Amman, Sept 3 (Petra) – The University of Jordan (UJ) on Wednesday signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) to launch the Kingdom’s first joint doctoral program in computer engineering during a virtual ceremony.

UJ President Nathir Obeidat hailed the agreement as a “strong start to a broad academic and research partnership,” giving students valuable exposure to leading international expertise.

He said the university plans to integrate internships into its programs and noted that Jordan’s Ministry of Higher Education and the Higher Education Council have welcomed and fully endorsed the initiative, calling it a qualitative leap that boosts UJ’s global standing.

Mark Button, Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, said the agreement crowns years of collaboration between the two institutions. “We have exchanged faculty and researchers and published joint studies, and today we turn our vision into reality. This agreement is more than academic cooperation; it reflects a shared commitment to building a better future for our students and communities,” he said, noting it is the first such initiative in Jordan in the computer engineering field.

Ashraf Abu Karaki, UJ Vice President for Scientific Schools, described the program as a “landmark in the university’s journey” for its potential to deepen academic and cultural collaboration.

Dean of the School of Engineering Menwer Attarakih added that it is the first PhD of its kind in Jordan and only the second international collaboration for the faculty, following a joint program with the University of Hamburg.

Under the agreement, signed by Obeidat and Chancellor of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Rodney Bennett, students will spend three to four semesters at UJ before moving to Nebraska–Lincoln University for five to six semesters. The full program spans eight to ten semesters and includes 90 credit hours of coursework and intensive research in joint areas of focus, with supervision shared between faculty at both institutions.

Students will enjoy the same rights and privileges as regular PhD candidates, with opportunities for teaching or research assistantships at Nebraska–Lincoln University, including full tuition waivers.

Admission requirements include strong academic performance at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels in computer engineering, English language proficiency, passing qualifying exams, and publishing research papers in peer-reviewed journals.

//Petra// AF
03/09/2025 20:59:22