By Zayed Alzyoud
The University of Jordan (UJ), through its School of Agriculture, has strengthened its collaboration with Jordan’s food industry by convening a meeting aimed at expanding practical training opportunities for students in the Food Science and Technology Program.
The meeting brought together Vice President for Scientific Schools Prof. Ashraf Abu Karaky, Dean of the School of Agriculture Prof. Hadeel Ali Ghazzawi, and Acting Head of the Department of Nutrition and Food Processing Dr. Shatha Sabri Hammad, alongside representatives from the Jordan Chamber of Industry, the Amman Chamber of Industry, and leading companies including Siniora Food Industries, Kasih Food Production Company, Nutridar Ltd., Jordina Sweets, Abu Lubba Sweets, Aghati Sweets, and Jebri Sweets. Officials from the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) also attended.
At the centre of the discussions was UJ’s forthcoming “3+1” model, which will allow final-year students to spend a full semester in food industry facilities under close academic supervision. The initiative is designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industrial practice.
Abu Karaky emphasised that the programme will not only enhance students’ readiness for the labour market but also open new avenues for collaborative research between academia and industry. Industry leaders welcomed the move as a forward-looking step that will drive innovation in Jordan’s food sector while improving graduate employability.
The initiative reflects UJ’s broader commitment to aligning higher education with national development priorities and creating tangible pathways that connect academic learning with the production lines supporting Jordan’s economy.