Since 2019, THWS has maintained a partnership with the University of Palermo (UNIPA). Most of the courses offered are in Italian. The Master's programme is currently being restructured. From 2022, a double degree might be offered. Plans are that students who spend the second programme semester at the University of Palermo and complete a 30 CP study programme there, probably in English, will receive a double degree from the University of Palermo and FHWS after completing their studies at THWS.

The university in the capital of Sicily was established in 1806 by Ferdinand III and is among the largest universities in Italy. Through Palermo's mayor Leoluca Orlando's campaign against the criminalisation of sea rescue and his commitment to refugees and migrants, the city has become a political beacon within the European Union for the protection of refugees and respect for the rights of refugees and migrants.

A first important partner is the German-Jordanian University (GJU), Amman, Jordan. In close cooperation with the planning office at the Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences (a specially created task force of German and Jordanian experts with the participation of Prof. Dr. Ralf Roßkopf) GJU’s School of Applied Humanities and Languages developed the course programme Migration & Refugee Work.

The German-Jordanian University (GJU) is a state university. Established in 2004, it offers academic education corresponding to the German model of universities of applied sciences. Our master’s students can spend a semester at GJU since the winter semester 2016/2017. Many of our students have already seized this opportunity and studied for one semester at GJU.

In January 2015, the UNHCR counted 811,070 refugees and asylum seekers in Jordan, including 58,750 from Iraq and 747,360 from Syria. This figure has hardly changed after 744,795 refugees recorded by the UNHCR in 2019. The Zaatari refugee camp is considered the largest in the Arab world, with at times more than 100,000 inhabitants.

Due to its application-oriented focus in research and teaching, but also its excellent reputation as well as close relations to Germany, GJU is the ideal partner institution. Please visit the website for more information about studying and the programs at the German Jordanian University.