Annual Report 2010 | 2011 - Columbia Global Centers

Higher Education
The Center is also active in promoting higher education development efforts and reform-related research in Jordan
and throughout the Middle East. Building on the success of its “National Conference for the Development of Study
Plans, Teaching and Learning and Scientific Research,” which was held in partnership with Jordan’s Ministry of Higher
Education in June 2010 and brought together over 600 participants, the Center held a number of higher education
events during the academic year, which include:
Launch of Joint Project to Review the Quality of Educational Programs at Jordanian Universities – On
February 10, the Center launched a joint project with Al Hussein Fund for Excellence (HFE) that entails a
review of the quality of educational study programs at Jordanian universities. The project involves the review
of three university programs: classroom teacher, pre-school teacher, and special education, and aims to build
capacity in these areas, and support current initiatives working towards building a culture of quality assurance
in higher education.
Discussion on Research and Higher Education – In cooperation with the Jordan Society for Scientific
Research and the America-Mideast Educational and Training Services (AMIDEAST), the Center organized
a discussion on Research and Higher Education on April 5. The discussion covered the status of research and
higher education in Jordan, and focused on approaches, resources, and challenges. It provided an opportunity for
engagement between universities in Jordan and the United States, and allowed for an exchange of perspectives
on the issues at hand. The organization of this discussion was spearheaded by the Center’s Resident Fellow,
Dr. Mona Taji, and was moderated by H.E. Professor Anwar Battikhi, President of the Jordan Society for
Scientific Research and faculty member at the University of Jordan.
Participants included a group of senior academics and higher education policymakers involved in research and
higher education in Jordan, such as H.E. Professor Adnan Badran, who spoke on quality issues in research,
H.E. Professor Fayez Khasawneh who discussed oriented and non-oriented research, and H.E. Professor Kamel
Ajlouni who discussed research in the medical sciences. Other participating academics discussed research themes
in Jordan including research in educational programs in universities; basic versus applied research; research
funding; research and the environment; research on water and irrigation; and research on renewable energy.
Professor Safwan Masri gives introductory remarks at the “Discussion
on Research and Higher Education”
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