. Tala Awadallah and Arch. Kawther Rayyan (SABE), and Dr. Aziz Madi from the School of Management and Logistic Sciences (SMLS), in addition to Arch. Nayla Al Aqel from American University of Beirut (AUB), and Arch. Samar Nazer from Berzeit University. From HfWU professor Dr. Dirk Funck, who was responsible for the overall responsibility, as well as Dr. Ellen Fetzer and Simon Leberl as student tutors.
On the other hand, Local partners included the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), the country's main conservation organization.
It is worth mentioning, that in November students, and teachers from the Middle East are visiting Nürtingen to collaborate on similar projects in Nürtingen, and the in the region up to the Swabian Alb.
