واقع التعليم الهندسي في إقليم جنوب المملكة الأردنية الهاشمية

Abstract EN

This study aims to investigate the state of ’’Engineering Education in the Sourthem Region of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan" in order to indentify possible means of continuing improvement in engineering education output and to wisely manage engineering workforce in response to the existing and future needs of the rgion.

The study is based on a field survey research.

A questionnaire was designed for this purpose.

Data from a sample of 760 engineers (aomng 1040 engineers working in the Sourthern Region) was collected and analysed.

The results revealed a very low engineering population ratio of 0.2859%, and a very low engineering percentage (3.12%) of Jordan engineering workforce, although the southern region population exceeds 10% of the nation, and of an area exceeding 50% of the country.

The results indicated inhomogeneity in academic standards among engineers due to wide range of graduates from different universities spead in many foreign countries Furthermore, lack of provision, inadequate planning, and absence of coordination resulted in the lack of quality and quantity (5%) of engineers in the research and development area and deficiency in balance in the various engineering disciplines.

In addition to lack of coordination between academic and industrial institutions in the region.

Of the most serious drawbacks indicated in this study, a correlation of several factors regarded as "disattractive features" preventing the majority of engineering workforce from permanent settlement in the southern region.

Consequnetly, prohibiting experienced engineers from being integrated in the socio-economic development process.

Of the most important positive indicators, the study highlighted, is the anticipation of increase in number of local community students studying engineering, as the Faculty of Engineering at Mu’tah University will extend the opportunities to a wider group of potentially successful students, and higher engineering education will be more accessible and affordable, thus, enhancing applied scientific research and development capabilities towards the particular needs of the local community.

In compliance with results drawn from this study, a set of realistic recommendations were presented.