(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Erbil, July 20 (Petra) -- Jordan is participating in the 8th International Education Exhibition (EDEX) in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with a wide-ranging delegation aimed at promoting the Kingdom as a regional destination for academic tourism.
The event, which runs through Sunday, features an active Jordanian presence led by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Jordan Tourism Board, alongside 14 public and private universities. The delegation also includes specialized academies focused on aviation, culinary arts, and tourism.
The exhibition was inaugurated on Saturday under the patronage of Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw. Jordan's Consul General in Erbil, Fuad Al-Majali, attended the opening ceremony and toured the Jordanian booths.
Jordan's participation forms part of the country's 2023–2027 strategy to attract international students, a plan approved by the Cabinet and jointly implemented by the Ministry of Higher Education and the Jordan Tourism Board.
The strategy aims to enhance the country's visibility in regional and global education markets, increase the enrollment of international students, and boost educational exports through academic tourism.
Officials view the partnership between the Ministry and the Tourism Board as a strategic one, designed to support coordinated promotion efforts at key international education events. Several exhibitions are planned for 2025 to further build on this momentum.
The Erbil exhibition follows a key policy move in May 2024 by the Ministry of Higher Education in the Kurdistan Region to formally recognize all Jordanian public and private universities that participated in the Jordan–Kurdistan Higher Education Forum held in Erbil. That event resulted in the signing of multiple academic cooperation agreements with universities in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok.
The recognition came on the heels of an official visit to the region in May 2025, during which a delegation from the Ministry and the Tourism Board, coordinated through the Jordanian Consulate in Erbil, met with senior officials from the Ministries of Education and Higher Education. The delegation also conducted site visits to several schools to promote Jordan as a destination for quality higher education.
Jordanian officials say the growing engagement with the Kurdistan Region reflects a broader push to strengthen academic ties, diversify student recruitment channels, and position Jordan as a leading hub for regional and international students.

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