Professor Dr. Khaled Al-Hiyari, President of Hashemite University, emphasized during his meeting with a joint delegation from the Ministry of Education, and the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development, the university's commitment to establishing effective partnerships with institutions striving to enhance educational outcomes and the quality of educational research. He also highlighted the university's focus on applied research that addresses educational challenges and contributes to the educational process.
The joint meeting, attended by university vice presidents and the visiting delegation, discussed enhancing institutional cooperation mechanisms among partners to implement the Queen Rania Foundation's project aimed at activating research partnerships between universities, the Ministry of Education, and the private sector. The goal was to form a permanent framework for continuous consultation and synchronized efforts to improve the quality of educational research, aligning it with research priorities and needs in both public and private sectors.
Dr. Al-Hiyari stated: "Educational issues are among the nation's top priorities, receiving careful attention and interest from His Majesty King Abdullah II, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, reflecting societal concerns that necessitate concerted efforts from governmental, private, and civil society sectors to address the challenges they face." He affirmed the university's readiness for sustained institutional cooperation with partners to advance the education sector.
Dr. Al-Hiyari added that the university is keen on directing educational and research efforts, organized by faculty members and graduate students, towards national priorities and research needs identified by the Ministry of Education and the educational sector, aiming to enhance the quality and efficiency of education.
The university president discussed the programs offered by the University in the Faculty of Educational Sciences and the Queen Rania Faculty for Childhood, which include partnerships both locally and internationally, such as the Higher Diploma Program for Teacher Preparation and the "Asas | أساس" program for curriculum development in early childhood education. These programs intend to enhance their applicability to achieve high-quality outcomes capable of fostering creativity and leadership in the education sector, especially in early childhood and primary education, which are critical stages in students' education and development.
Dr. Majed Al-Ziyoud, Head of the Educational Research Department at the Ministry of Education, confirmed the ministry's readiness to join forces with Jordanian universities and coordinate with their education faculties as regards to harnessing educational research to improve educational policies and fill research gaps.
On his part, Dr. Robert Palmer, Executive Director of Research and Program Development at the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development, underlined the importance of collaboration with distinguished academic institutions like Hashemite University, which involves faculty members, researchers, and students of high competence and capability in conducting rigorous scientific research. He stressed the necessity of combined efforts among partners to achieve an integrated educational system, highlighting the importance of activating the role of the higher education sector in Jordan and involving it in guiding governmental decisions regarding educational policies.
Dr. Palmer clarified that the Queen Rania Foundation aims to implement a partnership project designed to increase the participation of educational researchers from both public and private universities in Jordan in research topics related to educational policies. The project seeks to reinforce the research relationship between universities and the Ministry of Education, involving university researchers in capacity-building activities through experiential learning. It also involves offering a series of short training courses for university researchers and research team members from the Ministry of Education, as well as organizing forums and discussion sessions that bring together university researchers and educational policy makers.
Palmer restated Queen Rania Foundation's unwavering commitment to achieving quality education for all children, emphasizing that it is crucial for their future success. He explained that the foundation identifies gaps in the education system and strives to find real solutions by providing necessary data and research to inform evidence-based decision-making.
A comprehensive meeting was also held to discuss mechanisms for enhancing research cooperation between the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Queen Rania Faculty for Childhood, the Ministry of Education, and the Queen Rania Foundation. The meeting was attended by university vice presidents Professor Dr. Mohammad Al-Masha’lah and Professor Dr. Wissam Al-Rawabdeh, Dr. Majed Al-Ziyoud, Head of the Educational Research Department, Dr. Tamara Al-Hajaya, Head of the Educational Development Department at the Ministry of Education, Dr. Robert Palmer, Executive Director of Research and Program Development, Taline Sabila, Policy Support Director from the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development, Dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences Professor Dr. Soheil Al-Habashneh, and Assistant Dean of Queen Rania Faculty for Childhood Dr. Enas Alimat.