The higher education system in Jordan
Policy updates and major reforms
Relevant Tempus and Erasmus+ projects
List of Technical Assistance Missions organised in Jordan in 2018
Higher education in Jordan plays a key role in the process of comprehensive development. During the last two decades, the sector of higher education in Jordan witnessed a prominent development as well as progress evidenced by the increasing number of institutions of higher education, enrolled students, faculty members, administrative and academic members, and size of expenditures in this sector. In spite of the limited financial resources in the kingdom, higher education lies within the priorities of the country due to the role it plays in promoting the economic, social and knowledge level of the Jordanian citizens.
The Council of Higher Education (COHE) assumes the responsibility of establishing the policy of higher education, approving the establishment of institutions of higher education, supervising the private universities, distributing government subsidies and additional fees on public universities, and formulating the principles to students' admission.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) is responsible for implementing the higher education policy, coordination among HEIs, conducting agreements with other countries, recognition of universities and degrees from other countries, assisting the Council of Higher Education and providing it with necessary studies. The Ministry also works on bridging the gap between higher education output and labor market in order to respond to the present and future needs of qualified and specialized cadres in various areas of knowledge.
The Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institution (AQACHEI) aims to advance quality and equity in higher education in Jordan whether in assessment, ranking, or conducting valid, reliable, and unbiased testing services. It also strives to improve the status of higher education in the Kingdom; assuring its quality; motivating higher education institutions to open up to and interact with universities, scientific research institutions, and international accreditation and quality control commissions; and developing higher education by employing internationally-comparable standards.
The Scientific Research and Innovation Support Fund aims at encouraging and supporting scientific research and innovation in Jordan.
The Law of higher education and scientific research and Law of Jordanian universities were amended in 2018. The main goal was to highlight the role of governance in higher education and importance of quality in education. Article 3 of the Law of Higher Education and Scientific Research calls for enhancing the international competitiveness of higher education institutions through the development of capacities of their academic and administrative staff.
Higher education in numbers (2018-2019):
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10 Public universities 19 Private universities 44 Community colleges |
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282,403 Students (54% Females) 42,000 Foreign students from 105 countries |
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10,812 Teaching staff |
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1,168 Study programs |
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The National Strategy for Higher Education in Jordan for the years 2014-2018 has a number of components, including university governance and management, admission policies, finance, accreditation and quality assurance, scientific research and graduate studies, university environment, academic programs, human resources, and technical education.
The general objectives of higher education include preparation of qualified human resources in various fields of knowledge to meet the needs of the community. It emphasizes the democratic approach and enhancing it to ensure the academic freedom, right of expression, and respect for others' opinions. The system encourages teamwork, accountability, critical thinking, and developing knowledge and skills of students. Institutions provide an academic, research, psychological and social supportive environment appropriate for innovation and excellence.
The two most important Laws have been amended in 2018. These are the Law of higher education and scientific research and Law of Jordanian universities. The main goal behind these changes was to highlight the role of governance in higher education and importance of quality in education. On the other hand, the new Law of higher education has changed the status of the scientific research fund from an autonomous unit to a directorate at the Ministry. The Bylaw no. 107 issued in August 2018 on Scientific Research and Innovation Fund regulates this matter.
Article 3 of the Law of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Jordan calls for enhancing the international competitiveness of higher education institutions through the development of capacities of their academic and administrative staff members. It emphasizes keeping abreast of the developments in the information and communication technologies, and incorporating these into the learning and teaching process as well as research. It also calls for securing international accreditation for the institutions and programs. The Bylaw on Foreign Student Affairs (Bylaw no. 108) was amended in 2018 to enhance the competitiveness of Jordanian universities to foreign students.
The Bylaw for academic practice at universities and colleges in Jordan (Bylaw no. 130) was adopted in 2018 for the first time. It includes paragraphs related to technology and e-learning. In particular, article 7 includes the conditions and criteria for academic staff to obtain the license for academic practice. These stipulate that the staff member should have passed specialized training in teaching and learning methodologies, using modern tools for teaching and educational technologies, as well as the use of open source electronic course platforms.
Higher education in Jordan continues to be regulated and monitored by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR). To respond to the Jordanian and regional markets, vocational education is gaining a significant attention by the MOHESR in Jordan.
Recognition of qualifications and internationalization of higher education in the Euro-Mediterranean Region (RECONOW) (http://www.reconow.eu/en/index.aspx)
A bottom-up Approach for Opening up Education in South-Mediterranean Countries (OpenMEd) (http://openmedproject.eu/)
Enhancing Quality Assurance Management in Jordanian Universities (EQuAM)
http://equam.psut.edu.jo/Home.aspx
Modernization of Teaching Methodologies In Higher Education: EU Experience for Jordan and Palestinian Territory (METHODS) (http://methods.ju.edu.jo)
Tuning Middle East and North Africa (http://tuningmeda.org/)
Towards a University Enterprise Alliance in Jordan (http://tej-jo.eu/)
Towards a National Qualification Framework-Jordan (NQF-J) (http://www.nqfjordan.org)
Promotion of Innovation Culture in the Higher Education in Jordan (INVENT) (http://invent.just.edu.jo/Pages/default.aspx)
Vocational training center for undergraduate university students and teachers in Jordan (VTC) (http://vtc.just.edu.jo/Pages/default.aspx)
Modernisation of Institutional Management of Innovation and Research in South Neighbouring Countries (MIMIr) (https://www.mimirproject.org/about-the-project)
Modernising human Resource management In South mediterranean higher Education(RISE) (http://www.rise-jo.eu/):
Refugees Education Support in mena CoUntriEs (RESCUE) (https://www.rescuerefugees.eu/)
EuNIT – European project desigN and management In the South MediTerranean region (https://www.eunitproject.eu/)
Jordan Opportunity for Virtual Innovative Teaching And Learning (JOVITAL) (http://jovital.eu/)
On-line Quality Assurance and EUR-ACE Accreditation of Engineering Programmes in Mediterranean Area (MEDACCR)
Building Innovation Infrastructure via Technology Transfer Offices COnducted IN JOrdanian Higher Education Institutions (BITTCOIN-JO)
Female Academic Role Model Empowerment, Equality and Sustainability at Universities in Mediterranean Region: towards 2030 Agenda (FREE)
Promoting youth employment in remote areas in Jordan (JOB-JO)
Three Technical Assistance Missions proposals were selected for Jordan for 2018 entitled:
http://www.mohe.gov.jo/en/Pages/default.aspx
http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/jordan/index_ar.htm
https://www.facebook.com/erasmusplusjordan/?fref=ts&ref=br_tf
https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/sites/eacea-site/files/countryfiches_jordan_2017.pdf
http://erasmus-plus.org.jo/Portals/0/erasmusplus_jordan_2018%20%281%29.pdf