Yarmouk University has received support from the United Nations for a global scientific project presented by the Department of Biological Sciences entitled “Improving Research and Diagnostic Capabilities for Anthrax”. The head of the project, Prof. Nabil Hailat, the former university president and a faculty member in the department of life sciences at the university said that this project was submitted to a global competition and won first place among 36 projects. He explained that the goal of the project is to raise research and diagnostic capabilities for anthrax, which is considered one of the mostdangerous and deadlydiseases against animals and humans, as thegerm of such a disease is used as a lethal weapon in biological warfare, which calls for the process of vaccinating members of the armies threatened by such weapons. Also, He mentioned that the project will be implemented in cooperation with the countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Algeria and Jordan.
The President of Yarmouk University, Prof. Islam Massad, confirmed the university’s support of the “Network of Women Academies at Yarmouk University”, which aims at strengthening the academic role of women in the university and encouraging them to lead academic initiatives in favor of their communities, thus enhancing the university’s vision and philosophy of education, development of scientific research, and community service.
During the inauguration of the program implemented by Yarmouk University in partnership with the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives and funded by the Canadian Embassy in Amman, which took place in the Seminars and Conferences Building, Prof. Massad acknowledged the value of the project, emphasizing the significance of investing in internationally funded projects, building the capabilities of female academics at the university, and developing their leadership skills.
For her part, Dr. Ayat Nashwan, the Director of the program, said that such a pioneering project implemented by Yarmouk University and funded by the Canadian Embassy in Amman, is the first achievement of the Network of Female Academies who work hard to contribute to the development process that Jordanian universities, academics, and researchers are trying to accomplish. She explained that the network of leadership academics at Yarmouk University reflects the conviction of the university's administration and board of trustees concerning the active role of Yarmouk in developing education, scientific research, and community service in Jordan.
Noteworthy here is that the project, which lasts for nine months under the coordination of Engineer Hiyam al-Khatib from the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Woman's Studies, focuses on skills related to communication, leadership, negotiation, management, writing proposals for internationally funded projects, networking, and mechanisms for obtaining funding.
The faculty of Mass Communication at Yarmouk University won the first place for the best scientific research submitted by students of media faculties in the Arab world in the third students media forum- (Digital Media and Social Responsibility)- organized by the Faculty of Communication at Al Qasimia University in the United Arab Emirates with the participation of 18 Arab universities.
The winning research entitled "The relationship between Digital Means of Media and the Enhancement of the Intellectual Skills among Jordanian Students in terms of Social Responsibility" was presented by the students: Maha Tariq Odeh, Lisa Louay Haddad, and Ihda’ Muhammad Sulaiman from the Department of Radio and Television under the supervision of the head of the department, Dr. Muhammad Habis Al-Barmawi.
Part of its preparation for the first semester of the upcoming academic year 2021/2022,Yarmouk University supported by the United States Agency for International Development USAID launches a professional diploma for preparing and qualifying teachers in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. This national diploma aims at training and qualifying graduates of majors like science, mathematics, Arabic and English to work as schoolteachers, considering that the diploma focuses on promoting interactive education and testing creative concepts of learning and teaching by fusing practical exercises in the classroom with theoretical framework.
The President of the University, Prof. Islam Massad, said that launching this diploma comes in consolidation with Yarmouk's vision of serving the Jordanian community and educational system by qualifying competencies capable of excellence and creativity in the educational field. He added that this diploma will support the process of learning and education in the Kingdom by increasing the number of qualified teachers, stressing its importance in developing the skills of teachers and promoting an innovative educational model at various levels.
For his part, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Dr. Nawaf Shatnawi, said that this national diploma incorporates twenty-four credit hours offered during two semesters, where half of the plan is dedicated to field training and school experiences implemented in public and private schools. Pointing out that the diploma cadre underwent a series of training workshops to increase their knowledge and skills and build on their experiences in such a field, Shatnawi stated that the professional diploma includes a number of teaching skills and competencies, such as classroom interaction and its skills, learning environment design, classroom planning skills, and skills for evaluating students' performance. It also incorporates several axes, such as personal communication skills with others and methods of providing a healthy and creative learning environment through digital technology.
Interestingly, a marketing campaign for the diploma was launched on social media platforms, which announces all information about the program and the registration process through the University website.
Representing the President of Yarmouk University, the Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education at the University, Dr. Nabil Shamroukh, and the Assistant Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Muhammad Maqableh, participated in the activities of the first international forum “Training Labor Market: Reality and Aspirations”, which was organized by the Egyptian Association for Physical Education and Sports Science in cooperation with the European Organization for Peace and Development, through the Free Conference Call program During the period from 30/6/2021 to 2/7/2021.
Through his participation in the forum's activities, Magableh gave a lecture entitled "Analysis of the Work Conditions and Environment in the Faculties of Physical Education", in which he emphasized the points of strengths and weaknesses of the faculties of physical education. He also pointed out that the vision of the faculties of physical education is to achieve excellence and prepare qualitative graduates in the field of physical education, rehabilitation and sports training by combining theory and practice to work within the cadres of the various labor sectors, including education and health. In addition, Magableh stressed on several plans that must be achieved in the faculties of physical education, namely the progressive improvement of the faculties' academic programs in line with national and international standards. He explained that doing this should promote the status of the faculties as centers for scientific research, delegation and creativity, and it also should develop the efficiency of financial, material and human resources, thus improving student services in line with national and global standards, activating the role of the faculties in community service, consolidating external relations to ensure the interaction of the faculties with the local, regional and international community, and developing quality assurance with the aim of progressive improvement of inputs, processes, and outputs.
Noteworthy is that the organization of this forum aims at identifying the most important challenges and facing them at the Arab level. It also aims at exchanging scientific ideas and experiences among universities, institutions, unions and academies to raise the level of awareness for students and graduates, spread a culture of social responsibility, spread knowledge and exchange experiences among specialists, participants and workers in the sports field, by discussing a set of themes like the challenges and opportunities of sports professions, the role of the private sector in activating the sports labor market, the training labor market's reality and aspirations, the problems of the training labor market and their solutions, and what students and graduates should know about the labor market .
A Royal Decree has been issued, appointing Prof. Dr. Islam Massad as president of Yarmouk university as of 10 August 2021 for four consecutive years.
The Higher Education Council decided in its session held on Wednesday 4/8/2021 , headed by the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abu Quddis, to approve the placement by appointing Prof. Dr. Islam Massad President of Yarmouk University.
With the issuance of the royal decree, Yarmouk University family extends its sincere congratulations to Professor Dr. Islam Massad, on the occasion of his appointment as President of the University wishing him success in leading the university, promoting its march and achieving its desired aspirations towards a scientific and research excellence.
As part of the activities of the Hijjawi Faculty of Engineering Technology and under the coordination of the Department of Systems Engineering and Biomedical Informatics, the representative of the regional office of the German company Siemens, Ali Mahdi, gave a presentation about the Siemens initiative in the presence of the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Mowaffaq al-Otoom.
The coordinator of the meeting, Dr. Awad Al-Zaben, said that the initiative was launched in 2005 and that the programs supported by the German company Siemens within this initiative are related to the medical fields, namely certificates, exhibitions, research incubators, and the fellowship program.
In his turn, al-Otoom pointed to the university's strategy of networking with international institutions and interacting with the industrial sector, stressing that the Faculty is interested in such initiatives for their great impact on enhancing the educational curriculum for students and updating them with the latest scientific findings. Also, they are inevitable, as he said, for creating new opportunities for students and researchers to develop their entrepreneurial skills.
Eventually, it was agreed to follow practical measures to implement an agreement of cooperation in several related fields, which would benefit the students of the Faculty.
Yarmouk University organized a special workshop via Zoom to announce the final results of the “Transnational Figurations of Displacement” project (TRAFIG)", which is funded by the European Union and implemented by the university in cooperation with the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) and CMI (Chr. Michelsen Institute), Norway.
At the beginning of the workshop, the project manager at the university, Dr. Fawwaz Momani, gave a brief about the project, which aims at building the necessary knowledge to find effective solutions for the problems of protracted displacement in proportion to the capabilities of the people affected by displacement. He then reviewed the project methodology, which contains five main axes that deal with laws and regulations related to the reception and sheltering of refugees, livelihoods and security in local environments, communication and mobility in the context of protracted displacement, the integration of displaced people, intergroup relations with host communities, and incentives for development and new economic interactions.
Momani mentioned that the results of the project showed that 63% of Syrian refugees in Jordan receive support from various organizations and parties and that humanitarian aids are insufficient to face the difficult conditions of refugees. The results of the project also showed that the situation of refugees in Zaatari camp is better than that of refugees outside the camp in terms of aids and job opportunities and that 83% of Syrian refugees do not intend to return to Syria within the next two years compared to only 12% who intend to return to Syria.
After that, the project's results were presented by Dr. Tamara Al-Yaqoub from the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Yarmouk University and Dr. Raghda Al-Faouri, Assistant President of AL Al-Bayt University for International Relations.
Interestingly, the project team from Jordan includes Dr. Rashid Al-Jarrah, Dr. Tamara Al-Yaqoub, Dr. Raghda Al-Faouri and Dr. Ali Odat from Yarmouk University, besides the field researchers: Dr. Rasha Al-Hasban, Woroud Awwad, Rola Massad, Ahmed Shdeifat and Khaled Al-Momani as well as Dr. Sarah Toban and Dr. Ari from the (CMI).
Dr. Khalid al-Omari, President of yarmouk University's Board of Trustees decided to assign the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Mouaffaq Omoush, to carry out the duties of the university’s president, until the issuance of a royal decree appointing Dr. Islam Massad as the university’s president.
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.
