The University of Jordan News
DAAD Regional Office Inaugurated at UJ

The German Ambassador to Jordan Bernhard Kampmann on Thursday inaugurated at the University of Jordan (UJ) the new regional office of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

 

The new office is to serve students and academics also from Iraq, Lebanon, and the UAE, in addition to Jordan.

 

The inauguration ceremony was attended in person by Education Minister Dr. Mohammad Abu Qudais, presidents of the University of Jordan (UJ), German-Jordanian University, and virtually by Yarmouk University, Jordan University of Science and Technology and Al Hussein Technical University as well as alumni, students, researchers, academics and partners.

 

In his address, Abu Qudais voiced appreciation of the German support to Jordan, noting that the German-Jordanian higher education cooperation will deepen with the establishment of the DAAD Regional Office in Amman. He also highlighted the new regional office’s role in contributing to strengthening the region’s cultural ties with Germany.

 

UJ President Prof. Abdel Karim Al Qudah said that the cooperation with DAAD dates back to the 1970s. Al Qudah emphasized the importance of the DAAD Regional Office in enhancing and facilitating academic exchange between Arab countries and Germany.

 

During a panel discussion, Ambassador Kampmann stressed Germany’s commitment to enhancing academic mobility and joint research between German universities and scientific institutes in their counterparts in the Middle East region.

 

He also explained that the reason for locating the DAAD regional office in Jordan has to do with the Kingdom’s technological advancements and its stability and security in a volatile region. 

 

The ambassador also explained that “science diplomacy” is a major component of Berlin’s foreign policy and endeavor to build bridges with the Middle East region, adding that the German economic growth, especially during the past five years, was “probably” the result of Germany’s openness to technology, human capital and open-door policy.

 

Prof. Manar Fayyad, president of the German Jordanian University, spoke about the university as a result of the bilateral relations between Germany and Jordan. 

 

DAAD funds around 2,500 students and academics from and in Jordan every year and there are currently over 120 collaboration projects between German and Jordanian universities.

2021/06/13