Jordan Universities Expands Chinese Partnerships

shahennews

Prof. Dr. Hasan Abdullah Al-Dajah

Higher education represents one of the main pillars of development in Jordan, as it is a window that provides Jordanian youth with opportunities for growth, development and integration into the labor market. However, this sector faces many challenges that require concerted efforts to reform and develop educational curricula to meet the needs of the era and the requirements of the labor market.
It is necessary here to look at the required reform paths, including alignment between curricula and the labor market, and developing scientific research as a vital tool for sustainable development. This comes at a time when academic cooperation between Jordanian universities and international universities is renewed, as new academic agreements have been signed between Al-Hussein Bin Talal University and Chinese academic entities represented by Beijing Language and Culture University and the World Council for Chinese Studies, which opens horizons for academic development and scientific and cultural cooperation.
One of the most prominent challenges facing higher education in Jordan is the lack of alignment of many academic specializations with the requirements of the labor market. Jordanian youth suffer from high unemployment rates, partly due to the skills gap between what universities offer and what employers need. Some academic specializations have become traditional and do not keep pace with the rapid changes in the global labor market, making it difficult for their graduates to find employment.
To solve this problem, curricula must be reviewed and updated to include modern technical specializations and practical applications that contribute to developing graduates’ practical skills. This step requires coordination between universities and employers to identify the required skills and include them in curricula, so that graduates are equipped to face practical challenges in different work environments.
Scientific research is also an essential element in developing higher education and achieving sustainable development. However, in Jordan, scientific research faces many challenges, most notably a lack of funding and weak infrastructure. Researchers also suffer from a lack of incentives and the necessary support to conduct innovative research that meets the needs of society and contributes to solving its problems.
To develop scientific research, financial support must be increased and independent budgets must be allocated for scientific research, especially those related to applied fields that meet market needs and enhance technological innovation. Cooperation between universities and the private sector should also be enhanced to support scientific research and apply its results in industry and other sectors. Moreover, academic incentive policies can be improved to encourage academics to engage in applied research and entrepreneurial projects.
International academic cooperation is an effective tool for improving the quality of higher education and exchanging expertise between countries. Al-Hussein Bin Talal University has taken an important step in this direction by signing agreements with Chinese academic institutions represented by BLCU and the World Council for Chinese Studies, which enhances opportunities for exchanging expertise and knowledge between academics and students, and allows Jordanians to learn about successful experiences in higher education and development.
This type of cooperation can contribute to developing curricula, especially if modern teaching methods and technological innovations used in leading Chinese universities are adopted. These partnerships can also contribute to expanding the horizons of joint scientific research in various fields, such as technology, engineering, and applied sciences, which benefits the Jordanian economy and creates new job opportunities in high-demand fields.

Considering the rapid changes in the global labor market, it has become necessary for higher education programs in Jordan to include concepts of entrepreneurship and technical skills. Instead of focusing on preparing graduates to seek traditional jobs, the education system can encourage students to establish their own projects and provide them with the necessary skills, such as creative thinking, problem solving, and teamwork. Working to prepare graduates who are able to compete in the international labor market requires developing curricula to comply with international standards, enhancing foreign language education, providing practical training in technical and modern fields, and encouraging research and innovation.
Enhancing technical and applied training programs may be an opportunity to raise the efficiency of graduates and facilitate their entry into the labor market, especially in technical fields such as programming, data analysis, and artificial intelligence, which are areas that are in increasing demand. It is also possible to enhance cooperation with the private sector to create joint training programs that provide students with practical experience and increase their readiness to work after graduation.
The government plays an important role in supporting higher education by setting policies that encourage innovation and providing the necessary funding for universities. The role of the private sector can be enhanced through strategic partnerships with universities, so that economic institutions have a role in developing academic programs and funding research, thus achieving a balance between market needs and educational outcomes.
Moreover, it is important to have policies and legislation that support higher education and contribute to solving the problems facing this sector, whether in terms of enhancing university infrastructure or establishing effective systems for managing resources and developing teaching methods.

Finally: The future of higher education in Jordan stands on the threshold of major transformations that require comprehensive reform efforts from all concerned parties. These transformations must include adopting policies that enhance the flexibility of the education system and open the way for updating curricula and developing scientific research. There is no doubt that signing new academic agreements with countries such as China will contribute to presenting new ideas and methods that support the trend towards innovation and development of education.
Jordan needs to direct collective efforts from government institutions, universities, the private sector and the international community in order to face challenges and advance the higher education sector, so that it is able to provide high-quality education that contributes to building a strong and sustainable economy, and prepares Jordanian youth to be an active part of modern scientific and technological developments.