As part of the Higher Education Dialogue project, a three-week international summer school was organised in Jordan in September 2019 to provide an opportunity for professional and intercultural exchange on "International Social Work and Migration" as well as a mutual learning experience for social work master‘s students of FHWS, GJU, Yarmouk University and Lebanese University.

The summer school in Jordan was held from September 8 – 28, 2019. Eight students from FHWS, five students from GJU, two students from Yarmouk University and two students from the Lebanese University participated. The programme comprised lectures, institutional visits, participation in workshops and two conferences, group discussions on different topics, prepared by the students in teams, and the visit of historical attractions.

The summer school started on the main GJU campus in Madaba, with lectures on political and legal circumstances, social work and refugee assistance in Jordan as well as the international humanitarian aid system and the interconnections between the UN Sustainable Development Goals and migration.

In order to get an insight into the practical work of organisations working in the field of social work and refugee assistance in Jordan, the group visited several institutions in Madaba and Amman, for instance Caritas, UNHCR and Islamic Charity Center Society.

A special learning experience for the students was the workshop on conflict management, which took place in cooperation with Relief International in Zaatari refugee camp and which was also attended by Syrian workers of the „cash for food“ project.

At the conference of the DAAD project „Localisation of Social Work in Arab Countries“, the students had the chance to learn more about the topics of professionalisation, financing and higher education of social work. They also participated in this year’s conference of two Higher Education Dialogue projects, where project members presented their research results on different aspects of the project theme „Social Work and Refugees“. They also participated in a workshop on the code of ethics for Social Work to discuss die importance of ethical prinicples in the field of migration.

In relation to the programme, the following topics were addressed presentations oft he students and group discussions: „Christian charity organisations“, „Muslim charity organisations“, „Faith-sensitive Social Work“, „Localisation of Social Work in the Arab Region“, „Refugee camp management“, „International humanitarian aid system in Jordan“, „The Makani approach by UNICEF Jordan“, „Community Development“ and „Code of Ethics for Social Work“. The topics were prepared and presented in teams – one FHWS student and one student of the partner universities – which led to an intensive professional and personal exchange within the group.

The visits to St. Georges church with the mosaic map of Madaba, Mount Nebo, Dead Sead, the historical site of Jerash, the UNESCO world heritage sites Petra and Wadi Rum as well as Aqaba at the Red Sea, amongst others, were a nice variation in the programme and provided more insights into the Jordanian history and culture.

GJU vice president for international affairs welcomed the summer school students (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
GJU vice president for international affairs welcomed the summer school students (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The group did a campus tour on the GJU main campus in Madaba (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The group did a campus tour on the GJU main campus in Madaba (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
Summer School group picture at the GJU Madaba Campus (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Summer School group picture at the GJU Madaba Campus (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
The students of the four universities (FHWS, GJU, YU, LU) got to know each other through group work (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
The students of the four universities (FHWS, GJU, YU, LU) got to know each other through group work (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Prof. Dr. Hannah Reich interacting with the group of summer school students (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
Prof. Dr. Hannah Reich interacting with the group of summer school students (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
Adib Ghazi and Mahmoud Mandow gave an introduction into Social Work in Jordan (Photo: Bushra Abyad)
Adib Ghazi and Mahmoud Mandow gave an introduction into Social Work in Jordan (Photo: Bushra Abyad)
Suzan Muharib gave a lecture on the "Political and legal basics of Social Work in Jordan” (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Suzan Muharib gave a lecture on the "Political and legal basics of Social Work in Jordan” (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Bashar Al-Khatib shared his knowledge and experience of the international humanitarian aid system with the students (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
Bashar Al-Khatib shared his knowledge and experience of the international humanitarian aid system with the students (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
Group picture at Caritas Jordan in Madaba (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Group picture at Caritas Jordan in Madaba (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Students of the Summer School particpated in the conference of the DAAD project "Localisation of Social Work in Arab Countries" teil (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Students of the Summer School particpated in the conference of the DAAD project "Localisation of Social Work in Arab Countries" teil (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Participation in the LOSWAC-Conference (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Participation in the LOSWAC-Conference (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
The Summer School group visited the UNESCO world heritage of Petra (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The Summer School group visited the UNESCO world heritage of Petra (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
Group picture in Petra (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Group picture in Petra (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Summer School participants exchanged their views with other students on the HED closing conference "Social Work with Refugees" (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Summer School participants exchanged their views with other students on the HED closing conference "Social Work with Refugees" (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
The group visited a women's cooperative in Iraq Al-Amer, whose work has a major socio-economic impact for the community of the village (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The group visited a women's cooperative in Iraq Al-Amer, whose work has a major socio-economic impact for the community of the village (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The students learnt how the women produced their own hand-made products in the cooperative (for instance pottery) (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The students learnt how the women produced their own hand-made products in the cooperative (for instance pottery) (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The cooperative enables the women to have a profitable work, such as in the weaving mill (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The cooperative enables the women to have a profitable work, such as in the weaving mill (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The students also visited the ruins of the century old castle in Iraq Al-Amer (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The students also visited the ruins of the century old castle in Iraq Al-Amer (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The students talked about and reflected on their experiences in group discussions (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The students talked about and reflected on their experiences in group discussions (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
In presentations of the students and group discussions various topics were addressed (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
In presentations of the students and group discussions various topics were addressed (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
The presentations provided space for substantive dialogue and exchange within the group (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The presentations provided space for substantive dialogue and exchange within the group (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
At the same time, the discussion of the topics prepared by the students, served as preparation and follow-up of the different activities in the programme (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
At the same time, the discussion of the topics prepared by the students, served as preparation and follow-up of the different activities in the programme (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The students received an overview of the work of UNHCR when they visited the headquarters of the UN Organisation in Jordan (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The students received an overview of the work of UNHCR when they visited the headquarters of the UN Organisation in Jordan (Photo: FHWS/Mends).
The UNHCR visit opened up room for discussions about ethical considerations and emotional challenges in the work with refugees and migrants (Photo: FHWS/ Mends).
The UNHCR visit opened up room for discussions about ethical considerations and emotional challenges in the work with refugees and migrants (Photo: FHWS/ Mends).
Workshop "Code of Ethics for Social Work with refugees and migrants": Group discussions with students of the HED project group (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Workshop "Code of Ethics for Social Work with refugees and migrants": Group discussions with students of the HED project group (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Workshop "Code of Ethics for Social Work with refugees and migrants": Presentation of results of the discussion (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Workshop "Code of Ethics for Social Work with refugees and migrants": Presentation of results of the discussion (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Group picture of the Summer School participants and the HED project group (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Group picture of the Summer School participants and the HED project group (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
At the end of the Summer School, certificates of participation were handed over to the participants (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
At the end of the Summer School, certificates of participation were handed over to the participants (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
The professors of the involved universities congratulated the students for the successful completetion of the summer school (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
The professors of the involved universities congratulated the students for the successful completetion of the summer school (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Final group picture of the Summer School group 2019 (Photo: Bushra Abyad).
Final group picture of the Summer School group 2019 (Photo: Bushra Abyad).