jordan pulse -

Roya TV's morning program Donya Ya Donya conducted an interview with Dr. Maher Al-Hourani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Ahliyya Amman University, alongside Prof. Dr. Bashar Al-Tarawneh, Vice President of Al-Ahliyya Amman University and Dean of the Faculties of Engineering and Technical Education, to discuss university specializations, international rankings, and modern technical fields.
​Dr. Al-Hourani stated that the three primary global ranking systems—Shanghai, QS, and Times Higher Education—serve as mirrors reflecting a university's actual performance. He explained that the Shanghai ranking criteria are particularly stringent, requiring Nobel prizes, patents, and high research citation counts.
​Highlighting the university's achievement of ranking 643 globally in QS and securing a placement among the top 400–500 universities in key indicators, Dr. Al-Hourani noted that this reflects strict adherence to standards in research quality, international publication, instruction, practical skills, infrastructure, laboratories, innovation, and international partnerships. He emphasized that strong global rankings enable graduates to pursue higher education at top international universities without additional requirements and secure employment with leading global and local firms.
​Dr. Al-Hourani praised the Ministry of Education and the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for restructuring high school (Tawjihi) academic tracks, describing it as a qualitative leap forward. He also highlighted newly introduced programs, including Sports Media Technology and Food Industry Technology, while advising parents to support their children's choice of study in fields aligned with labor market demands.
​For his part, Prof. Dr. Bashar Al-Tarawneh discussed the evolving public perception of technical and vocational education, driven by the Economic Modernization Vision and national strategies prioritizing vocational pathways.
​Prof. Dr. Al-Tarawneh explained that the Faculty of Technical Education offers international programs accredited by Pearson (BTEC). High school graduates with a score of 50% or higher can enroll to earn a British diploma recognized in over 120 countries, with the option to bridge into a bachelor's degree program. Current Pearson-accredited fields include Software Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Interior Design, and Film and Television, alongside a local diploma in Medical Equipment Technology.
​He announced the addition of a diploma program in Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts, as well as a bachelor's degree program in Jewelry Design and Manufacturing—developed in collaboration with the General Syndicate of Owners of Jewelry and Goldsmith Shops, represented by Mr. Ribhi Allan. The jewelry program requires a minimum high school average of 60%.
​Prof. Dr. Al-Tarawneh concluded by noting that the faculty's programs are structured to combine practical field experience with English language proficiency and soft skills training to ensure competitive graduate outcomes.
​Source: Donya Ya Donya (Roya TV)