News and updates

SyrIA Dialogue Mission to Damascus

A high-level GJU delegation completed a two-day mission to Damascus, combining strategic dialogue with Syrian public university presidents, visits to innovation centres, and high-level talks with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The mission concluded with an agreed roadmap for capacity building, institutional development and future academic cooperation.

SyrIA participates in DAAD Brussels event on strengthening Syrian higher education

Representatives of the SyrIA project participated in the DAAD event in Brussels titled National, Regional, and EU Funding Programmes to Strengthen Syrian Academic Capacities and Resilience.

The event brought together Syrian, European and regional actors to discuss coordinated approaches for supporting the recovery and development of the Syrian higher education sector. Discussions highlighted the importance of aligning international support with Syrian national priorities, strengthening universities and academic institutions, and moving from short-term initiatives toward sustainable partnerships.

SyrIA contributed to the exchange by presenting its perspective on institutional capacity building, academic cooperation and the role of regional partnerships in supporting Syrian universities.

SyrIA publishes fact-finding mission booklet

In order to create an evidence-based foundation for further activities, the SyrIA project conducted a fact-finding mission to eight physical Syrian public universities from 9 to 22 May 2026. The mission brought together university leadership, academic staff and administrative personnel to assess the current situation, identify priorities and explore opportunities for future cooperation. The booklet Syrian Higher Education in Transition presents preliminary insights from this qualitative fact-finding phase.

Jordanian–Syrian Dialogue Forum for the Development of Higher Education held at GJU under the SyrIA Project

The German Jordanian University hosted the Jordanian–Syrian Dialogue Forum for the Development of Higher Education on 3 and 4 May 2026 as part of the Syrian Innovation in Academia (SyrIA) project.

Signing of the SyrIA project agreement between GJU and DAAD

The signing of the SyrIA project agreement marked the formal start of the project and laid the foundation for its implementation from March 2026 to December 2027.

Preparatory discussion with the Syrian Deputy Minister

As part of the preparatory phase of the SyrIA project, a discussion was held with the Syrian Deputy Minister to exchange on priorities for Syrian higher education and to prepare the dialogue and fact-finding activities that followed. The discussion contributed to shaping the project’s evidence-based approach and the subsequent mission to Syrian public universities.