a strategy for reform of higher education in jordan (16.3.2003)

Walid MaaniMinister of Higher Education and

Scientific Research16.3.2003

“A statement detailing the desired state of a sector at a future point of time within a given environmental setting”

2

The scope where the sector should operate

The measured outcome and competencies that the sector wishes to achieve

The required resources for achievement of goals

3

Understanding the significant role of solid higher education in any economy to sustain development

The realization of the link between economic development and the ability to gain and apply knowledge

Knowing that comparative advantages come less and less from abundant natural resources or cheaper labor, and more and more from technical innovation and the competitive use of knowledge (1)

4

Jordan higher education development projectEconomic Consultative Council HRD papersVision 2020The R.E.A.C.H initiativeYEA position paper on educationThe social and economic transformation

programStrategies for higher education 1997Higher education fora on quality and relevance,

research and finance 1998Financing higher education, Hauptman 1998

5

6

7

8

Eight public universities with 80.000 studentsTwelve private universities with 30.000 studentsTwenty one community colleges with 29.000

students55% of students are females25% of total recurrent costs are recovered in

the public sectorSpending on education relative to GNP is

greatest in the Arab worldOne third of educational expenditure is given to

higher education

9

Acute shortage of fundsLow standards of graduatesNon-relevance of programsMinimal accreditation standardsLack of quality controlNo emphasis on researchGovernance

10

Re-structuring tuition fees to recover cost should start now over 5 years

Scholarship funds should be established to support needy students, excelling students and special groups

University debt should be wiped outGovernment should finance the

establishment of any public university according to the master plan

11

Phasing out of government financial

support to university current expenditure must

go hand in hand with re-structuringGovernment financial incentive should

be given to universities :Complying with accreditationAchieving excellenceDemonstrating creativity and innovationSupporting quality research

12

Admission should be open to all who are able to satisfy the requirements

A new national university admission test (NUAT) which could be created by a national testing center (NTC) should be put in effect to replace the Tawjihi as the tool for university admission

The format of the Tawjihi should be changed to reflect the above

13

Admission should be on competitive basisSpecial groups could be dealt with by

offering financial aid rather than university seats.

The National Unified Admission Office should be maintained.

14

Minimize the emphasis on university student input as long as they satisfy admission criteria

Maximize the emphasis on university student output by:tying it to university eligibility for financial

incentives and making it an integral part of the

accreditation criteria

15

Any restriction on establishing new private institutions of tertiary education should be lifted in the presence of strong and active accreditation policies

All students passing the Tawjihi or satisfying the criteria of university admission should be given the chance of tertiary education

16

The Council of Higher Education should review all existing university programs to abolish repetition and ensure excellence. New programs should be examined before licensing

A new national electronic test (NET) of university output should be introduced

Financial incentives and re-accreditation should take into account the results of individual universities in the NET

17

Curricula must be revised to ensure:ModernityRelevanceCritical thinkingSelf learningPractical skills

The revision must be completed in one year and repeated every five years

18

Instructional methods should ensure:The use of new technologiesThe emphasis on self learningCritical thinking

Mechanisms of students evaluation should be changed to reflect the ability to measure achievement of objectives

An exit evaluation of programs should be completed by graduating students

19

A stringent policy of appointment according to merit and with transparency should be applied. In-breeding should be stopped

A major scholarship program should be instituted in all universities

In-house programs for rehabilitation of staff should be activated or created

Promotion should be linked to performance

Tenure should be replaced by contracts

20

The accreditation council should be strengthened and its formation changed to incorporate ALL stake holders:UniversitiesGovernmentEmployersProfessional bodies

Accreditation should apply to ALL institutions of tertiary higher education

Financial aid to public universities should be tied to compliance with accreditation standards

21

The Higher Education Quality Assurance Council of Jordan (HEQACJ) as an independent national quality assurance body should be created

All programs must be evaluated in-house and externally

All programs and universities should be ranked, this ranking should be made public

Financial aid should be tied to excellence

22

Funds available for research should be increased through the activation of collection of the 1% allocated by the companies law

Research should be directed to serve development plans and solve national problems

University scientific journals should be unified

Quality research only should be considered for promotion of staff

Universities should be rewarded for quality research and its relevance

23

University high officers in public universities should be selected through search committees

Accountability should go hand in hand with responsibility

The ratio of administrative staff should conform to international standards

24

University budgets and annual reports should be made public

The CHE should appoint an external audit to look at university finances annually

Students should be given more role in university councils and committees dealing with students’ affairs

25

Laws must ensure complete separation between private university ownership and administration

Non-profit tertiary education institutions should be given preference and incentive

26

Laws to establish the following should be enacted: The NUAT The HEQACJ A law to regulate the establishment of non-profit

entities The temporary laws of higher education and

public universities should be amended to reflect the changes

The temporary law of private universities should be amended to reflect: complete separation between university ownership and

administration defining new rules for licensing of universities and

other tertiary education institutions

27

A committee should be set up to review all existing programs. New programs should be subjected to a process to ensure need, feasibility, job opportunities for graduates

The committee should be composed of all stake holders

28