Amman, July 15 (Petra) – The President of the University of Jordan Nazir Obeidat and Executive Director of the International Growth Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science Jonathan Leape signed a memorandum of understanding on scientific research.

The memo aims to strengthen academic collaboration, advance scientific research and leverage it to support public policy development.

Obeidat said the partnership addresses core issues within academia, particularly the connection between higher education, the labour market and national policymaking, noting that the university is updating its academic programmes to better equip students with language and digital skills.

He discussed the introduction of a “Workplace Readiness” course, which is now mandatory for all undergraduate students, aiming to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and market needs.

For his part, Leape expressed his pleasure in signing the Centre’s first official memorandum of understanding in Jordan, praising the University of Jordan as a leading regional academic partner.

He explained that the agreement aims to establish a strong link between scientific research and policymaking, contributing to the development of evidence-based policies in key sectors.

Leape outlined that the partnership is built on four main pillars: conducting scientific research directly connected to public policy; promoting knowledge exchange between local and international researchers; enhancing the research capacity of doctoral students and emerging scholars; and strengthening the relationship between academia and government to support national development.

Salma Shaheen, the representative of the International Growth Centre in Jordan, expressed optimism about the “promising” prospects of the collaboration with the University of Jordan.

Shaheen noted that the signing of the memorandum marks the beginning of a sustained effort based in transparency and the integration of scientific research with decision-making processes.

Under the agreement, both parties will collaborate on implementing research projects, develop competitive fellowship programmes to support young researchers, organise discussion panels and workshops with policymakers and involve students in research and training activities under joint academic supervision.

//Petra// AK
15/07/2025 19:23:00