By Suha Alsubaihi 

The final conference of the project "Enhancing ICT Competencies of Early Childhood Educators at HEIs in MENA Countries" (ICT4EDU) funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ program, convened today at the University of Jordan (UJ) with the participation of partner universities from Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Romania, Portugal, Italy, and Cyprus.

Deputizing for UJ President, Prof. Nathir Obeidat, Dean of Scientific Research, Prof. Yaser Al-Rayyan, opened the conference, emphasising that the project represents a pioneering model in educational development through updating curricula and enhancing digital culture. He highlighted the role of the School of Educational Sciences in enriching courses and introducing modern teaching methodologies, which contributed to enhancing student engagement and professional readiness, enabling them to think critically and adopt a professional identity aligned with contemporary classroom needs.

On his part, the EU Delegation Representative, Fabien Schaeffer, stressed the importance of balancing digitalisation with traditional teaching methods, referring to the Swedish experience, which confirmed that technology is a tool to enhance education rather than a substitute for human interaction. He stressed that balance and prioritisation are key to ensuring quality education, especially in the early stages where reading, writing, and social interaction skills remain essential.

Director of the National Erasmus+ Office in Jordan, Prof. Ahmed Abu-El-Haija, presented a display on the program's achievements in Jordan during the period 2015-2025. The programme included 67 Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) projects, 49 youth projects, and 20 Vocational Education and Training (VET) projects, in addition to providing over 8,600 mobility opportunities. He highlighted projects related to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, totalling 43 projects distributed as follows: 24 in higher education, 11 in youth sector, and 8 in vocational training.

Speaking on behalf of the partner Palestinian universities, Dr. Amer Shehadeh delivered a speech for Al Istiqlal University, appreciating Jordan's continuous support for Palestinian education and the project's role in enhancing educational competencies. Meanwhile, International Affairs Unit Director, Dr. Sameh Alzubiedi, stated that the partnership with the EU through Erasmus+ has become a fundamental pillar of the university's internationalisation strategy. Alzubiedi revealed the expansion of mobility partnerships from 30 in 2023 to over 90 in 2025, positioning the university as a national leader in this field.

General Project Coordinator, Prof. Ahmed Al-Salaymeh, presented a brief overview of the outcomes of the three-year project. He noted that approximately 45 courses were updated to keep pace with advanced European practices, four technical centers were established, and modern computer laboratories were equipped in nine partner universities in the MENA region. Al-Salaymeh also mentioned organising training workshops for faculty members and students in Romania, Italy, Portugal, and Cyprus, confirming that the next step is to disseminate this experience in cooperation with ministries and relevant authorities.

The conference included specialised discussion sessions. In the second session, titled "Innovations and Challenges in Digital-Age Education," Prof. Ekhleif Tarawneh presented a paper on moving "From Digital Access to Digital Empowerment: Reimagining Early Childhood Education in the Fifth Industrial Revolution."

The also conference highlighted innovations and challenges facing education in the digital age. Participants discussed a wide range of fundamental issues, most notably AI applications and cybersecurity for children. The sessions also covered concepts of digital resilience and overcoming tech anxiety, alongside reviewing curriculum development strategies, school inclusion policies, and mechanisms for evaluating international projects and capacity building to ensure education quality and sustainability.