The Jordan Economic Forum (JEF) held a panel discussion entitled: "Towards a Knowledge-Based Economy: Jordanian Universities as Hubs for Innovation and Investment," with the participation of the President of the German Jordanian University (GJU), Prof. Ala’aldeen Al-Halhouli, and the attendance of the Forum President, Mazen Al-Hamoud.
Dr. Samer Al-Mofleh, a Board Member of the Forum, emphasized the importance of establishing effective platforms to connect the academic and private sectors, considering them a fundamental pillar in transforming research ideas into applicable projects.
He noted that practical cooperation mechanisms are key to turning innovation into added value that supports the national economy and strengthens Jordan’s move towards a knowledge-based economy.
For his part, Prof. Al-Halhouli gave an extensive presentation on the experience of GJU, describing it as a unique model combining Jordan and Germany, and reflecting a genuine partnership since its establishment in 2005.
He pointed out that the university is celebrating its 20th anniversary—a relatively short period compared to other academic institutions—yet during that time it has made significant leaps that earned it a strong local, regional, and international reputation.
He explained that the university currently employs over 700 staff members and serves more than 5,500 students, in addition to maintaining an extensive network of local and international partners.
The university, he added, has partnerships with around 120 German universities, and over 5,000 factories and companies that host GJU students during their fourth academic year, offering them valuable practical experience and enhancing their employability.
He revealed that 29% of GJU graduates currently work in Germany, 44% in Jordan, while the rest are spread across various international job markets. He affirmed that these figures reflect the success of GJU’s model in linking education with both local and global labor markets.
Discussing the integration of academia and industry, Prof. Al-Halhouli stressed that universities alone cannot fulfill their role in preparing graduates without genuine investment from industrial companies.
He highlighted that companies can create significant added value by allocating part of their budgets to student training and curriculum development, enabling graduates to enter the labor market with advanced skills.
This type of investment, he added, goes beyond training opportunities to include building strategic partnerships with universities, having industry experts deliver lectures, and opening doors for students to become real partners in industrial development.
He emphasized the need for Jordan to foster a collaborative environment between universities and the private sector to build an advanced technological ecosystem, rather than relying on ready-made solutions from abroad.
At the end of the session, an open discussion was held with the audience, raising several questions around mechanisms to enhance university-private sector collaboration, ways to develop practical training programs aligned with industrial needs, and issues related to innovation, entrepreneurship, and the role of students in driving the transition to a knowledge-based economy.