Indonesia, Jordan Discuss Initiatives to Boost Educational Ties
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: In a significant move towards strengthening bilateral cooperation, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas welcomed Jordanian Ambassador Sudqi Attalah Al Omoush for discussions centered on enhancing educational ties between Indonesia and Jordan. The focus of the dialogue was to encourage Indonesian students to pursue studies in Jordan, fostering mutual understanding and knowledge exchange.
During the meeting, Minister Qoumas highlighted the current lack of awareness among Indonesian students regarding educational opportunities in Jordan. He proposed the need for incentives, particularly streamlined visa application processes, to attract more Indonesian students to Jordan. In a statement released by the minister’s office on Monday, Qoumas stated, “Currently, Indonesian students have no perspectives about studying in Jordan. If Jordan can offer easy visas for Indonesian students, I think it will be a good attraction for them.”
To actively support this initiative, Minister Qoumas revealed plans for the Directorate of Islamic Education within his ministry to develop promotional materials. These materials aim to provide valuable information and encouragement for Indonesian students considering education in Jordan. The minister expressed his optimism, stating, “I hope the number of our students studying in Jordan will increase.”
Ambassador Al Omoush responded positively to Minister Qoumas’s proposal to facilitate visa processes for Indonesian students, affirming, “Regarding visas, God willing, there will be no problems, and we will treat Indonesian children as our children.” The ambassador conveyed the Jordanian Ministry of Higher Education’s eagerness to witness a surge in Indonesian students pursuing studies at Jordanian universities.
Furthermore, Ambassador Al Omoush proposed the possibility of formalizing the commitment through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indonesia and Jordan. He expressed his hope that the Jordanian Ministry of Higher Education could dispatch a team to Indonesia for educational outreach, providing detailed information about studying in Jordan.
The ambassador emphasized the similarity in the lecture system between Jordan and Indonesia, citing the use of Semester Credit Units (SKS) to ensure a measurable duration of study. This aligns with the goal of facilitating timely graduation for students.
As both nations explore these avenues for collaboration, the discussions underscore the commitment to fostering educational partnerships and creating opportunities for students to pursue academic excellence in Jordan.
