From Amman to AalenThe German Jordanian University’s Network Meeting at Aalen University

For over ten years, Aalen University has been a partner of the German Jordanian University.

We, 10. July 2019

Internationalisation is an important topic for Aalen University. Jordanian students are regular guests in Aalen The network of the German Jordanian University visited Aalen University for its annual meeting.

For over ten years, Aalen University has been a partner of the German Jordanian University (GJU). For this year’s annual network meeting in the field of Industrial Engineering, coordinator Stefanie Kirsch and other contacts from the GJU and other German partner universities travelled to Aalen. From Aalen University’s side, Martina Kübler of the International Relations Office and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Holzbaur from the Industrial Engineering programme prepared the conference and contributed to specific points.

Jordan as a Gateway to the Arabic World

After a greeting from the network coordinators, Vice Dean of the School of Business Studies Prof. Dr. Ralf Härting and Head of the Industrial Engineering Programms Prof. Dr. Axel Zimmermann presented the teaching and research of the Business Faculty and Industrial Engineering, as well as some activities. Prof. Holzbaur demonstrated the approach of project-oriented learning, and an excerpt from the projects. Coordinator Stefanie Kirsch and three other professors travelled from Jordan. Along with Dean Dr. Safwan Altarazi, the exchange coordinators from the departments, Dr. Saleem Ramadan and Dr. Sameer Aldahidi, came to Aalen. They presented the GJU and made several notes about the chances for German students to study in Amman. According to the speakers, Jordan is a very safe country, and a good introduction and geopolitical starting point into the Arabic world. Topics like exchange and teaching were heavily discussed. Four students from the GJU spoke about their courses, specifically the eleven projects regarding sustainability and quality management with Prof. Holzbaur, and logistics with Prof. Dr. Alice Kirchheim.

Aalen introduces itself 

Guests got to know the university’s laboratories through tours, especially at the Transfer Centre Industry 4.0 and in the foundry laboratory. The visitors were also impressed by explorhino. Thanks to the geological structure of the Swabian Alb, they experienced not only the geology and settlement of the region, but also an overview of the many interesting companies around Aalen. Although the focus of the meeting was on Industrial Engineering, contacts at other levels were also established. The Jordanians are also interested in exchange in the fields of logistics and engineering, collaborative research, as well as exchanges for administrators and accreditation.