During his meeting with the Education Department Officer at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees/Jordan Office, Zina Jadaan, the President of Yarmouk University, Professor Islam Massad, stressed the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities towards the global humanitarian issue of refugees. Stressing the need to support Jordan, its economy and efforts towards serving refugees, he added that Jordan has taken several proactive steps concerning refugee education at the school and university.
Jadaan praised the permanent cooperation between Yarmouk University represented by the “Refugee Center” and the Office of the UNHCR in Amman, emphasizing the several studies, programs, and workshops established and developed to tackle issues of refugees in general, refugee university students in particular. She then drew attention to the specialized sessions held by the UNHCR in partnership with the Refugee Center at Yarmouk University, explaining that such sessions increase the rate of the refugee enrollment in higher education programs.
Al-Hijjawi Faculty of Engineering Technology at Yarmouk University has obtained the American Academic Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) for three of its undergraduate programs: Computer Engineering, Electronics Engineering, and Industrial Engineering. Interestingly, ABET accreditation is one of the most reliable international accreditations in the fields of applied sciences, computer, engineering and technology, and it is very popular among the universities of the United States of America and other countries around the world. In fact, more than 4,000 programs in 850 colleges and universities at 41 countries around the world have received this accreditation, and more than 175,000 students graduate annually from programs accredited by the Accreditation Authority (ABET).
The University President, Professor Islam Massad, praised the efforts of the Faculty represented by its administration, departments, and specialized committees for this achievement, stressing that other faculties should keep working to obtain such prestigious international accreditations. The Chairman of the Central Accreditation Committee at Al-Hijjawi Faculty, Professor Muwaffaq Otoom, commended the efforts of the individuals involved in this achievement, pointing out that the Faculty has updated its study plans for all of its programs to meet the requirements of (ABET) so that all Faculty’s programs may get accredited in the coming years. Finally, he called on students and graduates of the accredited programs, namely computer engineering, electronics engineering, and industrial engineering, to visit the Admission and Registration Department at the University to have the Accreditation logo (ABET) imprinted on their certificates and transcripts.
In the presence of the Chargé d’Affairs of the Malaysian Embassy in Amman Wan Faizatul Afzan Ismayatim, and the Director of the Malaysian Cultural Attaché, Dr. Radwan bin Abdul Rashid, the President of Yarmouk University, Professor Islam Massad, sponsored the scientific symposium entitled “Jordanian-Malaysian Relations”, which was organized by Pahang Chair for Islamic Studies and Scientific Research at Yarmouk's Faculty of Sharia and Islamic Studies. In his opening speech, Massad said that such scientific meeting is for exchanging views on issues that always strengthen the strategic partnerships between Jordan and Malaysia at various levels. He then pointed to the role played by Yarmouk since its establishment in building regional and international relations, stressing that the university is aware of the importance of scientific research for achieving sustainable development and people prosperity.
Ismayatim said that holding this scientific symposium comes at a time when work is underway to activate the Malaysian-Jordanian cooperation in general, with a special focus on education and research, indicating that the symposium serves as a major platform for academics, researchers, and students in Jordan and Malaysia to exchange views and ideas on Islamic affairs in terms of education, linguistics, religion, and economics. She added that enhancing such cooperation can be conducted in the field of Islamic financing and halal certification, which became one of the measures of food security and religious tourism. She also stressed that Jordan and Malaysia should be acknowledged for their rich cultural values and heritage sites, indicating that there is a greater need for Jordan and Malaysia to work together in the field of Islamic tourism.
The occupant of the chair, Dr. Ahlam Matalqa, gave a visual presentation about the emergence of Pahang Chair, its vision and aspirations, noting that the chair was established in the Faculty of Sharia and Islamic Studies by a decision of the university Deans Council No. (2011/34) on August 22, 2011 as part of a joint scientific and research cooperation agreement signed between Yarmouk University and the Malaysian State of Pahang. She added that the vision of the chair is to activate creative research in the field of Islamic studies, which contributes to developing the society and empowering creative leadership.
Yarmouk University Deans’ Council has approved offering a new compulsory pass/fail course called “Ethics and Voluntary Work” for all university undergraduate students beginning the first semester 2022-2023. The President of the University, Professor Islam Massad, explained that the university will not charge any tuition fees for this zero-credit-hour course, which is taught by university volunteer employees, including some influential national figures and specialists, noting that it does not have any midterms or final exams, but includes voluntary work and practical activities.
The Vice President of Yarmouk University for Academic Affairs, Professor Muwaffaq Omoush, met with the Head of the Kuwaiti Health Office in Jordan, Dr. Ali Abdul Karim Al-Enezi, and Badr Al-Harbi, the Assistant Kuwaiti Health Attaché for Financial Affairs in Jordan, to discuss possible ways of cooperation between the two sides. During the meeting, Omoush said that Yarmouk University is keen to continuously develop and update its study plans coping with the changes witnessed by all sectors, pointing out that Yarmouk recently established a bachelor degree program in nursing to meet the market demands. He added that Yarmouk seeks to develop qualitative academic programs that meet the requirements of the local, regional and international labor market, especially the medical sector, global health, and epidemiology. He also pointed out that Yarmouk is interested in taking care of its international students, including the Kuwaiti students, and encouraging them to benefit from the diverse environment of the university.
In return, Al-Enezi thanked Yarmouk University for its care and interest in its Kuwaiti students, pointing out that Yarmouk is one of the countries that hosts a large number of Kuwaiti students due to the distinguished reputation it enjoys and the distinction of its various academic programs. He then expressed the readiness of the Kuwaiti Health Office in Amman to cooperate with Yarmouk University in various medical and health activities and events at various levels.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Almamlaka Channel, Ali Al-Ayed, sponsored launching the research network of the Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center at Yarmouk University. He also attended a symposium on “Media and Art and their Role in Forming Human and Social Values”, which was organized by the Refugees Center at Yarmouk University in cooperation with the ALECSO Chair for Asylum, Displacement and Forced Migration on the occasion of the International Day for Humanitarian Action and the International Day for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. The symposium was attended by the assistant president of Yarmouk, Professor Ziad Zreiqat, the head of the National Steering Committee, Media and Culture in the House of Representatives, Mr. Yasar Khasawneh, the editor-in-chief of Al-Rai newspaper, Dr. Khaled Al-Shagran, the artist Shayesh Al-Nuaimi, and the founder of Abaq Al-Loun initiative, the artist Suhail Baqain.
Al-Ayed expressed his happiness to be at Yarmouk University and launch a national research network concerned with geopolitical issues like asylum and migration, pointing out that such a network provides a nucleus of original, renewed research for decision makers at the national and international levels. He then praised the efforts of Yarmouk University for establishing the Refugee Center, the Department of Fine Arts, and the Department of Journalism and Media, noting that the topic of today’s symposium tackles a central topic concerning the value of art and media for human and social values. Al-Ayed also mentioned that celebrating the World Day for Humanitarian Action and the International Day for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings acknowledges the great effort made by armed forces, security services, and other Jordanian institutions in favor of humanity and civil rights.
In return, the Director of the Center, Dr. Reem Al-Kharouf, welcomed the participants emphasizing that the research network provides a solution for the lack of qualitative scientific research in the field of asylum and immigration. The network, she explained, is needed by local and international decision-makers to better understand the reality and issues of asylum. She added that the network is one of several steps linked to the strategic plan of the Refugees Center as well as Yarmouk University's interest in supporting media and art sectors due to their involvement in asylum issues. Moreover, Dr. Ali Shehadeh delivered a speech on behalf of the research network members, stressing that the network strives to generate and mobilize knowledge among academics, decision-makers, and policy-makers concerning asylum. He then pointed out that the network’s goal is to establish an integrated network to strengthen links in all areas of refugee and forced migration studies, which should provide a better understanding of the topic under discussion.
During his meeting with the Consul at the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in Amman, Fatima Salah Mohieldin, in the presence of Yarmouk Vice President for Academic Affairs, Professor Muwaffaq Omoush, and the Vice President for Administrative Affairs, Professor Riad Almomani, the President of Yarmouk University, Professor Islam Massad, expressed Yarmouk's readiness to receive a number of Sudanese students in the various scientific and humanities faculties of the university at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He added that Yarmouk is always working to develop and expand its scientific and humanitarian specializations and faculties, which reflects the university's strategic plan and vision to serve the demands of labor markets. He then referred to the importance of enhancing cooperation with various universities and academic institutions in Sudan, pointing out that there have been 51 Sudanese graduates from Yarmouk University during the past years.
For her part, Mohieldin affirmed that the Sudanese embassy in Amman is looking forward to strengthening its relations with various Jordanian universities and institutions of higher education, especially Yarmouk University given its prestigious academic and cultural status at the Arab and regional levels. She then expressed the interest of the Sudanese embassy in Amman to increase the number of Sudanese students studying in the Jordanian universities, especially Yarmouk University, and to transfer the Jordanian culture and interest in science and technology to the Sudanese society.
Yarmouk University team won the Handball Championship of Jordanian Universities at the cost of the University of Jordan team with a score of 28/27. The tournament, which organized by the Sports Federation of Jordanian Universities during the period 25/7/2022 to 30/8/2022, hosted 13 public and private universities. Yarmouk team included 16 players from different faculties and was trained by the handball coach in the Sports Activity Department in the Deanship of Student Affairs, Captain Mohamed Bataineh.
The Vice President of Yarmouk University for Academic Affairs, Professor Muwaffaq Omoush, met Dr. Takuru Kikawa, the Japanese Professor of Asian Studies in the Rutsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), discussing possible ways of cooperation between the two universities in a number of academic and research fields. Omoush reviewed the possible ways of exchanging faculty members, conducting joint scientific research, and the possibility of receiving Japanese students wishing to learn Arabic language at Yarmouk. He then pointed out the possibility of holding online meetings in the presence of a number of officials in the two universities to reach a preliminary memorandum of understanding that frames the areas of cooperation between the two parties.
In return, Kikawa expressed his happiness for visiting Yarmouk University and stressing the keenness of APU of Japan to cooperate with Jordanian universities in various academic, research and administrative fields and to conduct joint international projects. He also pointed to the possibility of establishing joint academic programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The meeting was attended by the head of the Political Science Department, Dr. Ayman Hayajneh, and Professor Muhammad Bani Salama, who recently received a grant from Japan Association for the Promotion of Science in partnership with researcher Kikawa. Noteworthy is that Professor Bani Salama is the first Jordanian researcher to receive the Japanese grant in the field of humanities for his project entitled “Jordan: Politics and Tribal Society”.
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