Amman- 27 February 2019

On February 21, 2019, the German Jordanian University (GJU) together with the National Sector Skills Council (NSSC) for Information and Computer Technology (ICT) conducted a Workshop with the private sector to look for common ground on how to set up a Dual Studies Program in Computer Science.

The idea of Dual Studies is to enrich the predominantly theoretical academic education with extended practical application and training phases in participating companies.

For this endeavor, the GJU Office of Industrial Links joint forces with the NSSC – a permanent employer-led body that promotes skills development in a given economic sector – as well as with the German Development Cooperation giz.

The workshop took place within the premises of Amman Chamber of Industry, whose training Institute Ejabi has a tradition in building a bridge between private sector and education, as Dr Samer Khurma, Ejabi Director pointed out in his welcoming speech.

Dr. Ala’a Enscheiwat, the CEO of Zain cash, who is the Head of the NSSC Board, welcomed the participants and explained from the perspective of the private sector, why getting involved in training is not only a social activity for the private sector, but also pays back economically. Finding employees that are well-trained and ready to work, is the basis for success especially in a sector, which mainly relays on their human capital.

For the German development cooperation giz the Head of component Dr. Wolfgang Frohberg, descripted his own positive experiences with dual students in Germany. He imposes that it is an interest of giz, to support programs and ideas that are developed in Jordan and serve the Jordanian country. Therefore seeing a notable number of private companies and University staff, highly engaged in developing new education models is a great pleasure.

From the side of GJU, Dr. Sahel Alouneh, Dean of the School of Computer Engineering and Information Technology together with Dr. Stefan Braun, Dual Studies Advisor at GJU, described the Dual-Studies Model at GJU and how this could be designed in the specific field of Computer Sciences.

After that, the sixteen companies present from the sector were discussing the study program and what part of the content could be applied within the company phases. In small groups, intensive conversations took place and many good approaches have been generated.

As next steps it was agreed, that the GJU will develop a model out of the valuable suggestions by the participants. Furthermore, all interested companies will be visited to discuss technical questions as well as administrative issues.

The participants agreed that the goal is to start the first Dual Program in Computer Science this summer.

 

For more information, please contact: dual.studies@gju.edu.jo