GJU & GJU Project Office at the Ghorfa Economic Forum

Building bridges forinternational cooperation together

From 16 to 19 June, our Corporate Relations Manager, Lisa Westphal, from the GJU Project Office at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, attended the event alongside the President, Prof. Dr Ala’aldeen Al-Halhouli, the Vice-President for International Affairs, Prof. Dr Ralf Roßkopf, and the Coordinator for Industrial Relations, Dr Jamal Al Qundus, from the German Jordanian University (GJU), at the Business Forum organised by the  Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ghorfa) in Berlin.

One phrase used by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katharina Reiche in her speech has particularly stuck in Lisa Westphal’s mind: ‘A friend is known in hardship’. At a time of extraordinary geopolitical challenges for Jordan and the entire region, this saying holds particular significance for international cooperation and, more specifically, for the work carried out within our binational education project.

It was therefore all the more encouraging to meet people at the Ghorfa Economic Forum who are deeply committed to promoting German-Arab exchange. The shared determination to establish and expand cooperation, and to build bridges between countries, institutions and people, was clearly evident in many of our discussions. After all, sustainable cooperation is the key to attracting international skilled workers – and it fosters mutual understanding, trust and long-term prospects.

Our Corporate Relations Manager was particularly pleased that our President, Prof. Dr Ala’aldeen Al-Halhouli, highlighted the special role of the German Jordanian University during a panel discussion. The GJU is more than just a university based on the German university of applied sciences model – it is a bridge between the Arab world and Germany. GJU students begin their Germany Year with a German language level of at least B1 and benefit from a language centre on campus with around 90 staff members, which prepares them not only linguistically but also interculturally. This intensive training is a key factor in their academic and professional integration in Germany.

For Lisa Westphal, the forum demonstrated once again that, despite all the challenges, it is worth continuing the dialogue and actively shaping international partnerships.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the Ambassador of Jordan to Germany, His Excellency Fayiz F. Khouri, and to Mr Al-Wadoud Yassin from the Amman Chamber of Industry for the constructive discussions and the group photo.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the Ghorfa for the excellent organisation of the Business Forum.

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Are you interested in becoming a bridge-builder...

and would you like to host GJU students for an internship, or get a taste of campus life in Jordan, for example at hackathons, lectures or careers fairs? – Then please contact us at the GJU Project Office:

info@german-jordanian.org