The School of Educational Sciences at the University of Jordan organized a dialogue session today to discuss the latest developments and global trends in educational research. The event was held under the patronage of the Dean of the School, Dr. Mohammad Sayel Alzyoud, and featured Cameron Mirza, Director of the Early Childhood Education Program in Jordan (Essas) at the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX).
Dr. Alzyoud welcomed Mirza, a long-standing partner of the School in the implementation of several distinguished academic programs, including the Diploma in Teacher Preparation and the Early Childhood Education program. He emphasized the goal of the event, which was to provide an opportunity to exchange experiences and insights on educational research, noting that this type of research is the cornerstone for developing educational systems and finding solutions to challenges in the teaching process.
In his opening speech, Dr. Alzyoud highlighted the critical role of scientific research in enhancing the quality of the educational programs offered by the School. He encouraged the attendees, including teachers and School members, to take advantage of the valuable opportunity to learn from Mirza's global experiences, which span the United Kingdom and the region. He concluded by expressing his deep appreciation for all the efforts made to support education and scientific research.
In the session's introduction, Mirza emphasized the importance of education as a profession, recognizing it as a commitment to contributing to the creation of knowledge. He praised the University's training programs, describing it as an outstanding educational environment. Mirza explained that the primary goal of scientific research is the creation of knowledge, which serves as the foundation for building inclusive and resilient economies and societies, in addition to providing evidence to inform educational practices and policies.
Mirza reviewed the recent trends in educational research over the last decade, noting a significant increase in global research output, particularly in the fields of technology and artificial intelligence. He pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic had accelerated research on the use of technology and online learning. He also highlighted the substantial growth in the number of universities worldwide, which has exceeded 25,000 by the end of 2024, contributing to a noticeable rise in research production.
He focused on the importance of educational research in the Arab world, acknowledging that research output in education remains relatively weak compared to other regions. He commended the University of Jordan for being one of the leading universities in the Arab world in educational research, contributing 7% of the Arab region's research output in this field.
Mirza concluded his talk by emphasizing the concept of "good scientific research," explaining that the quality of research is measured by its publication in prestigious journals, citation count, and level of international collaboration. He highlighted the "H-Index" as a key indicator for evaluating researchers, which reflects the impact of their work. He stressed the close relationship between the quality of research and universities' global rankings, pointing out that a strong academic reputation is closely linked to the quality of published research.
A discussion followed on the importance of teachers acquiring research skills. Dr. Alzyoud referred to the "Pre-Service Teacher Training Diploma" program, which encourages students to adopt "action research" methods as a first step toward developing their research skills by collecting data using various tools such as interviews and surveys. He noted that teachers can turn challenges into research opportunities and publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals. Mirza encouraged teachers to take advantage of the research resources and facilities provided by the University, which is a pioneer in scientific research in Jordan.
According to Dr. Alzyoud, the University offers several platforms for publishing research, including the "Studies" journal and the research conferences organized by the School, such as an upcoming conference in April. These platforms provide students and researchers with opportunities to showcase their work and contribute to the development of education in Jordan and the region. Mirza also stressed the importance of adopting global trends in educational research and focusing on quality over quantity.
The session ended with Dr. Alzyoud highlighting the School's remarkable alignment with global trends in educational research. This reflects the School's commitment to keeping up with scientific developments and advancing the field of education and research. He proudly noted that the School is among the top ten Arab universities in educational research, in line with the University's ranking in the QS Arab University Rankings, where it ranked ninth.