Obeidat: We have to understand what society wants from universities and what universities can offer to society
The Jordanian University holds an academic retreat looking forward to the future of the university
Obeidat: What the world is going through today requires us to think practically to reshape the features of higher education in Jordan
University of Jordan News (AJA) Sanaa Al-Smadi - The President of the University of Jordan, Dr. Nathir Obeidat, invited the university's leaders to a special academic retreat, in the city of Aqaba today, to discuss the importance of improving various aspects of the educational system, including academic programs and plans, teaching and administrative staff, and the student body.
Obeidat said at the beginning of the retreat's work that what the world is going through today requires us to think in a practical way to reshape the features of higher education in Jordan, directed by the necessity for the university to be aware of its place in the future and work for that, and to understand what society wants from universities and what universities can offer to society.
During the meeting, Obeidat gave a briefing on the university's most prominent achievements, praising what it has achieved at all levels, as it rose in its ranking to be among the top 500 universities in the world and achieved a prestigious rank in academic reputation, which prompts the university to exert more effort in order to maintain what it has achieved. And progress at a steady pace towards globalization.
Obeidat pointed out that the university is implementing the largest scholarship, scholarship and employment programs the academic arena has ever witnessed, in addition to its largest project to modernize study plans, adapt them to the labor market, and link them to artificial intelligence, in addition to what it is accomplishing in terms of infrastructure and classrooms, stressing the need to Deans carry out their responsibilities to attract the best students for scholarships, appoint the best in the teaching staff, and create attractive specializations that cover the needs of the local and global labor market and graduate distinguished students.
Obeidat focused on developing the soft skills materials project, which would change the form of university teaching, requiring intensified efforts from all university employees.
In turn, the Vice President for Scientific Schools Affairs, Dr. Ashraf Abu Karaki, and the Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Dr. Raed Al-Taher, explained how to include soft skills in all study plans, while the Vice President for Humanitarian Schools Affairs, Dr. Nahid Omeish, presented a briefing on developing the study plan.
Dean of the Schools of Graduate Studies, Dr. Suhail Haddadin, explained how to improve study programs, while the Vice President for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Dr. Ziad Hawamdeh, Director of the Information Technology Center, Dr. Marwan Al-Taweel, and Assistant President for Automation and Digital Transformation Affairs, Dr. Louay Nimr, presented the automation and modernization project.
The Vice President for Quality, Accreditation and Strategic Planning, Dr. Inaam Khalaf, presented the Distinguished Official University Award in its second session, while the President's Advisor for Institutional Performance and Modernization Affairs, Dr. Rami Al-Ali, discussed the project to develop teaching halls and infrastructure.
A number of Schools deans presented ways and mechanisms for employing artificial intelligence in study plans, after the university approved 9 hours of soft skills to prepare students for the labor market, and how to include them in study plans in all Schools, in addition to adopting 9 hours of teaching in the English language and 9 other hours in the Arabic language. And 6 hours for digital skills, in order to build the student's capabilities and skills to be armed with science, knowledge, and critical thinking.
The retreat was attended by the Vice Presidents and Deans of Schools (Center and Aqaba), the Vice President of the University of Jordan and Head of the Aqaba Branch, Dr. Nazih Al-Batoush, the President's advisors for institutional performance and modernization affairs, and investment affairs, the President's Assistant for Automation and Digital Transformation Affairs, the Director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, and the Director of Information Technology Center, Director of the Admissions and Registration Unit, Director of the Media and Public Relations Unit, Director of the Councils Affairs Department, and Director of the Engineering Department.
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The University Of Jordan holds an academic retreat looking forward to the future of the university