Iraq reinstates recognition of Jordanian universities
According to an official ministry statement, this decision was one of the "positive outcomes" achieved during a recent visit by a Jordanian academic delegation to Iraq and the Kurdistan region.
Iraq also decided to make local scholarships eligible for use at the Kingdom's institutes of higher education.
In August, the Iraqi government announced that it would stop recognizing Jordanian universities, with the exception of the University of Jordan, Jordan University of Science and Technology, and Al-Balqa' Applied University. The decision was based on the ratings of Jordanian universities in the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities, a source that preferred to stay anonymous told Jordan News.
Dhafer Al-Sarayrah, Chairperson of the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions and head of the academic delegation, said that this decision was overturned after several discussions with Iraqi officials during the delegation's visit. The visit also included a meeting with the Iraqi Minister of Higher Education and the ministry's scholarship director in Baghdad. The delegation also visited the University of Baghdad and Al-Nahrain University.
In the Kurdistan region, the delegation met with an advisor to the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region and the region's Minister of Higher Education.
Discussions touched on developing joint executive programs, and agreements were signed on student scholarships, organizing faculty visits, and exchanging expertise in scientific research.
It was also agreed that the Jordanian Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions would provide its expertise to an accreditation commission recently established in the Kurdistan region.
'A reliable destination for study'"We are proud of higher education in Jordan, as it has achieved advanced international rankings in majors such as engineering and literature," said the president of Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Sari Hamdan, who was part of the delegation. "This is what makes Jordan a reliable destination for study," he added.
Hamdan highlighted the dedication of Iraqi students to their studies "as education in Iraq is flourishing despite difficult circumstances".
Iraq's re-accreditation of Jordan's public universities "will open the door for private universities to attract students later on", he predicted.“The Jordanian environment is attractive to Iraqi students due to the country’s stability, distinguished education, and reasonable study costs.”
"The Jordanian environment is attractive to Iraqi students due to the country's stability, distinguished education, and reasonable study costs," he said.
Vice president for academic affairs, e-learning, and quality assurance at Al-Mutah University Mohamad Almajali told Jordan News that the visit aimed to "clarify some matters, solve problems, and answer inquiries related to education in Jordan". Following the discussions, "cooperation between the two countries was restored".
This cooperation is not without precedent. Majali noted that academic relations between the two countries "already exist", however, several private universities recently opened in Iraq, attracting a wave of local students and resulting in a decline in the number of Iraqis studying in Jordan.
Majali stressed the need to activate the role of the Jordanian cultural attaché in neighboring countries to attract more students and promote Jordanian public universities. Jordan's universities should also strive for high international rankings, a goal that is attainable through the Kingdom's suitable academic environment and tools and its distinguished professors.
Considering the University of JordanHussein Al-Dulaimi, a 19-year-old living in Baghdad, is considering a pharmacology course at the University of Jordan due to the institute's distinguished reputation, especially in medical specialties.
Dulaimi added that studying in Jordan is made easier because the Kingdom shares many customs and traditions with his country, Iraq.
Furthermore, he remarked that the cost of studying in Jordan is "reasonable" compared to other foreign countries.
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