Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Visit to JUST Strengthens Collaboration in Cybersecurity and International Education
As part of the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Programme, Dr.-Ing. Loui Al Sardy, Head of the Network Security Research Group at the Lab of Computer Networks and Communication Systems (CS7), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), visited Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) in Irbid, Jordan, July 26–30, 2026.
The visit provided an excellent platform for strengthening academic ties between FAU and JUST and exploring new opportunities for cooperation in research, teaching, and student mobility.
A central part of the programme was the visit to the Department of Cybersecurity, hosted by Dr. Qasem Abu Al-Haija, Head of the Department of Cybersecurity.
Dr. Al Sardy met with faculty members and presented the research and teaching activities of the Network Security Research Group (NSG) and CS7 at FAU.
The discussions focused on potential collaboration in areas including cybersecurity, network security, artificial intelligence, and the protection of critical infrastructures, as well as opportunities for joint research projects and academic exchange.
The visit also provided an opportunity to reconnect with Dr. Abdullah S. Alshra’a from the Department of Cybersecurity, a former colleague at CS7, and to discuss possibilities for future cooperation between the two research environments.
As part of the academic programme, Dr. Al Sardy delivered guest lectures and engaged with JUST students on topics related to cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
A further session addressed academic and professional life in Germany, providing students with practical insights into study opportunities, research pathways, internships, and professional careers in Germany.
Another highlight was a visit to the Center of Excellence for Innovative Projects, where Dr. Deaa Bataineh, Deputy Director of the Center, introduced ongoing student projects, facilities, and innovation activities. The visit offered an opportunity to exchange ideas on how research, entrepreneurship, and student innovation could form additional areas of collaboration.
The mobility was coordinated with the support of Rola Hseinat, Head of the Academic Exchange Programs Section, together with colleagues from JUST’s International Relations Office. Their support before and throughout the visit contributed significantly to a productive programme and opened discussions on future student and staff mobility between the two universities.
AEECT 2026
During his stay in Jordan, Dr. Al Sardy also had the opportunity to attend the opening of the 8th IEEE Jordanian Conference on Applied Electrical Engineering and Computing Technology (AEECT 2026), further expanding the exchange with researchers and academic partners in Jordan.
The Erasmus+ visit represents another important step toward strengthening cooperation between FAU and JUST. Building on the discussions initiated during the mobility, both sides aim to explore future opportunities for joint research, academic exchange, student and staff mobility, guest lectures, and collaborative international projects.
Special thanks goes to Bianca Köndgen, M.A., Erasmus+ Institutional Coordinator at FAU, for her continuous support and assistance throughout the Erasmus+ mobility process.