Hoda El Mahgoub, Head of the Cairo Liaison Office of Freie Universität Berlin, together with Prof. Christian Ludwig, Professor of English Didactics at Freie Universität Berlin, recently visited Jordan in the frame of an Erasmus+ staff mobility, making stops at the University of Jordan, Yarmouk University, the German Embassy, and the DAAD Regional Office in Amman. The visit offered an excellent opportunity to deepen existing partnerships, initiate new discussions, and explore expanded avenues for collaboration across research, teaching, and mobility.

A major highlight of the trip was the series of meetings at the University of Jordan and Yarmouk University. Both institutions expressed strong interest in intensifying cooperation — particularly in areas such as academic mobility, joint research projects, and curricular development. The topic of teacher education, especially in the field of German as a foreign language, was discussed vividly in several meetings due to its strategic importance. Jordan is currently facing a notable shortage of qualified German language teachers, making this an area where deeper collaboration with FU Berlin could provide significant added value.

Equally insightful were the meetings with the DAAD Regional Office Amman and the German Embassy. Discussions touched upon central research priorities for Jordan, including water and food security, renewable energy, smart agriculture, and the digital economy. Broader themes such as employability, entrepreneurship, and the development of education and higher education systems were also key points of interest. 

With Jordan’s dynamic higher education landscape and its strong interest in cooperation with Germany, the country remains an important partner for Freie Universität Berlin in the region. The visit not only reinforced long-standing ties but also opened the door to new collaborative pathways — to be pursued in the months and years ahead.