Cabinet approves draft laws of higher education, universities

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the draft laws of higher education and Jordanian universities 2017, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The new Jordanian Universities Law aims to enhance the independence of universities and to empower them.

Under the law, presidents of universities who reach the legal retirement age should stay in office until they finish their tenure.

The law also gives the boards of trustees the authority to administer universities’ financial resources such as fees and properties. 

Under the law, universities will allocate 5 per cent of their annual budgets for scientific research and innovation.

It also allows transferring professors between universities while preserving their academic and financial rights and raising the retirement age of professors from 70 to 75 years old.

The new Higher Education Law aims to limit the Higher Education Council’s authorities to drafting the general policies of the sector and deciding on the tasks of the universities’ secretaries general.

The law stipulates establishing a fund affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education titled “Fund for the Support of Scientific Research and Innovation”.

The fund is to be financed by an allocation from the general budget and allocations for scientific research, training, publications, conferences and internships that were not used after three years.

It will also be funded with 1 per cent of the public shareholding companies’ net profit, as stipulated by the Income Tax Law.