Prof. Mwaffaq Otoom

Yarmouk University (YU) gives great importance to the role of international cooperation and participation in order to support its students and employees, and it always strives to achieve this through continuous work and cooperation with its local and international partners.

The Department of International Relations and Projects (DIRP) at YU is committed to reflecting the distinguished international reputation and highlighting the best image of the university.

We at DIRP seek to establish several partnerships and favorable relations with various prestigious universities and institutions in different parts of the world. We always strive to exchange educational and research experiences and support the exchange of students and staff members with our educational institutions partners; we provide them with the necessary information and assistance for the purposes of academic mobility, in addition to our continuous efforts to encourage internationalization and experience among students and employees in the various colleges, centers and departments of the university.

The Department of International Relations and Projects, through the Division of International Projects, supervises the administrative procedures for the implementation of projects that are funded by various local and international bodies, and it is always ready to provide all necessary support and guidance to facilitate the implementation of these projects. DIRP at YU is considered a link between researchers and the various projects related bodies inside and outside the university.

Our main goal is to increase the quality and number of funded projects, create a database for donor agencies and bodies, and provide this information to serve researchers. In line with this goal, the Projects and International Relations Department organizes many events aimed at building and supporting the capabilities of faculty members in writing project proposals and submitting them to the right donors.

In regard to increasing cooperation and partnership with the industry, the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Office was established, which seeks to connect the university with the local community and work as the network between researchers and industries in addition to highlighting the university's capabilities in the fields of research, services, products and researchers’ capabilities. For this purpose, we are working on establishing a database to include laboratories, workshops and main equipment, the expertise and capabilities of faculty members, and the services and products that the university can provide through a virtual exhibition of creative projects. The office seeks to activate the transfer of knowledge and technology and to develop plans for implementing the signed agreements and to contribute to the promotion and marketing of YU university locally and abroad.

In order to expand the scope of our work to serve the university's strategies, several committees have been formed at the university aiming to provide assistance, support and advice to develop the department's work and broaden the base of its partnerships. For example, a committee was formed to cooperate with the Francophone institutions, with the aim of expanding the cooperation with French-speaking institutions of higher education in various fields. Another committee has also been formed that includes specialized female researchers to work together to conduct research targeting women's and youth issues, in addition to a special committee to develop a strategic plan to market the university internationally.

Interaction and integration are among the most important elements of the globalization process, and for that, we always focus on increasing the number of exchange opportunities for students, faculty and staff, in hope to enable them to acquire an international vision that helps them adapt to new and different environments, and gives them the ability to exchange knowledge, establishing new partnerships, and facing various challenges.

DIRP strives to increase the funded international projects, international academic activities, search for new initiatives, hold conferences and events with international partners, and computerize work systems and procedures in a way that contributes to facilitates and accelerates the achievement of the university’s mission and vision.