Amman, Oct. 13 (Petra) – Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Azmi Mahafzah met on Monday with Syrian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Marwan Halabi, who is visiting the Kingdom at the head of a high-level delegation, to discuss ways to enhance academic and scientific cooperation between the two countries.

According to a statement by the ministry, the meeting was attended by the ministry’s Acting Secretary-General Shadi Masa’adah, President of the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission Dhafer Sarayrah, and the Syrian Chargé d’Affaires Ihsan Rumman.

Mahafzah underscored the deep-rooted historical relations between Jordan and Syria and highlighted Jordan’s keenness to expand cooperation, particularly in higher education, scientific research, and the exchange of expertise.

For his part, Halabi expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and underlined the strong historical, cultural, and religious bonds linking the two countries, emphasizing their mutual interest in strengthening collaboration in the academic and research fields.

The ministry noted that the discussions addressed several key issues, foremost of which was the renewal of an executive program in higher education and scientific research aimed at expanding cooperation in student scholarships, academic exchanges, and joint university projects through twinning programs between Jordanian and Syrian institutions. The program also includes the exchange of scholarships and study seats for students from both countries.

Both sides reviewed the mechanisms needed to achieve mutual recognition of universities, in accordance with the accreditation standards approved by each country, and discussed additional topics of shared interest.

The two sides also explored prospects for cooperation between the Jordanian Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission and Syria’s National Quality and Accreditation Commission.

Sarayrah stressed the importance of maintaining the accreditation of medical schools in Syrian universities by the Jordanian Commission, under its authority granted by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), which designates it as the accrediting body for medical schools in Jordan and the region.

//Petra// AJ

13/10/2025 14:08:01