UJ ranks first in Jordan, 903rd globally on Webometrics ranking

AMMAN — The University of Jordan (JU) ranked first in the Kingdom, and 903rd globally, according to the January 2022 edition of the Webometrics ranking of world universities.

The Jordan University of Science and Technology ranked second in Jordan, followed by Al Balqa Applied University and the Hashemite University which ranked third and fourth, respectively.

The Ranking Web is published twice a year, covering more than 31,000 higher education institutions worldwide, according to the Webometrics website.

According to the ranking’s webpage, Webometrics uses both webometric (all missions) and bibliometric (research mission) indicators to rank universities.

“Jordanian universities have always been among the best educational settings in the region, however the quality of teaching has significantly declined, whether in schools or universities,” Deema Azzouka, an educational expert, told The Jordan Times on Tuesday.

Such rankings are important to a certain extent, said Azzouka. She said that universities should make their educational systems more responsive to the labour market, in addition to focusing on improving students’ practical skills.

“What is important in a university is to be able to prepare its students for the real world they will face after graduation,” Dana Emad, a university student, told The Jordan Times over the phone.

She said most schools in Jordan continue to emphasise routine learning and repetition, rather than focusing on developing other skills, such as critical thinking.