Amman- 20 June 2022

In the presence of Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck, the President of the German Jordanian University (GJU), Prof. Ala’aldeen Al-Halhouli, and the President of the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (FHWS) Prof. Dr. Robert Grebner signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishing three hosted programs at GJU in the fields of Hydrogen Technology, Robotics, and Social Work. 

During his stay in Jordan, Vice-Chancellor Habeck repeatedly stressed that in the future, the import of gas to Germany and Europe should be replaced by green energy. The sunny countries of the MENA region are considered important partners in this regard. Several countries signed a respective Memorandum of Understanding on the MENA Europe Future Energy Dialogue (MEFED) in the Dead Sea. Habeck welcomed the initiative of the two universities and thanked both Presidents for the initiative, collaboration, and support to qualify the needed experts.

"For Jordan, green energy production is an opportunity that the country must take advantage of Hydrogen technology is an important competence for both countries in this regard," explained GJU President, Prof. Ala'aldeen Al-Halhouli. The scientific and economic cooperation in the energy sector would address several concerns of both countries. Jobs in the energy sector could contribute to the stabilization of the situation in the Middle East, the countries would benefit from the energy export, and Germany could obtain green energy.

The President of the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, Robert Grebner, emphasized, “FHWS wants to contribute to the energy shift by offering the unique Bachelor Degree Program Hydrogen Technology also in Jordan. Sunny countries require engineers who have expertise in this regard. Germany, in turn, has a high demand for competent focal points in these countries as well as for the immigration of skilled engineers. The high demand is similar in the fields of Robotics and Social Work. Therefore, the programs will be offered also in German. The trilingual graduates of the programs would be ideally prepared to serve the local and international markets.

According to the plan, students from Jordan and the Arab region are supposed to study for four semesters at GJU in Jordan and three semesters at FHWS in Germany. They will be trained in the German language during their time at GJU. It is envisioned to establish three identical hydrogen technology labs in Schweinfurt and Amman so that students and industry could receive hands-on training in both locations.