The German Jordanian University (GJU) hosted the Jordanian–Syrian Dialogue Forum for the Development of Higher Education on 3 and 4 May 2026 as part of the project Syrian Innovation in Academia (SyrIA).
The SyrIA project aims to sustainably strengthen and modernize the Syrian higher education system during a phase of political and institutional transformation. It combines evidence-based needs assessment, capacity building, academic dialogue, coaching and international cooperation. The project is implemented by GJU and funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funding from the Federal Foreign Office.
The forum convened high-level representatives from the Jordanian and Syrian higher education sectors, including presidents of public universities, representatives of private universities, ministry officials, DAAD, the German Embassy in Amman, and partner institutions from Germany and Syria.
During the public session on 3 May, H.E. Prof. Azmi Mahafzeth, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, announced the initiative to establish a Jordanian–Syrian Universities Presidents Forum as a platform for structured academic dialogue and future cooperation between the two higher education systems.
H.E. Dr. Marwan Jamil Al-Halabi, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Syrian Arab Republic, outlined his vision for the future development of universities in Syria and emphasized the importance of international cooperation in supporting the reconstruction and modernization of the Syrian higher education sector.
Mr. Guido Kimmerling, Deputy German Ambassador, reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at developing higher education in Syria. He underlined the importance of international cooperation and academic exchange in strengthening the stability of the academic sector and enabling universities to fulfil their developmental role.
H.E. Prof. Ala’aldeen Al-Halhouli, President of the German Jordanian University, expressed his gratitude for DAAD’s support, which enabled GJU to provide representatives of ministries and universities with a platform for dialogue, collaboration and advancement. He emphasized the potential of establishing a model for regional cooperation in higher education, fully aligned with GJU’s motto, “The Power of Partnership.”
Project leader and GJU Vice President Prof. Ralf Roßkopf presented the objectives and planned activities of the SyrIA project. These include further dialogue events between representatives of ministries and university leadership, stakeholder meetings in Amman and Brussels, workshops, training sessions, coaching for Syrian academic and administrative staff, and two project conferences.
All project measures will be evidence-based and grounded in interviews and observations conducted during a GJU fact-finding mission to Syria, followed by a survey. The final report will also integrate findings from a study conducted by the German-Syrian Research Society (DSFG) in 2025. The University of Hamburg will support the scientific quality assurance of the project’s research and educational components.
The project will continue until the end of 2027. DAAD representative Mr. Stefan Bienefeld emphasized that SyrIA is designed as a pilot initiative and is complemented by an additional DAAD funding line, Higher Education Cooperation with Syria, which enables German and Syrian universities to re-establish and strengthen academic ties. These efforts are expected to open new opportunities for joint applications, international academic exchange and long-term cooperation.
The public forum was followed by internal working sessions focusing on the SyrIA project structure, fact-finding mission, Syrian universities’ current status and the project roadmap.
Main members of the GJU project team include Prof. Dhiah Abou-Tair, Prof. Ala Khalifeh, Prof. Loay Salhieh, Prof. Christine Huth-Hildebrandt, Assoc. Prof. Ziad Abuelrub, Dr. Waed Shakkouri, PhD candidate Da’ad Nazzal, Mr. Ahmad Bayer, and Mr. Ibrahim Hariri.