Jordan and China: Building a Future Through Education and Science
Jordanian-Chinese relations are entering a new phase that extends beyond economic and trade cooperation to focus on people and knowledge, with higher education, scientific research, and the exchange of students and researchers emerging as key areas of cooperation.
This new phase comes as His Majesty King Abdullah II begins his visit to China on August 18, 2026, at the official invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, amid efforts by both countries to expand cooperation in science, technology, innovation, education, and student exchange.
The future of Jordan-China cooperation in education and scientific research rests on three pillars: people, knowledge, and technology. A Jordanian student studying in China represents an investment in Jordan’s future. A researcher working with a Chinese research team can lay the foundation for a joint scientific project. A Jordanian university connected with Chinese research institutions can create new opportunities for its students and researchers in education, research, and innovation.
Around 600 Jordanian students are currently studying in Chinese universities in fields including medicine, space science, engineering, artificial intelligence, and Chinese language. In addition, around 2,000 people have benefited from training programmes provided by the Chinese government to public institutions and private-sector organisations in various fields. At the same time, around 700 Chinese students are studying at Jordanian universities. This two-way exchange reflects the growing academic and cultural links between the two countries.
My own experience in space science and astronomy is one example of the value of this cooperation. I was the first Jordanian student to earn a PhD in Space Science and Astronomy from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Studying in China was not simply a path to earning an academic degree. It was a research experience that allowed me to work within a scientific environment connected to research centres, observatories, and international scientific projects.
After returning to Jordan, I continued to build on this experience through academic and research work, student training, and the transfer of knowledge in space science and astronomy.
Today, a new group of Jordanian students is pursuing their studies in China. They can form the nucleus of a new generation of researchers capable of developing joint projects and research groups between Jordan and China.
Space science is becoming increasingly important for Jordan because of its applications in satellite technology, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and data analysis. These technologies can contribute to areas directly linked to Jordan’s national needs, including water management, agriculture, climate monitoring, natural resources, communications, and disaster monitoring. Developing space science is therefore not only an investment in scientific research. It is also an investment in technology and Jordan’s capacity to address future challenges.
Jordanian-Chinese cooperation has also led to the establishment of research and academic centres focusing on Jordan and the Arab world. These include the Jordan Research Center at China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, established in 2015, and the Jordan Studies Center at Northwest University of Applied Sciences in Xi’an, established in 2023. Academic partnerships between Jordanian and Chinese universities are also expanding through memoranda of understanding, student and researcher exchanges, and joint research activities.
The next stage should move beyond signing agreements towards implementing practical joint projects in graduate education, artificial intelligence, energy, communications, and space science. These projects can include joint laboratories, expanded training programmes, joint graduate supervision, and greater exchange of faculty members and researchers.
If Jordan succeeds in turning scholarships and student exchanges into research projects and sustained institutional partnerships, cooperation with China can develop into a scientific partnership that produces knowledge, supports development, and builds a new generation of Jordanian researchers.
Education is an investment in people. Scientific research is an investment in knowledge. Technology provides the means to turn that knowledge into solutions that serve Jordan and strengthen its position within the global scientific community.
Ali Taani is professor of Space Science and Astronomy at Al-Balqa Applied University
Jordanian-Chinese relations are entering a new phase that extends beyond economic and trade cooperation to focus on people and knowledge, with higher education, scientific research, and the exchange of students and researchers emerging as key areas of cooperation.
This new phase comes as His Majesty King Abdullah II begins his visit to China on August 18, 2026, at the official invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, amid efforts by both countries to expand cooperation in science, technology, innovation, education, and student exchange.
The future of Jordan-China cooperation in education and scientific research rests on three pillars: people, knowledge, and technology. A Jordanian student studying in China represents an investment in Jordan’s future. A researcher working with a Chinese research team can lay the foundation for a joint scientific project. A Jordanian university connected with Chinese research institutions can create new opportunities for its students and researchers in education, research, and innovation.
Around 600 Jordanian students are currently studying in Chinese universities in fields including medicine, space science, engineering, artificial intelligence, and Chinese language. In addition, around 2,000 people have benefited from training programmes provided by the Chinese government to public institutions and private-sector organisations in various fields. At the same time, around 700 Chinese students are studying at Jordanian universities. This two-way exchange reflects the growing academic and cultural links between the two countries.
My own experience in space science and astronomy is one example of the value of this cooperation. I was the first Jordanian student to earn a PhD in Space Science and Astronomy from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Studying in China was not simply a path to earning an academic degree. It was a research experience that allowed me to work within a scientific environment connected to research centres, observatories, and international scientific projects.
After returning to Jordan, I continued to build on this experience through academic and research work, student training, and the transfer of knowledge in space science and astronomy.
Today, a new group of Jordanian students is pursuing their studies in China. They can form the nucleus of a new generation of researchers capable of developing joint projects and research groups between Jordan and China.
Space science is becoming increasingly important for Jordan because of its applications in satellite technology, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and data analysis. These technologies can contribute to areas directly linked to Jordan’s national needs, including water management, agriculture, climate monitoring, natural resources, communications, and disaster monitoring. Developing space science is therefore not only an investment in scientific research. It is also an investment in technology and Jordan’s capacity to address future challenges.
Jordanian-Chinese cooperation has also led to the establishment of research and academic centres focusing on Jordan and the Arab world. These include the Jordan Research Center at China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, established in 2015, and the Jordan Studies Center at Northwest University of Applied Sciences in Xi’an, established in 2023. Academic partnerships between Jordanian and Chinese universities are also expanding through memoranda of understanding, student and researcher exchanges, and joint research activities.
The next stage should move beyond signing agreements towards implementing practical joint projects in graduate education, artificial intelligence, energy, communications, and space science. These projects can include joint laboratories, expanded training programmes, joint graduate supervision, and greater exchange of faculty members and researchers.
If Jordan succeeds in turning scholarships and student exchanges into research projects and sustained institutional partnerships, cooperation with China can develop into a scientific partnership that produces knowledge, supports development, and builds a new generation of Jordanian researchers.
Education is an investment in people. Scientific research is an investment in knowledge. Technology provides the means to turn that knowledge into solutions that serve Jordan and strengthen its position within the global scientific community.
Ali Taani is professor of Space Science and Astronomy at Al-Balqa Applied University
Jordanian-Chinese relations are entering a new phase that extends beyond economic and trade cooperation to focus on people and knowledge, with higher education, scientific research, and the exchange of students and researchers emerging as key areas of cooperation.
This new phase comes as His Majesty King Abdullah II begins his visit to China on August 18, 2026, at the official invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, amid efforts by both countries to expand cooperation in science, technology, innovation, education, and student exchange.
The future of Jordan-China cooperation in education and scientific research rests on three pillars: people, knowledge, and technology. A Jordanian student studying in China represents an investment in Jordan’s future. A researcher working with a Chinese research team can lay the foundation for a joint scientific project. A Jordanian university connected with Chinese research institutions can create new opportunities for its students and researchers in education, research, and innovation.
Around 600 Jordanian students are currently studying in Chinese universities in fields including medicine, space science, engineering, artificial intelligence, and Chinese language. In addition, around 2,000 people have benefited from training programmes provided by the Chinese government to public institutions and private-sector organisations in various fields. At the same time, around 700 Chinese students are studying at Jordanian universities. This two-way exchange reflects the growing academic and cultural links between the two countries.
My own experience in space science and astronomy is one example of the value of this cooperation. I was the first Jordanian student to earn a PhD in Space Science and Astronomy from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Studying in China was not simply a path to earning an academic degree. It was a research experience that allowed me to work within a scientific environment connected to research centres, observatories, and international scientific projects.
After returning to Jordan, I continued to build on this experience through academic and research work, student training, and the transfer of knowledge in space science and astronomy.
Today, a new group of Jordanian students is pursuing their studies in China. They can form the nucleus of a new generation of researchers capable of developing joint projects and research groups between Jordan and China.
Space science is becoming increasingly important for Jordan because of its applications in satellite technology, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and data analysis. These technologies can contribute to areas directly linked to Jordan’s national needs, including water management, agriculture, climate monitoring, natural resources, communications, and disaster monitoring. Developing space science is therefore not only an investment in scientific research. It is also an investment in technology and Jordan’s capacity to address future challenges.
Jordanian-Chinese cooperation has also led to the establishment of research and academic centres focusing on Jordan and the Arab world. These include the Jordan Research Center at China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, established in 2015, and the Jordan Studies Center at Northwest University of Applied Sciences in Xi’an, established in 2023. Academic partnerships between Jordanian and Chinese universities are also expanding through memoranda of understanding, student and researcher exchanges, and joint research activities.
The next stage should move beyond signing agreements towards implementing practical joint projects in graduate education, artificial intelligence, energy, communications, and space science. These projects can include joint laboratories, expanded training programmes, joint graduate supervision, and greater exchange of faculty members and researchers.
If Jordan succeeds in turning scholarships and student exchanges into research projects and sustained institutional partnerships, cooperation with China can develop into a scientific partnership that produces knowledge, supports development, and builds a new generation of Jordanian researchers.
Education is an investment in people. Scientific research is an investment in knowledge. Technology provides the means to turn that knowledge into solutions that serve Jordan and strengthen its position within the global scientific community.
Ali Taani is professor of Space Science and Astronomy at Al-Balqa Applied University
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Jordan and China: Building a Future Through Education and Science
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