Prof. Zeidan Kafafi, the President of Yarmouk University, met with the Indonesian Islamic Propagation Council delegation, which was headed by the director of the institute, Madrek Qari. The means of cooperation between the two parties were discussed, and an academic memorandum of understanding was set accordingly. The memorandum aims at enhancing the aspects of the academic cooperation between the two institutes, i.e. exchange faculty members, knowledge resources, teaching digital materials, and organizing academic meetings and conferences.

During the meeting, Prof. Kafafi expressed Yarmouk's willingness to present its expertise to the Council, helping it achieve its goals of spreading the teachings of tolerant Islam. He stressed that Jordan and its Hashemite leadership are widely known for defending Islamic and familiarizing the world with the moderation of the Islamic principles and values. Also, he emphasized that Yarmouk University is proud of the great academic level as well as distinguished scholars of the Faculty of Shari'a and Islamic Studies. Focusing on the fact that the Arabic language program for non-Arabic speakers has a leading reputation internationally, Prof. Kafafi mentioned that the University annually attracts many Indonesian students who receive their education in various academic disciplines, particularly in the fields of Islamic Studies and Arabic.

In his turn, Qari praised the outstanding scientific reputation of Yarmouk University in Indonesia, stressing his institute's keen efforts to strengthen cooperation ties with Yarmouk University, especially in the field of exchange of faculty members and students. He also stressed the possibility of sending one of the Council's teachers to teach the Indonesian language in case Yarmouk allocates an Indonesian language (elective) course for the university students. Then Qari reviewed the origins, objectives, and role of the Council in exploring and interpreting the Holy Qur'an.

Noteworthy mentioning here that the meeting was attended by the vice presidents of the university, the dean of the Faculty of Sharia and Islamic studies at the university, the director of relations and international projects, and the director of public relations and media.

At the beginning of the meeting, Kafafi reviewed the programs and majors that Yarmouk offers, pointing out that they welcome all forms of cooperation with international universities, which serve the educational process, and provide students and academic staff with opportunities to visit Krimenchuk National University and expand their cultural and academic knowledge.

Kafafi added that Yarmouk is ready to cooperate with the Ukrainian University in areas of common interest, noting to the possibility of receiving Krimenchuk's students who wish to learn Arabic at the languages center through the program of Arabic language for Speakers of other languages.

For his part, Zagirnyak praised the outstanding academic level of YU and expressed the aspirations of Krimenchuk to strengthen cooperation with YU through students and staff exchange programs and to conduct academic research in areas of common interest.

The meeting was attended by vice president, Dr. Fawwaz Al-Abed Al- Haq and a number of officials from both sides.

The Language Center celebrated the graduation of a number of students of the Arabic language program for non-Arabic speakers who have completed their study in this semester.

Commenting on this event, Dr. Hala Al-Hamad, the assistant director of the Language Center for the Arabic Language, stressed that the center is keen to prepare an integrated program for students in order to improve their proficiency in the Arabic language, thus helping them assimilate into the local community and successfully proceed in their student career at Yarmouk University.

 In their turn, a number of graduate students who came from the universities of Missouri, South Carolina, Kansas, Virginia and Georgia spoke during the ceremony about their experience of learning Arabic at Yarmouk University. They praised the efforts made by the program's facilitators who enable the students to master the Arabic language. The graduates also spoke about the extracurricular activities that contributed to their integration into the student body of the university community and how such extracurricular activities (i.e. visiting a number of monuments and archaeological sites) familiarize them with the cultural history of Jordan. After that, one of the graduates played some musical pieces expressing the graduates' thankfulness for the center and the university.  At the end of the ceremony, Dr. Al-Hamad congratulated the students and bestowed the certificates to them.

YU president sponsored the opening of the 5th International Conference:  "Tourism and Peace: Way of Life", which was organized by the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management.

Researchers from Spain, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Algeria, Palestine, France, Oman, United Kingdom, and Jordan participated in the conference that lasted for three days.

In his speech, president Kafafi stated that the fifth Conference was given the title "Tourism and Peace: Way of life"   because tourism means peace, respect and mutual understanding. He added that Jordan has a legacy of ancient civilizations that go back to thousands of years such as those of Ammon, Moab, Greeks, Romans, Nabataeans, Muslim Arabs, and Ottomans, adding that Ain Ghazal statues, the Mesha Stele, Petra, Jerash, Jadara among others stand as evidence of the sequence of those civilizations.

Kafafi pointed that the Faculty of Tourism in Yarmouk is one of the largest in Jordan, and is heading towards internationalization especially after the Bachelor program of Tourism Management was accredited by the World Tourism Organization TEDQUAL. He then thanked the faculty administration, teaching staff and students for their efforts to maintain the outstanding reputation of YU locally and internationally.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Shunnaq, the faculty dean, also pointed that the title of the conference was based on the fact that Jordan, which is in the midst of internal conflicts and wars, enjoys peace and security. He added that participants included researchers from various countries, official ministries in Jordan such as the Ministry of Tourism and monuments, Jordan tourism board, Irbid and Jerash cities, and representatives of the local community.

Al-Shunnaq added that organizing this conference came to confirm the relationship between tourism and peace, for tourism promotes peace and acceptance of the other, and peace encourages the flow of tourists to tourist destinations.

In her speech on behalf of participants, Dr. Maria José of Spain noted that Jordan is a well-known international tourist destination. She praised YU efforts in heritage and tourism research and thanked the organizing committee for this unique academic experience that serves as a good opportunity to exchange ideas, and build new projects that serve tourism.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Isa Qomoh, vice president, Dr. Anis Khasawneh, vice president, Dr. Fawwaz Al-Abed Al- Haq, director of Irbid tourism directorate, Ms. Mashael Khasawneh, Jerash mayor, Dr. Ali Qoqaza, several deans and faculty members and students.