By Suha Alsubaihi
The University of Jordan (UJ) launched a new research group named “Educational Leadership for Innovation and Sustainability (ELIS),” that aims to strengthen the role of educational leadership in addressing emerging challenges in the education sector at the local, regional, and global levels.
The initiative supports UJ’s efforts to advance scientific research that informs educational policies and enhances leadership practices across educational institutions. The group focuses on producing applied research that examines how educational leaders respond to major sectoral transformations, including digitalization, crisis management, and rising issues of equity and justice. It also works to bridge the gap between educational theory and practice by building professional networks that connect researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
The group includes a distinguished team of local and international scholars: Dr. Rania Sawalhi, Prof. Mohammad Amin Al-Qudah, Dr. Abedalsalam Alawamrah, and Dr. Muhammad Hatamleh from the University of Jordan; Prof. Khalid Arar from Texas State University in the United States; Dr. Youmen Chaaban from Qatar University; Dr. Paul Campbell and Dr. Ho Chun Sing Maxwell from The Education University of Hong Kong; and Dr. Abdul Hafed Al Huarrat from the Ministry of Education, in addition to doctoral student Sarah Al-Qudah.
The group seeks to build strategic partnerships with the Ministry of Education, private schools, and community institutions to support the development of school leadership and improve the quality of education in Jordan. It also aims to expand its global engagement through collaboration with international networks such as WERA/NEAR and the ICSEI Educational Leadership Network.
The launch of the group reflects the University of Jordan’s commitment to research excellence, innovation, and sustainability in educational leadership, and to strengthening the role of education in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and building resilient educational institutions capable of shaping the future.