The first Cooperative Higher Education conference – CORE conference in Jordan took place on October 25th and 26th, 2022, at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center Dead Sea with over 180 attendees.
The conference was conducted in the framework of the “Labour Market Oriented Vocational Education, Higher Education and Training Project – MOVE-HET”, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The Cooperative Higher Education (CORE) conference is the first conference on the application of a cooperative approach to higher education programmes in Jordan. Hereby, the central element of this approach is the joint organization of an entire Higher Education study Programme or a large part of it in close cooperation between an educational institution and the respective industry, with students dividing their study between academic and work periods, closely coordinated to form a “work-integrated” practical curriculum.
During the opening ceremony, the role of the Dual Study Programme was emphasized and how such Programme could have a major improvement in the chances offered to students after graduation in the labour market, and how the work-integrated study programmes even aim at immediate employment at the hosting company after graduation.
Within the discussion, the quality and the social reputation of Higher Education in Jordan were also highlighted, and such programmes are in line with the Higher Education objectives which focus more on the practice orientation and provide the graduate with more of the skills needed.
Referring to the long-standing relationship between Germany and Jordan, the German Ambassador to Jordan, His Excellency Mr. Bernhard Kampmann, stressed the significant commitment of the German government to supporting economic development and employment in Jordan and the technical and vocational education and training of young people to improve their employability.
Ms. Elisabeth Girrbach – GIZ Country Director for Jordan, said that the opening of the CORE Conference has been made possible by joining forces of GIZ, the Ministry of Labour, the Higher Education Institutions, and the Private Sector. This partnership will achieve greater youth employability with a special focus on the inclusion of young women. With this, GIZ is contributing to the country’s sustainable growth and is creating suitable development prospects.
Over the course of the 2 days conference, representatives from Jordanian Ministries, Public and Private Sectors, presidents, faculty and administrative representatives from Jordanian universities such as; German Jordan University, Al Hussein Bin Talal University, Jordan University of Science and technology, AL Hussein Technical University and others, public and private education institutions and Higher TVET providers, representatives from international organisations, and other development partners, international experts in the field of work-integrated Dual Study as well as Dual Study Students attended and participated in the different panel discussions on different topics related to the experience in the Region, the involvement of the private sector, the impact of the work integrated dual study programmes on the Higher Education System. A General Framework for Work-Integrated Dual Studies in Jordan has been approved by the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions.
All the important stakeholders were included in the discussions: students, faculty, and representatives from companies. The conference consolidated the community for work-integrated cooperative Higher Education in Jordan and linked it to the World Association for Work-Integrated Education – WACE.
The path has been sketched towards a national Jordan Dual Studies Council as a focal point for sustainable practice-related and labour market oriented Higher Education.
To learn more please check the conference website: CORE conference (studycoops.com)
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