International cooperation established to hone talents of PSUT students

AMMAN — Within the framework of Princess Sumaya University for Technology’s (PSUT) efforts to provide international education, the university has recently signed a cooperation agreement with the London College of United Knowledge, according to a PSUT statement. 

The agreement was signed on behalf of PSUT by its president, Mashhoor Al Refai, while the London College was represented by its director, Troy Blankenship. The signing ceremony was attended by British Ambassador to Jordan Edward Oakden, the statement said. 

Through this agreement, PSUT aspires to create a suitable educational environment for students who wish to pursue their studies in international universities. 

The institution will help students by providing an integrated educational programme for the first preparatory year in the fields of information technology, engineering and business administration.  Students will also be introduced to modern study methods. 

During the ceremony, Refai expressed his pleasure at this cooperation, which works to support, enrich and advance the progress of higher education. 

He noted that PSUT closely follows the directives of HRH Princess Sumaya, chair of the board of trustees, in focusing on the international dimension in the fields of scientific research and student exchange through agreements and joint programmes with American, European and other international universities, according to the statement. 

PSUT is also currently participating in 40 European projects, and is the grant holder for five of them, the statement noted.

Refai also highlighted the institution’s cooperation with a number of UK universities in developing curricula for specific academic programmes and disciplines, in addition to developing sustainable programmes in innovation and entrepreneurship, giving rise to an MBA program. 

He went on to talk about expanding opportunities for teaching, virtual innovative learning, openness to education in countries in the southern Mediterranean region and working to develop forensic computing programmes and exchange programmes for staff and students, the statement added.  

The British ambassador stressed the importance of international cooperation between educational institutions because of its impact on the development of education and the convergence of viewpoints. 

According to the statement, he praised the installation of the preparatory programme for its role in raising students’ cultural and academic capabilities and qualifying them to enroll in British universities upon successful completion of the course.

Blankenship also praised the efforts of university, represented by Princess Sumaya, and her support for initiatives aimed at raising the efficacy of higher education in Jordan through partnerships with international educational institutions.

"Our partnership with the university is evidence of [Princess Sumaya’s] interest in this regard," he was quoted in the statement as saying.

The agreement is the result of the two institutions' joint vision on developing international education and making it available to all, which has an impact on the local economy and world peace, he added.

He also emphasised that the programme will allow Jordanian and international students to enroll in undergraduate studies at more than 70 universities in Britain, the US, Australia, Canada and Cyprus, in the disciplines of business administration, engineering and computing, without the inconvenience of travelling to and living in these countries. 

He expressed his deep gratitude to his country's embassy for its support in building an effective partnership between British and Jordanian educational institutions, the statement said.

On the sidelines of the signing, the teaching room reserved for this cooperation was opened, and visitors took a tour of the PSUT’s cyber security laboratory, the statement said.