Dead Sea, May 8 – El-Fayez: Education Is the Cornerstone of National Progress and Development. Faisal El-Fayez, President of the Senate, affirmed that education constitutes the central pillar for the advancement and development of nations, serving as a fundamental driver of economic growth, social development, cultural and civilizational progress, and a source of societal well-being.
His remarks came during the opening address of the National Conference on Higher Education titled “From Vision to Implementation: A Roadmap for Modernization, Transformation, and Institutional Resilience in the Higher Education Sector,” held at the Dead Sea.
El-Fayez noted that universities have evolved beyond being merely academic institutions; they have become productive and investment-oriented entities in human capital, supplying society with trained competencies, critical thinkers, and national leaders capable of driving change and assuming responsibility.
He explained that the conference is being held in coordination with nine permanent committees of the Senate, as part of the first phase of the higher education modernization project launched by the Council, which focused on engaging stakeholders and partners from all sectors in shaping a comprehensive reform roadmap.
El-Fayez added that the current phase of the conference, which stems from the strategic framework prepared by the Council in cooperation with its partners, represents a qualitative shift from theoretical planning to practical implementation and operational follow-up, aiming to achieve tangible and sustainable institutional impact within the higher education system.
He emphasized that the Senate is leading this phase with the objective of enabling universities to achieve effective strategic duality—balancing the efficient use of available resources with a forward-looking approach to innovation and renewal—in response to the accelerating global technological and knowledge transformations.
He also stressed that His Majesty King Abdullah II’s vision serves as the foundational reference for efforts to modernize the sector, aiming to go beyond improving education quality to empowering scientific research, linking educational outcomes with labor market needs, and enhancing universities’ ability to adapt to future changes.
El-Fayez pointed out that despite the many previous governmental initiatives, the higher education sector still faces structural challenges, most notably weak outcomes, funding crises, mounting university debts, and the absence of good governance.
He called for a comprehensive reform of curricula and teaching methods to reflect the needs of the national economy and modern technology, the correction of higher education inputs through the development of school education, and the revitalization of applied scientific research aligned with national needs.
El-Fayez also stressed the importance of university autonomy, activating partnerships with the private sector in the areas of financing, curriculum development, training, and research, as well as exploring the possibility of unifying the legislation and regulations governing higher education institutions, and developing technical education to ensure its integration with labor market demands.
In the first session, moderated by Senator Dr. Mustafa Hamarneh, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Azmi Mahafzah, President of the Accreditation Commission Dr. Dhafer Al-Sarayrah, and Secretary-General of the Higher Council for Science and Technology Dr. Mashhoor Al-Rifai discussed policy transformation mechanisms, quality culture development, and directing research funding toward national priorities.
The second session, moderated by Dr. Wafa Al-Khudari, focused on the flexibility of Jordanian universities in activating strategic duality, achieving balance between operational efficiency and adaptability to change, and exploring opportunities for future growth and sustainable development. Participants included former Minister Dr. Rowaida Al-Maaytah, Dr. Reem Abu Hassan, and Secretary-General of the Ministry of Higher Education Dr. Mamoun Al-Dubai.
Speakers highlighted innovative institutional models that leverage public-private partnerships and diversify income sources, including care economy models, environmental sustainability, digital transformation, and innovation funding.
The third session of the conference, titled “University Presidents – Success Stories from the Academic Field,” was moderated by Senator Ihsan Barakat. Speakers included Dr. Nathir Obeidat, President of the University of Jordan; Dr. Salameh Al-Naimat, President of Mutah University; Dr. Khaled Al-Salem, President of Jordan University of Science and Technology; and Dr. Wejdan Abu Al-Haija, President of Princess Sumaya University for Technology.