On behalf of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Azmi Mahafzah, the Secretary-General of the Ministry, Dr. Mamoun Al-Dabie, sponsored the closing ceremony of the third edition of the 2025 competition on Monday. The event was attended by several ambassadors, cultural attachés, and counselors, in addition to a number of university presidents from Jordan. The competition was organized by the International Students Affairs Unit at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in collaboration with its strategic partner, the Jordan Tourism Board.

The final stage of the competition saw three students winning the top three positions as follows:

• First place: Mohammad Fayyadh bin Fauzi (Malaysian nationality), studying at the World Islamic Sciences and Education University.
• Second place: Badr Mohammad Al-Houri (Syrian nationality), studying at Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan.
• Third place: Natanon Mat Wang (Thai nationality), studying at Yarmouk University.

Dr. Mamoun Al- Dabie  , the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, stated that the ministry's decision to hold a Qur'an recitation and Tajweed competition aims to honor the Holy Qur'an during this blessed month, following the guidance of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in learning and reciting the Qur'an. He emphasized that Jordanian institutions, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein, support and promote Qur'an recitation and Tajweed education. Addressing the participants, he said:
"Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition and distinction in Qur'an recitation and Tajweed. Jordan, which has become your second home and has embraced you away from your families so that you may achieve your dreams, takes pride in your accomplishments. You are Jordan’s ambassadors."

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research reported that a total of 218 international students from 23 Arab and Islamic countries and 24 Jordanian higher education institutions applied to participate in this year's competition and met the eligibility criteria.

Two weeks ago, the International Students Affairs Unit at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in cooperation with the Jordan Tourism Board, launched the competition under the title " Reciter for International Students ". The competition required participants to be non-Jordanian (international students) enrolled in a Jordanian higher education institution, regardless of their field of study, program, or academic degree.

A specialized judging panel was formed, consisting of:

1. Dr. Hatem Jamil Al-Suhaimat – Chairman of the Panel, Assistant Secretary-General for Directorates Affairs/Director of Sharia Education at the Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Places, with extensive experience in judging local and international Qur'an recitation competitions.
2. Prof. Dr. Tamam Odeh Al-Assaf – Faculty member at the College of Sharia at the University of Jordan, specializing in Tajweed rules and a former judge in multiple Qur'an memorization and recitation competitions.
3. Sheikh Tawfiq Ibrahim Dumrah – Head of the Qur'an Centers Department at the Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Places, with long-standing experience in judging Qur'an competitions in and outside Jordan.
4. Dr. Sobhi Ibrahim Al-Sharqawi – Professor of Music Education at The Hashemite University, specializing in phonetics, musical scales, and Arabic melodies, and a long-time judge in numerous Jordanian and Arab music festivals.
5. Dr. Farid Shawqi Sarsak – Professor of Literature, Criticism, and Poetry, a part-time lecturer at several Jordanian universities, founder and director of multiple Arab satellite channels, an expert in vocal Maqamat (melodic modes), and certified in Qur'an recitation and teaching.

The Ministry allocated financial prizes for the winners as follows:

• First place: 1,500 Jordanian dinars.
• Second place: 1,000 Jordanian dinars.
• Third place: 500 Jordanian dinars.
  Additionally, Huawei Jordan provided valuable in-kind gifts to the top three winners.

It is worth noting that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in cooperation with the Jordan Tourism Board, has recently launched a series of entertainment and motivational programs for international students under the title "You Are Jordan’s Ambassadors". This initiative aligns with the Executive Plan of the International Student Recruitment Strategy (2023-2027), recently approved by the Jordanian Council of Ministers, aiming to enhance educational tourism in the Kingdom and increase the enrollment of international students in Jordanian higher education institutions.