The Australian Ambassador to Jordan, Bernard Lynch, visited the University of Jordan/ Aqaba on October 30, 2022. He commenced the visit with a meeting with the Vice President of the University of Jordan / Aqaba , Dr. Moath Abu Faraj. The meeting was also attended by the deans of the schools in the university and the Head of the Department of English Language and Literature Dr. Ayman Abu Shomar.
Dr. Abu Faraj welcomed His Excellency, Ambassador Lynch on behalf of the President of the University of Jordan/ Aqaba, Prof. Dr. Ghalib Abbasi. Dr. Abu Faraj praised the depth of the bilateral relations between Australia and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He also thanked His Excellency for the support the Australian government provides to the various Jordanian sectors. He also briefed the honourable guest on the establishment and growth of the University of Jordan/ Aqaba. Additionally, he emphasised the possible ways through which the university and academic institutions in Australia could promote cooperation in the near future.
For his part, His Excellency the Ambassador praised the high level of academic and educational professionalism he saw at the university. He also emphasised the strength of the bilateral relations and friendship between the two countries. Mr. Lynch also reviewed the Jordanian-Australian cooperation in the fields of defence, security, trade, culture, tourism, archaeology, education, and sustainable training programmes. In particular, he highlighted possible future collaboration between the Australian Embassy and the University of Jordan/ Aqaba. He positively responded to the suggestions of launching a student and faculty mutual cultural exchange programme. He also showed interest in the University of Jordan’s unique programme of teaching Arabic to non-native speakers. Additionally, he welcomed the idea of organising online workshops and programmes to be held by Australian universities and the University of Jordan/ Aqaba.
Additionally, Mr. Lynch affirmed his support for the role of the University of Jordan/ Aqaba in promoting research, and local community services. He commended Aqaba’s strategic location as intermediating two continents, Asia and Africa. He maintained that such a strategic location could promote further economic opportunities for the local community in Aqaba. He elaborated that such an important location could play a vital role in revitalising the educational and tourism sector altogether.
After the meeting, Dr. Abu Faraj accompanied Mr. Lynch on a tour that included seeing some laboratories, teaching halls, the language lab., and the Hashemite Royal Family Photo Exhibition on campus. The visit was concluded by a meeting with the Head of the Department of English Language and Literature, faculty members and some students of the department. In the meeting, Mr. Lynch watched a video clip of the English Department students’ academic performance. He also held some friendly discussions with both students and faculty.