AMMAN – The Chairman of Middle East University’s Board of Trustees, Dr Yacoub Nasereddin, said, ‘Distance learning has become an integral part of our higher education system. Academic propensities are moving towards facilitating and continuing the employment of distance learning’.
Dr Nasereddin believes that despite the negativity surrounding the experience, schools and universities’ set objectives and expectations for the distance learning process were successfully achieved and met. Even more, educational institutions have now become more capable of maintaining and developing their use and employment of the distance learning process, after overcoming the obstacles and challenges they have faced during the Coronavirus outbreak.
He highlighted that government policies, issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, stemmed from his Majesty’s wise directions and insights, which contributed to the success of this intricate process. These policies were moderate and realistic, and committed to the continuity and validity of distance learning. Universities continue to develop their teaching methods and are keen on resolving all issues related to distance learning by utilising the necessary technology and updating their infrastructure.
Dr Nasereddin remarked, ‘Students and their parents possessed a rather noticeable awareness of the delicate situation we were facing, and were quick to assume their responsibility in continuing the educational process.’ He added, ‘Students used any and all available devices, including their smart phones, to attend their lectures and submit their assignments. Their ardent commitment greatly contributed to the success of distance learning and the development of direct and indirect communication tools’.
Finally, Dr Nasereddin stressed the need for extending the success of distance learning, whether by applying distance learning to courses that can be carried out online or conducting exams and evaluations through dedicated online tools. He stated, ‘We are discussing an integral part to Jordan’s success story in combating the spread of the Coronavirus. Utilising the available technology was, and will always be, a decisive factor to our success. Employing modern technologies, such as AI and data analysis, allowed us to achieve multiple crucial objectives, including the development of students’ language and entrepreneurship skills and their computer literacy, which is bound to better qualify them when venturing the local and international labour market’.