Just a casual get-together

Sometimes it’s evenings like these that really show what a network is all about.

The DAAD’s TNE-conference in Berlin provided a wonderful opportunity for a relaxed get-together between guests from the Jordanian and German GJU communities.

To round off the second day of the conference, the German Jordanian University (GJU),with the support of the GJU Project Office, hosted an informal dinner in the heart of the capital. The culinary destination was an Italian-Argentinian restaurant where, as luck would have it, the waiters and waitresses speak both German and Arabic.

With Jordanian Ambassador Fayiz Khouri in attendance, the evening turned into asmall reunion. Back in 2025, he attended the “GJU Alumni Ambassador Meeting” in Bochum, where he praised the alumni’s dedicated networking efforts and the GJU Project Office’s Alumni Ambassador Programme. On that occasion, he spontaneously signed up as a mentor for the “Mentorship Programme” that had just been presented.

What began as a shared dinner quickly developed into a lively exchange. Alumni from Berlin, Leipzig and Hamburg came together, as did familiar faces from the GJU community.

“I thought it was lovely that this dinner gave further prominence to alumni work, especially following my talk on this topic at the TNB conference,” said Marie Dierck, Student Relations Manager at the GJU Project Office.

There was plenty of laughter, storytelling and reminiscing. The evening was filled with conversations about professional and personal journeys, as well as shared experiences in Germany: no set programme, no pressure. And that was exactly the atmosphere.

Joud Odeh, a GJU alumna, felt the evening was like a reunion with old friends: familiar, warm and full of stories. The GJU alumni have long been more than just a network. “GJU alumni are a big community that feels like an extension of home.” At the TNE-conference, Joud’s career path was highlighted as a striking exampleof the extraordinary career trajectories made possible by transnational educational projects.

Zahera Alnimer, a GJU alumna and now an architect in Hamburg, recalls her German Yearas a pivotal moment: a time when theory suddenly became tangible and had adecisive influence on her path.

Lisa Westphal, Corporate Relations Manager at the GJU Project Office, said, “For me, it is a clear success to know what the alumni are doing in Germany and to stayin touch with them. They share their successes as well as their challenges, and that is precisely what makes our network strong.”

GJU President Prof. Ala'aldeen Al-Halhouli emphasised the vital role played by alumni. He said it was an honour for the GJU to have graduates in Germany and that he was committed to further strengthening the network. Ralf Rosskopf, Vice-President for International Affairs at the GJU, also sees the alumni’s career paths as an important indicator of the TNE project’s success: “Meeting GJU alumni is the best confirmation of why the joint commitment of Jordan and Germany to the German Jordanian University is worthwhile!”