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”.
The President of Yarmouk University, Professor Islam Massad, met with the Director of the USAID Pre-Service Teacher Education and Training Program in Jordan, Cameron Mirza, and the Agency’s Project Management Specialist, Omar Al-Daoudia, to discuss the latest developments of the Higher Diploma Program for Teacher Education supported by the USAID and implemented by the university in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Queen Rania Academy for Teacher Training, the Civil Service Commission, and the Commission for Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions and Quality Assurance.
Massad affirmed Yarmouk's keenness to continue cooperation with USAID to implement this qualitative program due to the importance of preparing teachers and qualifying them to practice the teaching profession in an efficient and trustworthy manner. He stated that Yarmouk University has graduated the first batch of 101 students of this diploma, stressing its keenness to attract more students to be part of the second cohort of the academic year 2022/2023. He then explained that the Faculty of Education is working hard, in cooperation with USAID, to prepare more teaching halls and laboratories to accommodate the number of students registered in the program, in addition to holding training courses to prepare the individuals in charge of supervising the program.
In return, Mirza valued the university’s success in having such a program, emphasizing that USAID is always looking forward to an effective and continuous partnership in various scientific and cultural fields. Likewise, Daoudia praised the distinguished level and procedures carried out by the university to implement the diploma project, noting that Yarmouk University is one of the most attractive partner universities in the program.
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.
The President of Yarmouk University, Professor Islam Massad, sponsored the opening of the Technical Support Center for Students, which is established through the cooperation between the Computer and Information Center, the E-Learning Center and Open Education Resources, the Faculty of Information Technology and Computer Science, and Al-Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology. Massad praised the efforts of those in charge of the center, which embodies the idea of purposeful volunteer work, pointing out that establishing the center is a bright idea, especially as it relies on the involvement of university students in serving their colleagues, guiding them and finding solutions to the technical problems they face during their university studies.
The Director of the Computer and Information Center, Dr. Muhammad Al-Zamil, indicated that the establishment of the Technical Support Center for Students aims at giving space to university students to solve their technical problems, such as those of e-learning and e-mail. The Technical Student Support Center, he explained, includes 25 student volunteers from the Faculties of Technology and Computer Science and Al-Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology.
Al-Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology at Yarmouk University organized a panel discussion entitled “Strengthening the Role of Youth in Political Life” as part of the activities of Youth Summer 2022, with the participation of the member of the Jordanian Senate, Madallah Tarawneh, the member of the Royal Committee for the Modernization of the Political System, Dr. Laith Nasraween, the director of Muhafathati institution, Engineer Abdullah Bani Hani, and the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Muwaffaq Otoom. Madallah Al-Tarawneh said that Jordan is experiencing a new stage at the level of the political, parliamentary, and partisan work explaining that the political scene is crowded with parties and that all these parties address young people, calling on students and youth not to get involved in any party that does not present viable political programs and visions. He further stressed that with the new Parties Law of 2022, there is no longer any fear of belonging to any political party in Jordan as the Law of Parties provides people with the right to file any governmental or police violation against their own right of party affiliation. Nasraween congratulated the university youth on the occasion of the International Youth Day, noting that the message of His Majesty King Abdullah II stressed to the Chairman of the Royal Committee for the Modernization of the Political System emphasized the need to define the parliamentary work, empower youth and women, and strengthen the partisan life in Jordan. He then mentioned that the Royal Committee for the Modernization of the Political System is divided into sub-committees: a constitution committee, an election law, and a law of parties, youth, and women. Bani Hani stressed the need for youth to participate in the formulation of policies and decision-making processes, especially since the law guarantees people the right to be part of the next political stage and system. He pointed out that His Majesty, through the fourth discussion paper, emphasized that Jordanians should work together, find solutions, and be part of the next political stage heading "towards democratic empowerment and active citizenship".
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.
The President of Yarmouk University, Professor Islam Massad, met with Edward Prados, the Executive Director of the Fulbright Office of the American Committee for Educational Exchange in Jordan, to discuss ways of cooperation between the University and Fulbright. At the beginning of the meeting, Massad stressed the importance of encouraging faculty members and students at the university to benefit from Fulbright grants to conduct distinguished scientific research in various fields and complete their graduate studies in various disciplines. He also stressed the need to increase the awareness of community members and university students about the importance of disciplines like archeology, anthropology, and sociology, as such specializations have a prominent role in introducing the youth to their heritage and civilization. He then pointed to universities need to fuse different majors with each other, which contributes to providing the youth with science, knowledge, skills, and experiences needed for success.
In return, Prados stressed Fulbright's keenness to enhance research and scientific cooperation between Jordanian and American universities in areas of common interest. He emphasized the need to increase societal awareness of the importance of studying and researching the humanitarian and social majors, as such approach contributes to developing societies and enhancing prosperity.
After the meeting, a number of officials from Fulbright office in Jordan met with university faculty members and students reviewing the types of scholarships offered by Fulbright: Fulbright Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies, the Fulbright Postdoctoral Research Scholarship, and the Fulbright FLTA Program which is for teachers who want to teach their mother tongue in the USA.
In his participation in the dialogue seminar entitled "A simulation of the new election law: reality and ambition", which was organized by Yarmouk University as part of the activities of the youth summer 2022, the Director of Rased Center, Dr. Amer Bani Amer, said that the elections must maintain social stability and societal cohesion and that councils represent all segments of the Jordanian society. Bani Amer explained that the new election law meets the best international standards in the field of election integrity represented by justice, transparency, and freedom. He then pointed out that the goal of approving the new law is to reach a strong parliament that is capable of evaluating the government’s performance and that the new amendments included in the new election law support women’s participation in the elections. However, an extensive dialogue took place during the session where Bani Amer answered students' questions and inquiries about the new electoral law and youth participation in the political work.
The preparation of scientific competencies in various fields of knowledge, and the production of innovative scientific research aims to serve society by providing exemplary education in an intellectually stimulating university environment.
