Tuesday, May 7, 2002

Jordan Says It Will Encourage Distance Programs in Public and Private Universities By DANIEL DEL CASTILLO The government of Jordan has announced plans to introduce distance-learning programs throughout the country's public and private colleges. The plans are part of a broad strategy, encouraged by King Abdullah II, to develop Jordan's educational infrastructure through the use of computers and information technology. The new distance-learning programs are expected to begin this fall and will be operated initially by both Jordan University and the new Jordanian branch of the multinational Arab Open University, with other institutions joining in later. Officials expect the popularity of distance learning to boom in the coming decade, and they anticipate that most universities in the kingdom will eventually offer distance education as an option. "Distance learning is just one of the many techniques we're using for higher education in Jordan," said Safwan Tell, director of the higher council for accreditation in the ministry of higher education. University and ministry officials are currently working out the curriculums for distance learning, but they expect to offer both undergraduate- and graduate-level degrees. It will likely be several years before Ph.D. programs are instituted, however. Degrees will be conferred by individual universities and sanctioned by the Jordanian government. The distance-learning infrastructure in Jordan will incorporate a variety of technologies, including a large Internet component and satellite teleconferencing. Officials expect to attract students from all backgrounds as distance learners, though they anticipate that working professionals will fill the first classes. "We will begin recruiting students this June," said Camilla Sueiss, an assistant to the director of Arab Open University. "We don't know exactly how many will apply in the first year, but we expect around 600 students." Arab Open University was founded in Kuwait last year as the Middle East's first pan-Arab university. University officials project 70,000 students within 10 years and 200,000 at maximum capacity. The Jordanian branch will be the first of five virtual branches to open in the university's first phase. "We are hopeful that eventually we'll have 3,000 to 5,000 students" at the Jordanian branch, Ms. Sueiss said. "We're accepting students from anywhere, not just from Jordan." Easy-to-print version E-mail this article

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