Malaysia to increase number of exchange students

AMMAN — Minister of Higher Education Adel Tweisi on Sunday met with Malaysian Ambassador Datuk Jilid to discuss the possibility of increasing the number of exchange students between the two countries, the ministry’s Secretary General Ahed Wahadneh told The Jordan Times on Monday. 

During the meeting, the minister reiterated the Higher Education Council’s decision to treat non-Jordanian students enrolled in Islamic law (Sharia) and Arabic language programmes as nationals in terms of tuition fees, encouraging Malaysian students “to come study in Jordanian universities with the same privileges as the locals”.

The officials also discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the field of scientific research, showing keenness to renew the memorandum of understanding (MoU) existing between both countries, according to Wahadneh. 

The first MoU between Jordan and Malaysia was signed in 1995, starting significant cooperation between the two education ministries including mutual assistance in the technical and vocational educational areas such as electric engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering and home economics.

For his part, the Malaysian ambassador praised the bilateral historical relations and commended the level of performance of Jordanian universities and the Kingdom´s cooperation with higher education institutions in Malaysia. 

“The ministry is aiming to foster the relationship with Malaysia and continue the exchange of students,” Wahadneh said, noting that Jordan is currently hosting a total of 1,378 Malaysian students.

“Malaysia is a brother country and we are looking forward to increasing cooperation,” he added, stressing the ministry’s plans to attract 70,000 international students to Jordanian universities by 2020. 

“Among other measures, we will soon establish a one-stop-window for all foreign students to apply to Jordanian universities,” the secretary highlighted, noting that the new platform will “ease the process for the students who will be able to complete all formalities without hassle”.