Amman- 18 October 2021
The German Jordanian University (GJU) establishes a first of its kind Deanship of Innovation, Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship (DI-TECH). This groundbreaking decision was taken by the Board of Trustees in its meeting of October 17, 2021.
President Prof. Ala'aldeen Al- Halhouli stressed the unique potential of the new Deanship to enhance the profile of GJU to introduce the model of a German University of Applied Sciences and guaranteeing employability of its graduates. He quoted the 7th Discussion Paper of his Majesty King Abdullah II on Human Development and Education, “We aspire towards a strong Jordan that arms its children with the finest education to empower them to take on the challenges ahead, launching successful businesses, practising impactful crafts”. Prof. Al-Halhouli added that the Deanship character is in line with his Majesty’s directions as it aims at empowering and raising innovation, technology transfer and entrepreneurship to the same high level as research. This will directly foster the development of the local communities and Jordan as a whole.
DI-TECH will be the umbrella for three departments: The Industrial Relations Department will offer services to the industry related to facilities, networking, consultation, training, co-creation of study plans and cooperation of Dual Study Programs. The Employability Department will provide services to students preparing them for their international internship in the German industry and their professional career. The Entrepreneurship Department will foster knowledge development in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship, disseminate the respective output, host GJU’s innovation, incubation, and intellectual property service and offer curricular courses on entrepreneurship, employability and innovation.
The German-Jordanian University is a unique university in Jordan that follows the German Fachhochschule model of education. In that, via its structured courses that go hand-in-hand with practical relevance and enhanced embedded training, the university is to produce highly skilled and well-trained cadres and professionals. The university has established close ties with over 120 German partner universities. The partner universities host GJU students for one full year (one study semester, one industry semester). This exposes students to a wide range of scholars, researchers and practitioners from other universities and industries.