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Lara Al-Bairuti and I have known each other for just over a year now. We met in person for the first time at 7th GJU Alumni Ambassador Meeting in September 2024 at the THWS Würzburg. She had brought flyers from the anti-discrimination agency where she works and spontaneously presented her work when we asked her to do so.
This year, Lara did not attend the GJU Alumni Ambassador Meeting. But she had a good reason: On September 25, 2025, she was in the German Bundestag, at a parliamentary breakfast held by Anti-Discrimination Association Germany e.V. (advd). There, Lara discussed the reform of the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) and the future of anti-discrimination advisory structures in Germany.
“I had the opportunity to talk to members of Parliament about the development of anti-discrimination work and the reform of the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG),” says Lara. “A moment that I am very proud of. ”
When Lara Al-Bairuti spent her German Year in 2012, she had no idea that she would one day speak about anti-discrimination policy in the German Bundestag. Today – more than a decade later – the GJU graduate works as an anti-discrimination consultant in Würzburg and is committed to creating a fairer society.
How to get there: From GJU back to Germany
Lara spent her semester in Germany at the Georg-August-University Göttingen in 2012. Back when the German Jordanian University (GJU) was only a few years old, her “German as a Foreign Language” degree program did not yet include a compulsory internship. Today, all GJU students must complete a year abroad in Germany with an integrated mandatory internship.
“However, I would have liked to complete a practical semester, as it would have given me the opportunity to broaden my professional and personal perspectives and gain practical experience,” says Lara. Nevertheless, her stay in Germany laid the foundation for her later professional career.
After graduating from GJU in 2012, Lara began her professional career in Jordan – first in a tourism company, then until 2019 at the branch office of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) in Amman. “But I wanted to go back to Germany to experience my independence and discover a new direction for myself,” she remembers.
She opted for a second bachelor's degree in sociology at the University of Bamberg, which she successfully completed in 2024. Without a scholarship or financial support, she financed her studies through jobs at the supermarket and as a student assistant at a research institute.
Her experiences, which she had gained during her semester abroad while studying at GJU, helped her: “The experience and skills that I acquired at GJU and during my semester in Germany helped me to recognize my career path more clearly and to pursue it with confidence.”
Commitment to equal treatment and participation
Today, Lara works as an anti-discrimination consultant in Würzburg. There, she supports people who have experienced discrimination and helps to establish structures for greater equality – especially in Bavaria, where such counselling services are still rare. "I have conducted numerous seminars and workshops in Germany and Jordan. In Germany in particular, I have been actively involved in establishing anti-discrimination structures," she says. Her work combines practical counselling with political engagement – and has ultimately led her to the German Bundestag.
Today, Lara passes on her knowledge to the next generation of GJU students. Over the past two semesters, she has delivered online seminars on anti-discrimination in Germany in collaboration with the GJU Project Office. Before the students began their year in Germany, she informed them about their rights and where they can find support. This helps ensure that GJU students are well prepared for their time in Germany and aware of the support available to them.
Nevertheless, the German Year should primarily be an educational and joyful experience. Lara's message to today's students is clear: “The Year of Germany is a great opportunity to improve your language skills, strengthen your independence and expand intercultural skills. Take advantage of the opportunity to get to know the country and the local culture intensively. ”
“Actively promote intercultural competence and diversity in teams.”
She also appeals to German companies: ‘Actively promote intercultural competence and diversity in teams. Open structures and awareness of discrimination contribute to a more productive and inclusive working environment.’
Through her work, Lara wants to bring about long-term change – both on an individual and societal level. When she looks back on the time since graduating from GJU, she realises how much she has achieved since then: "Today, I can look back on a career characterised by independence, intercultural experience and personal perseverance. I am proud to be able to make a concrete contribution to greater equality and a discrimination-free environment through my work."
Marie Dierck | Student Relations Managerin
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