Amman, Oct. 14 (Petra) -- HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, President of the Board of Trustees of Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT), sponsored an information day organized by the National Erasmus+ Office in Jordan to launch the program's 2027 call for proposals.

The event, hosted at PSUT, was attended by European Union Ambassador to Jordan Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, PSUT President Wejdan Abu Elhaija, along with representatives from higher education institutions, academic experts, and EU officials in Jordan.

In her keynote address, Princess Sumaya emphasized the vital role of international academic cooperation in empowering youth, expanding their knowledge, and strengthening their capacities for innovation and creativity.

The Princess noted that investing in future generations extends beyond imparting knowledge to fostering self-confidence, critical thinking, and cultural openness, particularly amid accelerating global challenges that demand stronger international partnerships.

Princess Sumaya highlighted that PSUT was founded to leverage science, technology, and innovation in service of national development. She added that the university’s location within El Hassan Science City embodies an integrated vision linking education, scientific research, innovation, and industry.

She noted that academic collaboration with European institutions has been integral to PSUT’s journey, pointing out that the early adoption of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) reflects the university’s commitment to international academic standards and alignment with European counterparts.

Emphasizing that the partnership between Jordan and the EU is rooted in mutual knowledge exchange, Princess Sumaya stressed that Jordan is not merely a beneficiary but an active partner contributing high-level academic, research, and creative expertise. She called for expanding cooperation in scientific research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies.

With rapid advances in artificial intelligence and emerging tech, Princess Sumaya urged universities to prepare students to actively shape technological developments rather than consume them. She stressed the importance of nurturing critical thinking and ethical awareness to ensure scientific progress serves humanity and societal needs.

Reaffirming her commitment as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Science for Peace, Princess Sumaya stated that knowledge knows no borders and that science must serve peace, understanding, and humanity.

She encouraged students to seize academic exchange opportunities and apply their acquired skills to serve their communities and drive national progress.

Ahmad Abu-El-Haija, Director of the National Erasmus+ Office in Jordan, highlighted the program's role as a catalyst for educational transformation through academic mobility, cultural exchange, and institutional capacity building.

Over the past 11 years, the Erasmus+ program in Jordan has benefited nearly 9,000 students, faculty, and administrative staff, supporting institutional development across higher education, vocational education and training (VET), and youth sectors through roughly 200 capacity-building projects, according to Abu-El-Haija.

Abu-El-Haija urged higher education institutions to leverage the upcoming 2027 call for proposals by designing high-impact projects that foster innovation and support Jordan’s educational priorities.

The event featured an orientation session by Abu-El-Haija and Asmaa Al Smadi from the Erasmus+ Office, outlining program priorities, opportunities, and application mechanisms.

Omar Al-Qawasmi, Director of the International Relations Office at PSUT, reaffirmed the significance of hosting the event to promote international academic partnerships.

EU Ambassador Chatzisavas underscored the bloc’s commitment to supporting Jordan’s higher education sector and deepening academic cooperation.

A specialized panel on AI in higher education, chaired by Mahmoud Al-Sheyyab, Head of the Higher Education Reform Experts (HEREs) team, addressed prompt engineering, ethical governance, and the integration of AI in medical education. Additional sessions focused on modern trends in higher education reform, innovative skill development, STEM education, university transformation, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

//Petra// AF