Jordan University of Science and Technology’s advancement in international ranking proof of steady achievement — Jarrah

AMMAN — Since its establishment over 30 years ago, the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) has strived to be a leading academic institution and one of the top-ranked higher education institutions internationally, a university official said.

JUST President Omar Al Jarrah said the university seeks academic excellence and competitive performance with leading academic institutions around the world.

In an interview with The Jordan Times via e-mail, Jarrah said JUST’s advancement in university world rankings is a proof of a steady achievement of these ambitions. According to the QS World Universities Rankings, JUST came in second at the Jordanian level and in the 650-700 category at the international level. 

The university, located in the northern governorate of Irbid, made it to the 351-400 range internationally in the fields of engineering — mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing — and in the 451-500 category for medicine. 

JUST has also been ranked first in Jordan and in the range 601-800 at the international level by the Times Higher Education Rankings, as well as 119th among emerging economies’ universities.

The university also ranks number one in the webometric national rankings. The “Webometrics Ranking of World Universities” is an initiative of the Cybermetrics Lab, a research group belonging to the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, the largest public research body in Spain.

Jarrah explained that the university has also developed all of its own ICT services and has recently developed an online examination system to which instructors can add essay, multiple choice and listening questions, as well as graphics and equations. 

A major milestone for the university was the establishment of a nanotechnology institute, “which, we hope, will serve as the nucleus for a national centre for research and development in the diverse fields of nanoscience and technology”, Jarrah added.

Another important step, he continued, was the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Innovative Projects, as well as hosting  world-class research centres, namely the Princess Haya Biotechnology Centre and the Pharmaceutical Research Centre.

Established in 2002, King Abdullah University Hospital, which is affiliated to the university, has also secured several national and international accreditations for its medical and administrative departments. 

Since its establishment, the university, which has enrolled 57,000 students, has invested nearly JD50 million in sponsoring scholars to pursue postgraduate studies at top universities around the world.

According to Jarrah, the university still aspires to improve its achievements. Its new strategic plan (2016-2020) includes several strategic goals, one of which concerns the advancement of the university’s position in international rankings through improving the quality of education, research and administrative performance, its academic reputation as well as adapting programmes of study to job market’s variables.