The President of Yarmouk University, Prof. Zeidan Kafafi met the Director of the German Protestant Institute of Archeology in Amman, Katrina Schmidt and the Dean of the Faculty of Archeology at the Free University of Berlin, Dr. Dominic Bonatz, to discuss the ways of enhancing cooperation with the Institute in the field of archeology as well as the ways of activating a joint cooperation agreement signed recently between Yarmouk and the Free University of Berlin in the field of archaeology. The discussion resulted in an agreement of exchanging scientific visits of the faculty members and students between the two universities to conduct scientific research of common interest.

During the meeting, Kafafi stressed the depth of cooperation relations that link Yarmouk with a number of German educational and research institutions. He pointed out how keen Yarmouk university is about being connected with various prestigious international universities and scientific institutions. Emphasizing the university's belief in the importance of exchanging experiences at various academic fields to develop its educational programs and stimulates creative thinking, Prof. Kafafi stated that Yarmouk University is devoted to developing and improving the educational process and its outputs by qualifying its individuals with skills they need to achieve sustainable development in various sectors of life.

Kafafi grabbed attention to the contact Yarmouk University has been constantly pursuing with the German Institute of Archeology in Amman and praised the Institute's role in the field of excavation and preservation of antiquities. Such a mission, as Kafafi stated, is conducted in numerous archaeological areas in Jordan by cooperating with several Jordanian researchers and faculty members from Yarmouk.  Moreover, Kafafi appreciated the efforts of the Faculty of Archeology at the Free University of Berlin in the excavation and preservation of archeology through their archaeological projects that are carried out in Jordan. He then reminded the attendants of Yarmouk’s enthusiasm to activate the cooperation agreement signed recently between the two sides for the exchange of scientific visits among faculty members and students.

In return, Schmidt praised the distinguished scientific reputation of Yarmouk University and the distinctiveness of its teaching staff, especially in the fields of archeology and anthropology. She then clarified the Institute's readiness to work together with Yarmouk University to encourage a number of the faculty members of Yarmouk's Faculty of Archeology and Anthropology to deliver specialized scientific lectures on various topics related to archeology, excavations, and ways of preserving cultural heritage in the region. Besides, she declared that the Institute had opened its library for students and researchers from Yarmouk University to investigate the books, references, and studies that cover the archaeological and tourist areas.

In his turn, Bonatz expressed the Institute’s willingness to cooperate with Yarmouk University in the field of archeology. He then spoke of the possibility of involving students (at the master and bachelor levels) and faculty members of the Faculty of Archeology and Anthropology to participate in archaeological excavations projects conducted by the Free University of Berlin in several archaeological sites in Jordan. Such participation, he stated, contributes to the exchange of experiences and the preservation of the important cultural heritage of human history in the region.

The Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology and Computer Science at Yarmouk University, Prof. Samer Samara, patronized the graduation ceremony of the first batch of participants in the workshop of building the functional capacity of Jordanian and Syrian students in northern Jordan. The workshop is part of the project (Competency-based Career Focused Training for Syrian and Jordanian Students in Northern Jordan), which is conducted by the Faculty of Information Technology and Computer Science with the support of the German Association for International Cooperation (GIZ).

The project manager, Dr. Aws Magableh from the Department of Information Systems at the university pointed out that this project aims at developing students' career skills in order to help them get suitable job opportunities,and develop their skills coherently with the needs of the labor market. He mentioned that the project includes four training workshops, which address effective communication skills and try to develop skills for composing presentations, entrepreneurship, and cybersecurity.

Mrs. Eris of the German Association for International Cooperation (GIZ), the project coordinator, explained the importance of the project in the development of human capacity among participants, praising the level of implementation and organization of this project by Yarmouk University. She pointed out the depth of cooperation relations between Yarmouk and GIZ in the implementation of various development projects that contribute to the rehabilitation and preparation of young people to take several developmental roles and build their own desired future.

However, Prof. Samara handed certificates to the workshop participants at the end of the ceremony and thanked the project team, which includes Dr. Aws Magableh as the project manager, Dr. Ahmed Al-Aroud, Dr. Nawaf Al-Sareheen, and Dr. Yazan Al-Shboul.

The President of Yarmouk University, Prof. Zeidan Kafafi met the Turkish Ambassador to Amman, Mr. Murad Karaguz and the accompanying delegation. The two parties discussed ways of enhancing cooperation between Yarmouk and the Turkish embassy as well as the various universities and educational institutions in Turkey.

Kafafi stressed the keenness of Yarmouk to strengthen cooperation ties with the various Turkish universities and institutes, praising the embassy support of the Turkish language program at the Faculty of Arts at the university. He also expressed his hope to provide the program with more faculty members, which contributes to the preparation of students of the program and enables them to engage in the labor market and master the Turkish language. In addition, he expressed the willingness of Yarmouk to receive more Turkish students wishing to learn Arabic in the Arabic language program for non-native speakers at the University's Language Center, which has a distinguished scientific reputation regionally and internationally. Moreover, Kafafi pointed out the possibility of establishing joint academic programs with Turkish universities at the bachelor, master and doctorate levels through the Turkish Embassy in Amman, something that may contribute to the exchange of expertise and preparing distinct graduates.

For his part, Mr. Karaguz praised the distinguished scientific reputation of Yarmouk University and the importance of enhancing scientific and cultural cooperation between Jordanian and Turkish universities, calling for more cultural activities that introduce students and community members to the Turkish language and civilization.

Interestingly, the Ambassador, during his visit to the University, met with students enrolled in the Turkish Language Program at the Faculty of Arts at the University and explained to them the opportunities of education and scholarships available for outstanding students in Turkey. However, the meeting was attended by the Vice President for Student Affairs and Foreign relations, Prof. Fawwaz Al Abed Al-Haq, Irbid Chamber of Industry President, Mr. Hani Abu Hassan, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Amrat, and several officials of the University and the Embassy. 

On behalf of the President of Yarmouk University, the Vice President for Humanities and Administrative Affairs, Prof. Anis Khasawneh patronized the opening of the workshop organized by the Studies Center of Refugees, Displaced Persons, and Forced Migration in cooperation with Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty. This workshop, which lasted for two days and included 25 participants from Jordanian and Syrian refugees, was entitled: "The Reasons of Migration and the Future of Syria".

During the opening ceremony, Prof. Al-Khasawneh stressed the importance of holding such a workshop, which discusses a range of issues and challenges facing Syrian refugees and tries to help them create a better future and live in dignity in their host countries and when they return to Syria. He stressed that Jordan is aware that refugees are Jordanians' brothers; therefore, the country is not only hosting refugees but also trying to help them overcome the psychological crises they may go through as a result of the conflicts they have witnessed. This is achieved, as he stated, by enabling refugees to get involved in the labor market of the host communities on the one hand and encouraging them to develop their ideas and build their desired future on the other. He then pointed out that Yarmouk, realizing the need to further highlight refugees' needs, established its center of refugees, which aims at inviting the supporting institutions to hold the many programs that contribute to refugees’ empowerment, preparation, and capacity-building in the various fields of life. In addition, Al-Khasawneh praised the efforts of the (Refugees, Displaced Persons, and Forced Migration Studies Center) at the university and its keenness to cooperate with international organizations and institutions for the sake of empowering refugees and studying their needs.

In his turn, Dr. Anas Al-Subuh, the Director of the Center, explained that the workshop discusses several main axes concerned with abandonment and refugees. Naming a few among many, he mentioned the causes of migration in the Middle East, the challenges faced by refugees and migrants, political freedom and its association with migration, the impact of society and its association with migration, the link between economic freedom and migration movements, the challenges facing Syrian refugees, and the future of Syria and its reconstruction. He explained that the workshop, through the dialogue with the youth participating in it, also highlights the challenges that prevent refugees from returning to their country after the end of conflicts and the difficulties faced by refugees regarding their engagement with the host communities. He then extended his thanks to the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for its support to holding such a workshop that positively reflects on the participants, the Jordanian and Syrian refugees.

In return, Yara Batayneh from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty thanked Yarmouk University represented by the Refugees, Displaced Persons, and Forced Migration Studies Center for its continuing cooperation with the Foundation and for its keenness to offering training programs and workshops for refugees in Jordan. She explained that such a strategy enables refugees to engage with the host community and become productive members, which enriches their abilities to reconstruct and develop their home country after the end of the conflicts.

However, Dr. Abdulbaset Athamna of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Yarmouk University participated in the first discussion panel of the workshop. He explained the concept of migration, its types, and the difference between voluntary and forced migration, indicating that the reasons of migration, in general, are either economic, where individuals leave their countries to others to improve their living situation, or political, where individuals are forced to leave their countries to others due to regime pressures and/or military conflicts. He pointed to some of the policies adopted by certain Arab governments, which resulted in the migration of many refugees.

Similarly, Dr. Khair Thiabat of the Department of Political Sciences at the University presented a paper in which he explained the most important political factors that contribute to the migration of peoples. He stated that the most significant factors that cause people to migrate are the lack of human security, the lack of political rights like the right to vote, the lack of the freedom of expression, and the absence of democracy.

Noteworthy that the workshop was attended by several officials from the University's Studies Center of Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration as well as the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty.