By Zayed Alzyoud
The University of Jordan (UJ) President, Prof. Nathir Obeidat, met with the Rector of Ain Temouchent University Belhadj Bouchaib, Prof. Abdelkader Ziadi, during an official visit to Algeria to explore opportunities for expanded academic and research cooperation.
Obeidat said UJ is broadening its international partnerships, noting that high-impact research increasingly relies on sustained collaboration with universities worldwide. He added that such partnerships help strengthen research quality and elevate the University’s international profile.
He highlighted UJ’s research infrastructure and its exchange opportunities for students, faculty members, and researchers, expressing interest in developing joint initiatives in areas of shared academic priority.
Discussions also addressed the review of selected academic programmes amid rapid changes in higher education, with an emphasis on aligning joint initiatives with labour market needs. Both sides highlighted applied training approaches, including UJ’s “1+4” engineering training model, which combines academic study with structured off-campus, hands-on training.
Obeidat outlined UJ’s digital transformation efforts, including a project to digitise educational content for around 320 degree programmes and 1,200 undergraduate courses. He said more than 25% of the project has been completed, with plans to finish the rollout over the coming year to support more interactive learning and improve students’ access to course materials.
He also noted the growing role of artificial intelligence in higher education, particularly in medical education, where it is used in areas such as anatomy teaching and clinical training. UJ, he said, is developing specialised simulation and skills laboratories to strengthen hands-on learning and support this direction.
The meeting further explored cooperation in pharmacy education as Ain Temouchent University Belhadj Bouchaib considers launching a pharmacy programme. Discussions highlighted UJ’s experience in the field and its international standing in Pharmacy and Pharmacology.
Both sides agreed to continue technical discussions to identify priority areas and translate shared interests into joint academic and research projects.