jordan pulse -

Maher Al-Hourani

Private universities in Jordan, which started 34 years ago, have significantly contributed to higher education in the country and the region. Despite facing intense opposition accusing them of being profit-driven and questioning their quality, private universities have proven successful on many fronts. They have complemented public universities, enhanced the quality of higher education, and even started competing internationally.

Private universities have achieved this without government aid or tax exemptions, relying on their resources and maintaining high local and international quality standards. They have moved past skepticism and demonstrated strong performance across various metrics.

Public universities, on the other hand, often introduce parallel programs that lack constitutional backing and incur minimal additional costs due to existing infrastructure and faculty. This essentially creates private-like segments within public universities but without extra expenses. Recommendations from "Human Resources" suggest abolishing these parallel programs.

Despite meeting all accreditation standards, private universities face an uneven playing field as many public universities do not fully adhere to these standards, reducing their operational costs. This creates financial disparities that are unjust, as most public universities still incur losses.

There is a need to restructure public universities by separating academic and financial administration, appointing financial experts, reducing the financial and administrative powers of university presidents, and enhancing oversight by boards of trustees. This would ensure that financial budgets reflect actual expenditures, addressing mismanagement and the inability to leverage vast resources and governmental advantages.

The Ministry of Higher Education has been introducing new specializations while discontinuing stagnant ones, with public universities launching numerous undergraduate and diploma programs. This often occurs at the expense of private universities, which strictly adhere to criteria for introducing new specializations.

Key points to consider include:

1. Some dormant specializations, not in demand locally, are sought after by international students. Efforts to attract foreign students must align with this perspective.
2. Allowing public universities to introduce specializations already offered by private universities undermines the latter. Public universities must meet the same standards for new specializations as private universities.
3. Public university fees for new specializations are modest due to government support, unlike private universities that invest heavily in marketing and compliance.
4. There should be stricter scrutiny of private universities' accreditation and new specializations, particularly in graduate programs, to prevent abuses.
5. The misuse of honorary doctorates must be addressed to preserve the integrity of academic titles.
6. The spread of applied colleges by Al-Balqa' Applied University should not conflict with new diploma programs in public universities, aligning with higher education policies.
7. Proposals for virtual universities contradict current regulations that mandate in-person attendance, risking the stability of existing universities and the integrity of higher education.

Any new policies should balance the interests of both public and private universities, ultimately serving the nation's higher education goals. The efforts of the Minister of Higher Education, the Higher Education Council, and the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission are acknowledged in striving for a comprehensive educational framework that aligns with national interests.