At the School of Architecture and Built Environment (SABE) of the German-Jordanian University in Amman (GJU), another joint intensive workshop on the topic of “Sustainable Building” took place as part of the DAAD funding program. Representatives of the university from Amman were guests at the Campus Gestaltung in Trier in May 2024 to kick off the project.
Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Matthias Sieveke, Prof. Petra Riegler-Floors, Prof. Daniel Berger and Prof. Robert Thum traveled to Amman as representatives of the Architecture course, as well as a group of students and assistants from the course.
As representatives of the Jordanian partner university, Prof. Dr. Reiner Finkeldey, Vice President for International Affairs, as well as Dr. Omaimah Ali, Dr. Osama Saadeh, Dr. Farah Alatrash and Ms. Rawan Rawhi Said Khattab welcomed the guests from Germany.
The workshop, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), was dedicated to the topic of “Building Sustainable Futures” and offered students and professors from both universities the opportunity to develop innovative and sustainable architectural solutions in Jordan. Forward-looking approaches such as “urban mining” and the integration of local, environmentally friendly materials such as straw and clay were discussed. The students also developed proposals for increasing energy efficiency on the GJU campus. Solutions such as the use of photovoltaic systems and the use of natural ventilation systems were just some of the ideas that were developed. A presentation by Dr. Farah from GJU illustrated the far-reaching climatic changes in Jordan and their impact on the construction industry.
In interdisciplinary groups, the participants developed solutions that do justice to Jordan's climatic conditions and at the same time preserve the historical heritage of architecture. The intensive exchange not only enabled the development of innovative approaches, but also promoted international relations and networking between the universities.
In addition to the academic workshop program, the participants had the opportunity to experience Jordanian culture. Highlights included a visit to the ancient city of Petra, where the group was able to explore the impressive landscape. These excursions offered deep insights into the country's culture and rich heritage.
The collaboration between Trier University of Applied Sciences and the GJU once again demonstrated the great value of international partnerships for the training of young professionals. The discussion of sustainability issues and innovative construction methods showed that global challenges can only be overcome through joint efforts and the ongoing exchange of knowledge.
The participants returned to Germany with new ideas, inspiration and a deep appreciation for the cultural and professional insights they had gained. Trier University of Applied Sciences and the GJU are already planning further joint projects to continue this successful cooperation and provide new impetus for sustainable architecture.
About the funding program:
The DAAD-SDG project “Building Sustainable Futures: Strategic Partnership Hochschule Trier and GJU” is a joint project of Campus Gestaltung and Umweltcampus Birkenfeld at Trier University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the German-Jordanian University in Aman/Jordan (GJU).
The project is managed by Prof. Dr. Matthias Sieveke from the Department of Design and Prof. Dr. Klaus Helling from the Department of Environmental Economics/Environmental Law, IfaS (Institute for Applied Material Flow Management). On the Jordanian side, the project is being supervised by Prof. Dr. Reiner Finkeldey. The project, which started in January 2024, will continue until the end of 2027.
The aim is to substantially strengthen the topic of sustainability in teaching at GJU in two departments. The Department of Design at Trier University of Applied Sciences will work closely with the School of Architecture and Built Environment (SABE) at GJU, as will the Department of Environmental Economics/Environmental Law at Trier University of Applied Sciences with the School of Natural Resources Engineering and Management (SNREM) at GJU. The focus will be on questions of sustainability in structural, design, energy and engineering contexts.
The project is funded by the DAAD with funds from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
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