The University of Jordan (UJ) has won a principal role in the “Enhancing Employability and Skills for Engineering Graduates through Innovation, Networking, Collaboration, and Curriculum Updating” (ENG-INC) project, a flagship EU-funded initiative under the 2025 Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) program. The project seeks to modernise engineering education, foster stronger ties with industry, and enhance graduates’ employability.
Coordinated by Kempten University of Applied Sciences in Germany and co-led by UJ, the initiative addresses pressing challenges such as graduate unemployment, outdated curricula, and limited university–industry collaboration.
The consortium comprises 18 partners. From Europe, it includes the University of Patras, Hamburg University of Technology, Friedrich-Alexander University, the Catholic University of Portugal, and the University of Cyprus; and from Jordan and Palestine, JUST, PSUT, Mutah, Al-Balqa, An-Najah, Birzeit, and Palestine Polytechnic University. Key industry stakeholders, including the Jordan Engineers Association and SKY Education, are also involved.
Led by Prof. Ahmed Al-Salaymeh, UJ will spearhead a core work package assessing academic development needs. Building on UJ’s Employability Enhancement Program, the project will update ten engineering courses, train 200 faculty members in modern pedagogy, and deepen collaboration with industry through advisory boards and practical training opportunities.
Social inclusion is integral to the project, targeting at least 30 per cent female participation and tailored support for students from underserved areas.
By 2028, the initiative aims to increase engineering graduates’ employability by 20 per cent, institutionalise curriculum reforms, and establish a sustainable EU-MENA network in engineering education. Activities will span Germany, Greece, and Cyprus, culminating in a final conference in Portugal.
This milestone reaffirms UJ’s regional leadership in higher education reform and its commitment to building a more relevant, inclusive, and future-ready engineering education landscape.