Yarmouk University participated in the "Global Education Against Xenophobia" conference, organized by the Catalan Committee for UNHCR in cooperation with the Solidarity Foundation at the University of Barcelona in Spain, through its Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Centre.
The university's delegation included Dr. Ibrahim Darwish, Acting Director of the Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center, and former center director and visiting professor at the University of Marseille in France, Dr. Ruba Al-Akash.
Keynote speakers at the conference included Darwish and Al-Akash, who briefed participants on the university, the center, and the Kingdom's long history of offering support to refugees from several nationalities.
They pointed out the work of the center in conducting research - academic, policy papers, opinion polls - into all aspects of questions relating to refugees, displacement, and forced migration and their implications, and in managing projects and initiatives which target refugees, displaced persons, and forcibly displaced communities.
Besides, they presented the project entitled “Designing Compensatory Programs for Learning Difficulties Among Syrian Students” as one of the projects that the center has implemented in cooperation with partners from several countries and which holds special significance in the area of education for refugee students.
Yarmouk University President, Professor Dr. Malek Al-Sharairi, sponsored the closing ceremony of “GEBYAR 2025,” organized by the Deanship of Student Affairs in cooperation with the Indonesian Students Union in Irbid, with wide participation from students of Southeast Asian countries.
Al-Sharairi stressed the university’s keenness to support activities that celebrate cultural diversity and promote an inclusive campus environment. He pointed out that joint student activities help build students’ balanced personalities, instill in them a spirit of leadership and teamwork, and support the integration of students from different countries within the university campus.
He added that Yarmouk University is a home of knowledge and culture that brings together students from various countries. He affirmed that the university will continue to support initiatives that strengthen cultural identity and student creativity, embodying the concept of “a university that embraces diversity and innovation.”
For his part, Fayyad Muqfi, President of the Indonesian Students Union, delivered a speech in which he expressed his gratitude to Yarmouk University, its administration, and the Deanship of Student Affairs for their continuous support of international students. He emphasized that the event contributed to strengthening cultural understanding, exchanging experiences among students, and building cross-cultural student networks.
At the conclusion of the event, which witnessed remarkable participation from students of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, who presented a variety of artistic and cultural performances, including traditional dances and folk shows that reflected each country’s cultural identity and rich heritage, Al-Sharairi honored the students who won the activities and competitions held as part of the “GEBYAR 2025” program, in recognition of their excellence and active participation.
It is worth mentioning that this event is part of the activities organized by the Deanship of Student Affairs to strengthen cultural and social interaction within the university and to reinforce its image as an environment that embraces diversity and student creativity, the event also included a variety of sports matches and competitions that witnessed great enthusiasm and engagement from the participating students and attendees, contributing to a spirit of positive competition and mutual understanding among students from different nationalities.
Professor Amjad Dheifallah Al-Nasser, Vice President of Yarmouk University, received Mr. Cheng Yongru, the Economic and Commercial Attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Amman, along with his accompanying delegation, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between Yarmouk University and the Chinese Embassy in Amman.
During the meeting, Al-Nasser emphasized Yarmouk University’s constant aspiration to expand its network of relations with various Chinese academic and economic institutions, in line with its future vision and as part of the long-standing friendship between Jordan and China.
He also highlighted the university’s establishment, its faculties and research centers, as well as its significant contribution to the development and advancement of the higher education sector in Jordan.
He added that the relationship between Yarmouk University and the Chinese Embassy takes various forms, and that mutual visits have continued without interruption.
He pointed out that just two weeks ago, the Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Amman visited the university to discuss ways of strengthening academic and cultural cooperation, and attended a series of Chinese cultural events organized by the Chinese Cultural Center in Amman at Al-Hussein Bin Talal Library, as part of the Chinese “Mid-Autumn Festival.”
Al-Nasser pointed out that Yarmouk University was among the pioneering universities to offer Chinese language courses, by integrating a set of foreign language subjects such as French, Spanish, Turkish, German, and Chinese into the study plans of its undergraduate programs.
He stressed that this approach reflects the university’s belief in the importance of equipping its students with skills that open up additional opportunities for them, enabling them to enter various labor markets and compete efficiently and confidently.
For his part, Cheng Yongru stated that this visit comes within the framework of the partnership-based relationship between the Chinese Embassy and its various departments with Yarmouk University, which he described as one of the distinguished Jordanian and Arab universities with a long-standing academic history.
He emphasized that the Chinese Embassy in Amman always encourages cooperation with leading academic institutions, in order to build sustainable partnerships founded on constructive and forward-looking ideas.
The Language Center has launched a German language training course under the "Tern" Program, which aims to train students and develop their linguistic competencies for employment in the German healthcare sector.
The Acting Director of the Center, Dr. Safaa Al-Shraiedeh, stated that this program specifically targets students from the College of Nursing. This initiative aligns with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the University and the German company “Tern” to enhance the skills of nursing students who are enrolled in the German language package offered by the Center, with the goal of obtaining a B2-level German language certificate.
She added that this language program is designed to develop the language proficiency of the nursing students and enable them to use German more effectively. Furthermore, it involves cooperation in securing job opportunities for them in the German healthcare sector after they complete vocational training to prepare them for the job market.
Yarmouk University President, Prof. Malek Al-Sharairi, took part in the preparatory event for the 2025 Global Refugee Forum, organized by the UNHCR Jordan.
The event brought together representatives from government entities, embassies, national institutions, international organizations, and experts in refugee and forced migration issues. It aimed to evaluate collective progress made since 2023 in fulfilling commitments related to refugee matters in Jordan and the region, strengthen partnerships among decision-makers, and promote innovative solutions in line with the Global Compact on Refugees.
During his participation in a session on establishing a Higher Education Alliance to empower universities as active players in refugee response efforts, Prof. Al-Sharairi expressed pride in Jordan’s longstanding humanitarian role under the Hashemite leadership in providing refuge and safety to those in need.
He explained that the Higher Education Alliance emerged from a strong partnership between UNHCR Jordan and Yarmouk University’s Refugees, Displaced Persons, and Forced Migration Studies Center, launching a joint project to increase the enrollment of refugee students in higher education in Jordan to 15% by 2030.
Yarmouk University and UNHCR also co-developed a joint policy paper presented to decision-makers to support this goal. The university’s Board of Trustees adopted its recommendations by approving a 30–40% reduction in tuition fees for refugee students, aligning their fees with those of the “parallel program” instead of the “international program.”
Additionally, Yarmouk integrated the refugee ID number into its student information system to improve access to reliable data on refugee enrollment.
In June 2024, UNHCR announced the official establishment of the Higher Education Alliance, which now includes 17 educational institutions committed to increasing refugee access to universities across Jordan. The alliance also encourages universities to share responsibility through scholarships and fee reductions, promoting sustainable local support for refugee education.
The event was attended by Vice President Dr. Ruba Al-Bataineh and Acting Director of the Refugees and Forced Migration Studies Center, Dr. Ibrahim Darwish.
The President of Yarmouk University, Prof. Dr. Malek Al-Sharairi, welcomed the American poet Phillis Levin, Honorary Professor of English at Hofstra University in New York, and a writer and editor of numerous poetry collections and literary journals.
Her visit to the university aimed at participating in the poetry seminar organized by the Department of English Language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts.
Al-Sharairi emphasized that hosting Poet Levin reflects the university’s commitment to openness to all cultures and to strengthening international partnerships, which provide numerous opportunities for both students and faculty members.
For her part, Levin expressed her gratitude to the university for the warm welcome, highlighting the importance of arts and literature in fostering connections among people of different languages and cultures.
Levin presented a selection of her works at the poetry seminar, organized by the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Dr. Oqab AlShawashreh, and Dr. Nancy Al-Doghmi, from her latest collection “Rain Selections 2025”, which received high praise from faculty members and students alike.
Notably, Levin has received several awards, including the Norma Farber Award from the Poetry Society of America, fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. She is also the editor of “Penguin Book of the Sonnet: 500 Years of the English Tradition” (2001). Her poetry is recognized for its masterful use of modern poetic techniques applied to traditional forms, such as the sonnet and Japanese haiku.
Yarmouk University President, Professor Dr. Malik Sharairi, received a delegation from the Irbid Chamber of Industry headed by the Chairman of the Board, Hani Abu Hassan, and the accompanying delegation, to discuss ways of cooperation and partnership between the two sides to develop educational outcomes and link them to the labor market, in order to serve the industrial sector and the local community.
Sharairi affirmed the university’s keenness to activate genuine partnerships with various industrial sector institutions in the Kingdom, in line with its vision of bridging the gap between academia and industry, connecting theoretical knowledge with practical application, and thus supporting industrial development and advancing the national economy.
He emphasized the necessity of linking innovation with manufacturing and transforming scientific research into productive projects that contribute to stimulating investment and generating job opportunities.
Sharairi pointed out that the goal of education is not merely to obtain a job, but to prepare students to enter the labor market by refining their learning, communication, and interpersonal skills. He added that the university seeks to update its academic programs to keep pace with the continuous changes in the world of knowledge and science.
For his part, Abu Hassan stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation with Yarmouk University, which is home to many distinguished scientific competencies in various fields, describing it as a national academic institution that produces qualified talents forming a key pillar for the development of national industry.
He noted that the Irbid Chamber of Industry seeks to build strategic partnerships with Jordanian universities to develop training and qualification programs that meet the needs of the industrial sector, enhance competitiveness in local and global markets, and connect educational outcomes with the industrial labor market.
In light of the continuation of daylight saving time, the President of Yarmouk University, Prof. Malik Al-Shraireh, has issued the following directives:
The daily lecture schedule will now begin at 8:30 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m.
Deans and directors are authorized to apply a flexible working schedule for administrative and technical staff within their respective units, allowing employees to start work at either 8:00 a.m. or 8:30 a.m., provided that the total working hours remain eight hours per day, and in coordination with the Human Resources Department.
This decision excludes units and positions whose of work requires different working hours, in coordination between the concerned deans or directors and the Human Resources Department.
The decision shall take effect starting Sunday, November 2, 2025, and will remain in force until further notice.
Minister of Interior Mazen Al-Farayeh sponsored the national awareness campaign at Yarmouk University, held under the slogan “Yes to Life… No to Drugs.” The campaign, launched by the Public Security Directorate on campus, was attended by the University President Prof. Dr. Malek Al-Sharairi, the Director of Public Security Major General . Dr. Obaidallah Al-Ma’aytah, and the Governor of Irbid, Radwan Al-Atoum.
The campaign aims to raise public awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and ways to prevent it. It is held within the framework of a comprehensive and participatory national vision that brings together official, academic, and youth institutions, with a special focus on university students and young people, as they are the group most capable of driving positive change in society.
In a speech delivered at the ceremony, Al-Farayeh emphasized that combating drugs is a shared national responsibility that is not limited to security efforts alone, but is complemented by the roles of families, schools, universities, and the media in protecting society and safeguarding young people from this dangerous scourge.
Al-Farayeh expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Public Security Directorate for its significant efforts in combating drugs through the security pursuit of drug dealers and the implementation of awareness, prevention, and treatment programs. He also commended Yarmouk University for hosting this event, emphasizing the important role of universities in raising awareness and building an aware generation capable of saying, “Yes to life… No to drugs.”
For his part, Al-Sharairi expressed the university’s pride in hosting this event and being chosen as the starting point for this national campaign, which embodies the effective partnership between security and academic institutions in serving the community. He praised the role of university students in promoting a culture of awareness and responsibility and in supporting national efforts to prevent drug abuse.
He stressed that the university believes education is not limited to academic knowledge, but also helps shape one’s character and develop the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, and to choose a life filled with giving and productivity. He pointed out that the Deanship of Student Affairs at Yarmouk University works to embody the university’s mission of strengthening belonging and social responsibility, and launching youth initiatives aimed at awareness and prevention.
Al-Sharairi pointed out that Yarmouk University’s message to every young man and woman is clear: you are the hope and future of Jordan. Protect your minds and hearts from anything that may cloud them, embrace life with hope and determination, and hold on to the genuine values you inherited from your parents and grandparents — values of will, perseverance, and dignity. He also praised the sincere efforts of the Public Security Directorate in protecting the country’s youth and appreciated everyone who contributes to building a safe and aware environment.
For his part, Brigadier General Hassan Al-Qudah, Director of the Anti-Narcotics Department, affirmed that the directorate continues its efforts to protect society from this scourge through an integrated strategy that includes security, awareness, and treatment aspects. He noted that combating drugs is a collective responsibility that requires community awareness and the cooperation of all national efforts.
The ceremony also included a friendly match that brought together former and current national team players. The game was held in an atmosphere full of enthusiasm and sportsmanship, delivering a meaningful message to youth that sports are the way to life… no to drugs.
The ceremony also included an outdoor awareness exhibition held in the university courtyards, where visual materials and educational brochures were displayed to highlight the dangers of drugs and ways to prevent them. The exhibition also presented stories and successful experiences in treatment and rehabilitation.
It is noted that this awareness campaign will continue for two weeks, during which the activities and events will focus on young people, aiming to promote life values and raise awareness about the dangers of drugs and their effects on individuals and society.
The preparation of scientific competencies in various fields of knowledge, and the production of innovative scientific research aims to serve society by providing exemplary education in an intellectually stimulating university environment.
