A delegation from the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) visited the German Jordanian University (GJU) for the first time this year at the end of February. Prof. Arnulf Hörtnagl traveled to GJU to teach an intensive course to the pilot cohort of Hydrogen Engineering students, while Dr. Monica Heitz joined the Campus GATE (German Applied Transnational Education) team for variouss marketing activities and meetings related to the GJU-THWS joint Hosted Programmes.
A key aspect of the visit was a series of meetings at international high schools in Amman to advance discussions on collaborations initiated in April 2024. These discussions began with a meeting between school representatives and a THWS delegation, including President Prof. Jean Meyer. Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between THWS and three Jordanian schools – the Baptist School, Collège de la Salle Frère, and Arab Model Schools – are planned for later this year.
Additionally, a kick-off meeting for Online GATE was held to discuss the implementation of two THWS online study programmes: B.Sc. Engineering Science and B.Sc. Health & Environmental Psychology, with a focus on the necessary means to digitalise the modules and courses for the online pre-year held at GJU.
During their time at GJU, the THWS representatives participated in several meetings at GJU focused on optimising processes, creating synergies, and standardising procedures within the Hosted Programmes. In addition to stabilising the structure of the programme, new developments in the collaboration between the two strategic partners, GJU and THWS, are now being implemented. Official preparations for a new Hosted Programme in Advanced Materials Engineering have begun, with its inauguration planned for October 2025.
Prof. Iyas Khader, Vice President for Academic Excellence, commented on the new major: “The Bachelor’s programme in Advanced Materials Engineering, a unique programme in Jordan, will provide students with ample opportunities in a field where engineers are in high demand in Jordan, Germany, and worldwide”.
The highlight of the visit was an event at GJU’s Madaba campus, where two partner schools, the Baptist School and Collège de la Salle, brought selected students from grades 11 and 12 for a presentation on the Hosted Programmes, followed by a tour of the campus. During this event, the new major in Advanced Materials Engineering was officially announced for the first time, generating a strong interest from both students and counselors. Three Hydrogen Engineering students from the first and second years shared their experiences of studying within the transnational Hosted Programmes.
The visit further strengthened the partnership between THWS and GJU by opening new avenues for collaboration and opening doors to joint, innovative, cutting-edge transnational study programmes.