Towards a university Enterprise alliance in Jordan

“TEJ”

Kick-off Meeting

Amman, 24,25 March

BackgroundEuropeThe importance of relations between universities and their socio-economic environment for sustainable development and growth has become a topical issue in Europe in the last twenty years, and has also been stressed within the implementation of the Bologna process and the flagships initiatives under the Europe 2020 Strategy, such as the Innovation Union and the Agenda for New Skills and Jobs.

Jordan Jordan, the country has experienced decreasing competitiveness in the last few years, the drop reflecting persistence of structural weaknesses, which results in poor assessment of public-private relationships and labour market efficiency. The Competitiveness Report 2011-2012 also highlights a weak culture on meritocracy, with businesses still relying on personal networks when deciding on management positions instead of on professional qualifications. There are strong voices asking for a socio-economic plan to free Jordan of its historic patronage system and move the country towards a merit-based economy. Such a plan should, over time, deal with the chronic problems of unemployment while it should not overlook the needs of the less privileged. Growth must be more inclusive and needs to address the challenge of developing a self-sustaining Jordanian economy

Background

Taking all the abovementioned into account, TEJ aims at stimulating the development of a Jordanian university-enterprise cooperation culture, by:

- promoting good practice for implementing University-based Enterprise Liaison Offices in 8 Jordanian universities, creation of capacities in human resources,

- promoting of coherent information and communication strategies among the Universities’ communities and within the local business environment

- as well as providing necessary strategic input for the creation of long-term partnerships and collaborative research with enterprises. In the longer term, the project aims to contribute to:

a. Higher employability of students though improved training and good job prospects;

b Generation of opportunities to attract additional funds for teaching and research;

c Increasing financial autonomy of universities through the stimulation of cooperative research with enterprises and generation of supplemental income

from consulting;

e Increased innovation and technology transfer and stronger economic development.

Project Objectives

• Wider Objective:

To contribute to meet the challenges of the economic downturn in Jordan by building a strong and sustainable partnerships between Universities and Enterprises.

Project Objectives

• Project Specific Objectives:

• To set up a Jordanian University-Enterprise Network as functional resource and networking platform fostering the exchange of knowledge and information between universities and enterprises in Jordan.

• To boost strategic partnerships between Universities and Enterprises in Jordan through the implementation Skills enhancement scheme and the Establishment of Research & Enterprise Offices in Jordanian Universities.

Work Packages

WP. No. Type of WP WP Title WP Leader Start month

End month

WP.1 Development Jordan University-Enterprise network

Princess Sumaya University for Technology

1 12

WP.2 Development Capacity Building University Joseph Fourier

7 24

WP.3 Development Research & Enterprises Offices University de Bologna

6 36

WP.4 Exploitation Pilot Operation of New Offices Tafial Technical University

18 36

WP.5 Quality Plan Quality Control & Monitoring University of Petra 1 36

WP.6 Dissemination Dissemination University of Alicante 1 36

WP.7 Management Project Management Princess Sumaya University for Technology

1 36

Deliverables

D. No. Title Type Delivery Date Dissemination Level

1.1 Need Analysis Report Report 2014-03-01 National Level

1.2 University-Enterprises Partnerships Handbook

Report 2014-09-01 International Level

1.3 Creation of University-Enterprise Network

Other Products 2014-12-01 National Level

2.1 Training Materials & Workshop Implementation

Training 2015-08-01 National Level

2.2 Online Training Course Learning Resources

2015-12-01 National Level

3.1 Startegic Action Plans Report 2014-09-01 Institution Level

3.2 Establishment of the Research & Enterprises Offices

Learning Resources

2014-12-01 Institution Level

Deliverables

D. No. Title Type Delivery Date Dissemination Level

3.3 Creation of REO’s Website, Technology Map

Learning Resources

2015-05-04 National Level

4.1 REOs Services Implementation

Other Products 2016-11-30 Institution Level

4.2 Employment Counselling & Research Projects

Other Products 2016-11-30 Institution Level

4.3 Innovation Fair Events: Conferences & Seminar

2015-05-31 Local/Regional Level

5.1 Monitoring of the Project Results

Report 2016-11-30 International Level

5.2 High Quality of Outputs Report 2016-11-30 National Level

6.1 Dissemination Strategy Report 2014-05-31 International Level

Deliverables

D. No. Title Type Delivery Date Dissemination Level

6.2 Dissemination Package Including Project Website

Other Products 2014-05-31 International Level

6.3 Conferences for Project Promotion

Event: Conferences & Seminar

2016-11-30 International Level

7.1 Successful Work plan & Budget Execution

Other Products 2016-11-30 International Level

7.2 Reporting (EC + additional internal reporting)

Other Products 2016-11-30 International Level

Work Plan

CONSORTIUM

Partner No. Partner name P Acronym

P.1 Princess Sumaya University for Technology

PSUT

P.2 Tafila Technical University TTU

P.3 Mutah University MU

P.4 The Hashemite University HU

P.5 Irbid National University INU

P.6 Al Zaytoonah University AZU

P.7 University of Petra UP

P.8 American University of Madaba AUM

P.9 Al-Isra University AIU

P.10 Jordan Chamber of Commerce JOCC

P.11 Business Park for Project Development

IPARK

P.12 The Ministry of Industry and Trade CCD

CONSORTIUM

Partner No. Partner name P Acronym

P.13 Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research

MoHESR

P.14 University of Alicante UA

P.15 Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna

UNIBO

P.16 University of Porto UPORTO

P.167 University Joseph Fourier UJF

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP

• Princess Sumaya University for Technology

PSUT is Applicant and responsible for the overall management of the project due to its long experience in participating in international projects. It is the WP 3 leader and WP7 "Management of the Project". PSUT's role is to guarantee the delivery of activities and the achievements of the project objectives, in line with the budget, workplan and legal obligation towards the European Commission and partners. In addition PSUT will be among the main beneficiaries of the action and actively participate in all activities. It will be a member of the Quality Board.

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP

• University of Petra

Petra University will be among the main beneficiaries of the action and actively participate in all activities. It will participate as trainee in training programmes; give scientific contribution for the Best Practice Guide; host a training; set-up Reaserch & enterprise office ; collaborate in the creation of the Network University-Enterprise in Jordan ; Host the nationla innovation Fair , be involved in the implementation pilot services and operation of the REOs and dissemination of the project activities. also, is member of the Quality board

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP

• Tafila Technical University

TTU will be among the main beneficiaries of the action and actively participate in all activities. WP leader of WP4 . It will participate as trainee in training programmes; give scientific contribution to the Best Practice Guide; host a national conference; set-up research & Enterprise office ; collaborate in the creation of the Network University-Enterprise in Jordan ; be involved in the implementation pilot services and operation of the REOss and dissemination of the project activities.

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP• Mutah University

MU will be among the main beneficiaries of the action and actively participate in all activities. It will participate as trainee in training programmes; give scientific contribution for the Best Practice Guide; host a training; set-up Reaserch & enterprise office ; collaborate in the creation of the Network University-Enterprise in Jordan ; be involved in the implementation pilot services and operation of the REOs and dissemination of the project activities.

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP

• Al Isra University

AIU will lead WP 5 ( Quality control ). will be among the main beneficiaries of the action and actively participate in all activities. It will participate as trainee in training programmes; give scientific contribution for the Best Practice Guide; host a training; set-up Reaserch & enterprise office ; collaborate in the creation of the Network University-Enterprise in Jordan ; be involved in the implementation pilot services and operation of the REOs and dissemination of the project activities.

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP

• Hashemite University

HU will be among the main beneficiaries of the action and actively participate in all activities. It will participate as trainee in training programmes; give scientific contribution for the Best Practice Guide; host a training; set-up Reaserch & enterprise office ; collaborate in the creation of the Network University-Enterprise in Jordan ; be involved in the implementation pilot services and operation of the REOs and dissemination of the project activities.

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP

• Irbid National University

INU will be among the main beneficiaries of the action and actively participate in all activities. It will participate as trainee in training programmes; give scientific contribution for the Best Practice Guide; host a training; set-up Reaserch & enterprise office ; collaborate in the creation of the Network University-Enterprise in Jordan ; be involved in the implementation pilot services and operation of the REOs .

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP• Al Zaytooneh University

AZU will be among the main beneficiaries of the action and actively participate in all activities. It will participate as trainee in training programmes; give scientific contribution for the Best Practice Guide; host a training; set-up Reaserch & enterprise office ; collaborate in the creation of the Network University-Enterprise in Jordan ; be involved in the implementation pilot services and operation of the REOs and dissemination of the project activities.

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP

• American University of Madaba

AUM will be among the main beneficiaries of the action and actively participate in all activities. It will participate as trainee in training programmes; give scientific contribution for the Best Practice Guide; host a training; set-up Reaserch & enterprise office ; collaborate in the creation of the Network University-Enterprise in Jordan ; be involved in the implementation pilot services and operation of the REOs and dissemination of the project activities.

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP

• Jordan Chamber of Commerce

JOCC will be the main link to the enterprise sector in Jordan , ensuring the participation of enterprises in the project activities and establishing durable university –business links. JOCC will be involved in WP1, providing information for generating the knowledge base, identifying good practice and participating in the Network, and in WP2, giving feedback on local context for the capacity building actions. It will participate in WP4 bu supporting the organisation of the Innovation days (inviting businesses to participate and supporting dissemination). JOCC will be an active member of the Quality Board.

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP• Business Park for Project Development

IPark , will be involved in W2 as a training provider for Universities staff , will be the main link to the enterprise sector in Jordan , ensuring the participation of enterprises in the project activities and establishing durable university –business links. IPark will be involved in WP1, providing information for generating the knowledge base, identifying good practice and participating in the Network . It will participate in WP4 bu supporting the organisation of the Innovation days (inviting businesses to participate and supporting dissemination). IPark will be an active member of the Quality Board.

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP

• The Ministry of Industry and Trade

The ministry of Industry will be involved in all the project activities as to guarantee the sustainability of the project results. also, will participate in Disseminating the action amog Jordanian industry. It will be an active member of the Quality Board.

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP

• Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research

The Ministry will be involved in all the project activities as to guarantee the sustainability of the project results. It will be an active member of the Quality Board.

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP

• University of Alicante

UA will lead WP6 "Dissemination”. It will be involved in WP2 "Capacity building" due to its experience in developing training plans and materials, and will give feedback on modernisation of action plans, database & website (WP3). UA will offer guidance and mentoring to Jordanian HEIs partners in all their activities to reach expected results (WP4) and give feedback for the different aspects of the quality plan (WP5).

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP

• University of Bologna

UNIBO is the leader of WP3 "Support Structures and Strategies" for its experience with Research and Enterprises Offices (REOs). It will be the main responsible for leading the creation of a detailed action plan for REOs' website & database. It will also collaborate in WP1 for the benchmark visit and analysis of its results. In WP2, UNIBO will support the leader in the feedback on training plan & contents, but above all in the development of training materials & delivery of workshops related to specific expertise. In WP5, UNIBO will contribute to the quality plan providing feedback on quality control and monitoring rules and procedures & contingency plan. It will also disseminate and assure the sustainability of the activities (WP6). UNIBO will be an active member of the Quality Board.

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP

• University of Porto

In WP2, U.POrto will support the leader in the feedback on training plan & contents, but above all in the development of training materials & delivery of workshops related to specific expertise. In WP5, Uporto will contribute to the quality plan providing feedback on quality control and monitoring rules and procedures & contingency plan. It will also disseminate and assure the sustainability of the activities (WP6).

Partners Roles & Tasks in WP

• University of Joseph Fourier

UJF will lead WP2 " Capacity building" due to its expertise in developing training materials, transferring know-how, and managing e-learning platforms. It will take active part in WP6 "Dissemination", given its experience disseminating project results. UJF will assist PSUT in the coordination of the implementation plan in WP1. In WP3, it will collaborate in strengthening the organisational capacities of REOs, and it will have an advisory function in the implementation of WP4, sharing its experience in supporting students and researchers and establishing links with enterprises. Finally, UJF will also participate in WP5 "Quality Control & Monitoring".