The German-Jordanian University (GJU) is a public university located in Mushaqar. It was founded in 2005 by a Royal Decree, in accordance with a memorandum of understanding reached between the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of the Federal Republic of Germany. In August 2004, a founding committee began up its activities in Jordan. The committee was in close cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. At the same time, the German planning office opened at the University of Magdeburg-Stendal in close cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMBF and the German Academic Exchange Services DAAD, whichfunded the university project for a period of four years. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) under the category "German Study Programmes Abroad" . The laying of the corner stone took place on April 25th, 2005 under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II and in the presence of Her Excellency Ms. Edelgard Bulmahn, the German Federal Minister of Education and Research; His Excellency Dr. Khaled Touqan, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Jordan at the time; His Excellency Professor Jan-Hendrik Olbertz, the Minister of Cultural Affairs of Saxony-Anhalt; the DAAD Vice President, Professor Max Huber; and many other notables.