Visits like this allow us to better understand the universities our students may one day call home—and to provide families with informed, meaningful guidance as they navigate those important decisions.

In late May 2026, I had the pleasure of representing the Waldorf School of Jordan on a familiarization visit to the University of Nicosia (UNIC) in Nicosia, Cyprus—and it is safe to say the experience exceeded expectations. 

Alongside representatives from several excellent schools across the region, I spent several days exploring the campus, meeting faculty and students, learning about the university’s academic programs, and gaining a firsthand sense of student life at one of the Eastern Mediterranean’s leading international universities. 

As educators, we spend a great deal of time helping students think about what comes next after high school. We encourage them to dream big, explore possibilities, and consider the many different paths available to them. Visits like this allow us to better understand the universities our students may one day call home—and to provide families with informed, meaningful guidance as they navigate those important decisions. 

From the moment we arrived, one thing stood out immediately: the University of Nicosia has managed to create an environment that feels both highly modern and genuinely welcoming. The campus is contemporary, vibrant, and impressively well-equipped, yet it retains a sense of community and approachability that can sometimes be difficult to find at larger institutions. 

Throughout the visit, we were introduced to a wide range of academic programs spanning Medicine and Health Sciences, Business, Engineering, Architecture, International Relations, Technology, and many other fields. Across every presentation, discussion, and campus tour, there was a consistent emphasis on innovation, employability, research, and international collaboration—not simply as marketing language, but as principles woven into the university’s culture and approach. 

The facilities themselves were impressive, including advanced laboratories, collaborative learning spaces, technology-rich classrooms, and student support services designed to help learners thrive both academically and personally. We also toured the university’s student residences, which offered a comfortable, secure, and modern living environment for students studying away from home. 

One of the most meaningful parts of the visit, however, was meeting Jordanian students currently enrolled at UNIC. Hearing directly about their experiences brought the university to life in a way that no brochure or presentation ever could. Their enthusiasm for their studies, their confidence, and their clear sense of belonging spoke volumes about the student experience. 

LOOKING BEYOND ADMISSIONS 

The renewal of this scholarship offer reflects not only the growing partnership between our institutions, but also the strong impression Waldorf students continue to make through their academic preparation, personal character, and sense of purpose.

As someone who works closely with student leadership, Model United Nations, Student Council, and other programs that encourage independence and personal growth, I am always interested in institutions that help young people develop not only academically, but also as capable, thoughtful, and engaged members of a global community. What impressed me most about UNIC was the extent to which students appeared to be supported in doing exactly that. 

For Waldorf families, this visit was especially meaningful because it reflects the broader work our school continues to do in helping students explore university and career pathways around the world. Through the efforts of our University and Career Counseling (UCC) program, ongoing partnerships with universities, campus visits, and international outreach, our students are increasingly gaining access to opportunities that extend well beyond Jordan’s borders. 

EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WALDORF STUDENTS 

The University of Nicosia is also one of a growing number of institutions with which Waldorf has developed a meaningful and ongoing relationship. Over the past two years, university representatives have visited our campus, met with our students and families, and taken the time to learn about our school community firsthand. 

Earlier this year, the university renewed—for the second consecutive year—an exclusive scholarship opportunity available only to Waldorf School of Jordan students: two merit-based scholarships covering 50% of tuition fees for undergraduate study (excluding Medical and Veterinary programs), renewable for the duration of a student’s degree provided strong academic standing is maintained. 

Opportunities like these are never created by chance. They emerge through relationships, trust, and the consistent quality of the students themselves. The renewal of this scholarship offer reflects not only the growing partnership between our institutions, but also the strong impression Waldorf students continue to make through their academic preparation, personal character, and sense of purpose. 

As we prepare to celebrate Waldorf’s first graduating class this month—and as our seniors continue to receive university acceptances and scholarship offers from around the world—visits like this feel especially meaningful. They are reminders that the pathways ahead of our students are becoming broader, more international, and more exciting with each passing year. 

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the entire University of Nicosia team for their generosity, professionalism, and hospitality throughout the visit. I returned to Jordan with a deeper understanding of the opportunities available to our students—and with genuine excitement about the possibilities that institutions like UNIC can offer the next generation of Waldorf graduates. 

And admittedly, just a little jealous of the weather. 

— Nadia Al Amad, Waldorf Dean of Students