ResearchandGraduateStudies

ConsolidatedReport|2015Innovativeresearch,graduatelearningand

teaching,andcreativepractice

DSR@gju.edu.jo

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PREFACETheGermanJordanianUniversity(GJU)hasproventobeoneoftheleadinguniversitiesinJordananditsuniquenesscomesfromthedesignofitsprogramsbeingresponsivetothemarketdemandandtheneedsofindustry,management,andgovernment.

GraduatestudiesatGJUareofdistinguishednature,withhighlyregardedgraduateprogramstaughtinEnglishwithmostentrepreneurialandinnovativecurriculastructuresadaptedtotheindustrialneedsandofferedatauniquelocationwithstate-of-the-artfacilitiesandresources.ManygraduateprogramsareoperatedwithoneormoreGermanpartneruniversities.StudentsmaychoosetospendonesemesterinaGermanpartneruniversity.Suchaninteractionisvitaltothetransferofhightechexpertiseinallfields.GJUgraduateprogramsbenefitfromtheflyingfacultyprogram,whichissupportedbyDAAD,whereaGermanFacultymembermayspendfewweeksatGJUteachingaregularcourseinanintensifiedmanner.Furthermore,aprofoundpartnershiphasbeenestablishedwiththeprivatesectorforthegraduateschoolofbusinessandpublicprivatepartnershipwillcontinuetobeenhanced.

ScientificresearchatGJUisconsideredtobeoneofthevitalrolesoffacultymembers.Highcaliberresearchhasprofoundimpactsonresearchers,students,theinstitutionandthecountry.Itstimulatesthought,expandshorizons,enhancesreputations,findsnewtopicsformasterthesesstudentsandsolvesimportantissues.ThedeanshipismeanttohelpGJUachievesthesegoals.Thisisdonethroughprovidingseedfundingforresearchgrants,supportingaccesstonationalandinternationalfunding,facilitatingpublicationofresearchresults,andencouragingfacultytoparticipateininternationalscientificconferences.Itisintendedtoestablishprofoundresearchlinesthatwillultimatelybeself-sustaining.GJUprovideslimitedfundstobeusedasseedgrants,stopgapgrants,supplementarygrantsandstudentresearchgrants.

Thisreportprovidesanoverviewofgraduatestudies,theirdistinguishingfactors,andevolutionoverthepastyears.Italsoprovidesanoverviewonthescientificresearch,projectfunding,andpublicationsinesteemedscientificjournals.Westrivetoprovidefascinatingenvironmentforinnovativeresearch,graduatelearningandteaching,andcreativepracticesothatourstudentsreceiveawell-roundededucationandourfacultygetoptimalsupport,whileensuringthatcodesofacademicdisciplinearefulfilledtothemaximumpossibleextentwithtransparencyandequalopportunityforall.

Sincerely,

Prof. Dr. Salem Al-Agtash DeanofGraduateStudiesandScientificResearch

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CONTENTSPREFACE...........................................................................1

CONTENTS.........................................................................2

DEANSHIP.........................................................................3

GRADUATESTUDIES............................................................4

Factorsofsuccess....................................................................4

Graduateprograms.................................................................4

SCIENTIFICRESEARCH..........................................................6

Projects....................................................................................6

Publications.............................................................................9

CONCLUSION...................................................................10

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DEANSHIPThemissionofGJUDeanshipofGraduateStudiesandScientificResearch(GSSR)istoprovideadistinguishedgraduateeducationalexperience,essentialresources,andservicestopromoteexcellenceinresearchandinnovation.WefollowGJU’smodelofappliedsciencesthatischaracterizedbyitsphilosophyofcombiningtheoreticalknowledgewithpracticeandapplication-orientedapproachesofteachingandresearch.Incollaborationwithschoolsanddepartments,GSSRoffersgraduatedegreesinvarietyofdisciplinesincludingengineering,architecture,business,Germanlanguage,andvisualrehabilitation.

TeamTheteamoftheDeanshipfollowsonday-to-dayworksupportingthedevelopmentofthegraduatestudiesandscientificresearchleadbytheDeanProf.Dr.SalemAl-Agtashresponsibleforthestrategicplanningandexecutionofallmattersrelatedtograduatestudiesandscientificresearch.

ViceDeanDr.BalsamMohammadDr.BalsamMohammadsupportstheinnovationperspectiveofGSSRwithemphasisoncooperationbetweenfacultiesandtheindustrialsector.AninnovationcenterforcommercializationofIPandenhancementofrelevanceofresearchwillbeestablished.

AssistantDeanEng.RashaHomoudEng.RashaHomoudisdevelopingGJUProjectOfficetooversee,support,andmonitoralltypesofgrantsandprojectsrelatedtoresearch.Shefollowsaprocessofinception,facilitation,monitoring,communicatingandreportingonalltypesofprojectsbeingcarriedoutatGJU.

ExecutiveOfficerEng.FatimaMashalehEng.FatimaMashalehadministerstheofficeoftheDeanships,organizesthecouncilsofGraduateStudiesandScientificResearch,andfollowsonthedecisionmakingprocess.Shealsoadministersthequalityassuranceprocessesofthegraduateprogramsaswellasotherofficedevelopmentprocedures.

AdministratorMs.DianaAl-ShawabkehMs.DianaAl-Shawabkehadministersprogramsofgraduatestudiesandfollowsontheadmissionandregistrationprocessesofallgraduatestudents.Shemaintainsacademicprofilesofthegraduateprograms.

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GRADUATESTUDIESPursuinggraduatestudiesisakeytopersonaldevelopmentasitsupportsself-initiativesandtalentstoexploreresearchpotentialforsolvingpressingglobalchallengesandissues;providesself-esteemtocontributetoadvancementofscienceanddiscoveryofnewknowledge;andimprovesjobopportunitiesandlivingstandardswithadvancedknowledgeandskills.

FactorsofsuccessDistinguishedfactorsofGJU’sgraduatestudiesinclude:

- HighlyregardedprogramstaughtinEnglishwithmostentrepreneurialandinnovativecurriculastructuresadaptedtotheindustrialneeds

- Highlyqualifiedfacultymembersequippedwithprofoundindustryandresearchexperiences

- Uniquelocationwithstate-of-the-artfacilitiesandresources- Multidisciplinaryresearchthatbridgessciencefromvarietyofdomains- Selectiveadmissionprocessforallprograms- Welcomingcommunityinspiredbytrust,respect,values,andintegrity- OpportunitytostudyinGermanyviathestudyabroadprogramorganizedin

coordinationwithGJUpartneruniversities- OpportunitytoobtainGJUorDAADscholarshipforfurtherpostgraduatedegrees

GraduateprogramsGJUgraduateprogramscompriseofanumberofcredithourswithcompulsoryandelectivecoursesandthesisorcomprehensiveexam.Thestudyapproachisbasedonpractice,workchallenges,andcasestudy.Figure1showsthenumberofstudentsadmittedfrom2006to2015,withacumulativeenrolmentofabout400studentsin2015.

Figure1:Numberofstudentsenrolledingraduateprogramsduring2006–2015.

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GJUoffersthefollowinggraduateprogramsonboththesisandnon-thesistracks:

ArchitecturalConservationTheM.Sc.programinArchitecturalConversationisdesignedforstudentswhosecareerinterestsareinarchitecture.Itprovidesknowledgeandunderstandingofarchitecturalconservation,alongwithpracticalconservationskillstopreservebuildingsandheritagesites.

BusinessAdministrationTheMBAprograminBusinessAdministrationisplannedforstudentswhosecareerinterestsareinmanagementandbusinesscareers.Theprogramhasbeendesignedtobolstertheadvancementofknowledgewithpracticalreal-worldapplications.ItsmajorconcentrationsareinManagement,Marketing,HumanResourcesManagement,BankingandFinance,QualityManagementandLogistics.

ComputerEngineeringTheM.Sc.programinComputerEngineeringisintendedforstudentswhosecareerinterestsareincomputerhardware,software,networking,androbotics.Theprogram’suniquefeatureisintheappliednaturethatforestershandsonexperienceaswellasresearchinnovation.Thecorecoursesoftheprogramprovidestudentswithabroadknowledgeofcomputersystems,advancedtopicsinoperatingsystemsandcomputerarchitecture,networking,anddistributedsystems.ThecorecoursesaretobetakenatGJUinthefirsttwosemestersoftheprogram.Aftercompletionofthefirstyear,studentshavetheirchoiceofspecializedcoursestobeofferedatGJUortakenattheGermanpartneruniversities.Thesespecializedtracksare:autonomoussystem,hardwaresystemdesign,computernetwork,andsoftwaresystemdesign.

EnterpriseSystemsEngineeringTheM.Sc.programinEnterpriseSystemsEngineeringismeantforstudentswhosecareerinterestsareinenterprisesystems.Itisoriginatedtousethesystemsengineeringlifecycleasaframeworkforlinkingoutcome-basedengineeringanalysisanddecisionmakingwithenterprisestrategicobjectives,addressingmethodsandtoolsformanagingcomplexity,determiningmeasuresofeffectiveness,andassessingreturnoninvestmentsfromanengineeringperspective.Gradatesofthisprogramwillbeabletobuildanawarenessofcomputingpracticesinindustryandemergingtechnologies,emphasizingaworkingknowledgeofcurrentcomputerdesignanddevelopmenttechniques.

EnvironmentalandRenewableEnergyEngineeringTheM.Sc.programinEnvironmentalandRenewableEnergyEngineeringisconceivedforstudentswhosecareerinterestsareinenvironmentandenergy.Thisprogramprovidesintegrationofenvironmentalandrenewableenergyundertheheadingofsustainability.Studentsacquiredeepunderstandingoftheissuesofsustainability,discussingissuessuchasecosystemapproaches,collapse,efficiencytraps,fossilfueldepletionanditsimplications.Akeycomponentoftheprogramliesinprovidingsolidbackgroundinalternativeenergysources.

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GermanasaForeignLanguageTheMAprograminGermanasaForeignLanguageisintendedforstudentswhosecareerinterestsareinculture,linguistics,andtraining.Theprogramcoversboththeoreticalandpracticalcontentinthefieldof“DeutschalsFremdsprache”(DaF)(GermanasaForeignLanguage).Thecontent includeslanguagetrainingaswellashands-ontrainingincountryandculturestudies,linguistics,methodology,scientificandresearchwork,technicallanguagecommunication,literature,Germanforeignculturalpolicyinconjunctionwithinterculturalcommunication.Particularattentionisplacedonpracticalon-the-job-trainingthroughregularvisits,observationsaswellasthetrainingofferedbytheGermanDepartment.Thesemeasuresintroducestudentstotheirfutureworkasquicklyaspossible.HoldersoftheDaF-MasterprogramqualificationareexpectedtoworkaslecturersofGermanlanguageandculture(or“Culturalmediators”)inuniversities,schools,andrelevantinstitutions.

SpatialPlanningTheM.Sc.programinSpatialPlanningisoriginatedforstudentswhosecareerinterestsareinsustainableplanningandurbandesign.Theprogramisinterdisciplinaryanditincorporatesmulti-dimensionalperspectivesusingproblem-solvingpracticalapproachestoachieveintegratedsustainableplanningandurbandesign.Graduatesarepreparedtocontributetothecontemporarybuiltenvironmentatthelocal,regional,andinternationalarenaswiththeirhands-onup-to-datetheoriesandpractices.

Scholarships- Teachingassistantgrantup-toafullwaiveroftuitionandfeesandmonthlystipends- Academicexcellencegrantwithfullwaiveroftuitionandfeesandmonthlystipends- Scientificresearchgrantwithmonthlystipends

CouncilofGraduateStudiesAcouncilisformedeveryacademicyearwithrepresentativesfromtheSchoolsthatoffergraduateprogramsatGJU.TheCounciloverseesthedecisionmakingprocessofthegraduatestudies,includingdecisionsofopeningnewprograms,curricularevision,topicofmasterthesis,andappointingsupervisors.

SCIENTIFICRESEARCHTheresearchphilosophyofGJUisbasedonactiveengagementwiththeneedofthesocietyandtheprivatesectortoanticipateandsolvecurrentandforeseenissues.Therefore,itsregulationencouragesscientificresearchnotsimplyforthesakeofproducingpublishedresearchpapersinhighqualityinternationaljournals(whichisabyproductoftheapproachandnotacentralgoal),buttoaddressrealneedsthatJordanfaces.

ProjectsAstrongresearchprofileisbeingestablishedorfoundedandfacultymembershavebeenactiveinmanyresearch-fundingprojectsnationallyandinternationally.Themainemphasisofresearchisonthefieldsofenergy,medicalapplications,water,andICT.Researchfocusishighlylinkedto

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facultyresearchprojectsfunded:InternallybyGJUseedfunding,nationallybytheScientificResearchFund,orexternallybyinternationalprogramsmainlytheEUfundedTempusandFP7/H2020projects.ThelevelofresearchfundingandintangiblesupportforresearchthattheuniversityreceivesfromvariousfundingagenciesreflectstheengagementoffacultywithresearchneedsaswellastrustandcredibilityGJUhasestablished.

Figure2showsthegrowthinthenumberofprojectsgrantedtoGJUfacultymembersbydifferentfundingagenciesduringthelastsixyears(2009–2015).In2015,thereisagrowthof370%,andweneedtomaintainthispaceofgrowth.

Figure2:NumberofprojectsgrantedtoGJUfacultymembersduring2009–2015.

Figure3showsthefundingamountsinJordanianDinar1(JOD)duringthesameperiod2009-2015.Thereisacorrelationbetweentheincreasenumberofprojectsandthefundingamountsreachingtoabout7.5million.Itshouldbenotedthatsomeofthefundsrepresentthetotalprojectamounts,whichareoftendistributedtoanumberofpartners,andGJU’sshareis20%onaverage.

Thedistributionoffundingsources/donorsduring2009–2015isshowninFigure4.ThenumberofprojectsfundedbyGJUseedsourcesis45withatotalamountof457,504.00JOD.ThenumberofprojectsfundedbytheEuropeanUnionasjointprojectsis25withatotalamountof3,629,971.00JOD.ThenumberofprojectsfundedbytheNationalScientificresearchfundsis15withatotalamountof784,546.00JOD.

1OneJordanianDinarisequivalenttoabout1.3Euros

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Figure3:FundingamountsinJordanianDinargrantedtoGJUfacultymembersduring2009–2015.

ThenumberofprojectsfundedbytheEU–Jordanjointfundingforscientificresearch,technology,anddevelopment–STRDis4withatotalamountof57,227.00JOD.Finally,thereare6projectsfundedbyothersourceswithanamountof16,100.00JOD.

Figure4:Distributionofdonorsduring2009-2015

Figure5presentsthedistributionofthenumberoffundedprojectsineachschoolduringthesameperiod.Theengineeringschoolshavethelargestshareoftheseprojects,andthereforeneedtobegivenspecialattentiontomaintainthesamepaceofresearchdevelopmentduringtheupcomingyears.

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Figure5:Distributionofprojectsinschoolsduring2009-2015

Inbrief,GJUhasmadeatremendousefforttomotivatefacultymemberstocarryoutresearchinareasofrelevancetotheregionandsolicitinternalandexternalfunding.Aswasdiscussedforeachschool,researchhasfocusedinareasrelatedtoenvironment,waterresources,renewableenergy,systemautomationandICT.

CouncilofScientificResearchAcouncilisformedeveryacademicyearwithrepresentativesfromGJUandtwoexternalmemberswithprominentexperience.TheCounciloverseesthedecisionmakingprocessofscientificresearchatGJU,includingapprovalofprojectfunding,researchincentives,formingpoliciesandmore.

PublicationsFacultymembersproduceonaverage1-2researchpapersperyearthatareoftenpublishedinprestigiousinternationaljournals.Thefeedbackfrominternationalreviewerswhojudgethequalityoftheresearchforpromotionoffacultymemberstypicallygivehighgradesandaremostoftenviewedtobewellaboveinternationalstandards.Figure6depictsthenumberofpublicationsGJUfacultymembersproducedduringtheyears2009–2015.

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Environment

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Humanikes

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Figure6:Numberofpublicationsproducedduring2006-2015

CONCLUSIONGSSRsupportsgrowthofgraduatestudiesandstudentswhilefosteringpersonalinitiativesandtalentstoexploreinnovationsandmaintainingahighlevelofpersonalandprofessionaldevelopment.Curriculaofgraduateprogramsareregularlyreviewedtomaintainrelevanceandtoadapttopracticelearningandteaching.Curriculaofgraduateprogramsarenowofferedonthebasisofthesisandnon-thesisoptions.

GSSRsupportsresearchofnationalandinternationalprioritieswithagoalistoestablishdistinguishedinterdisciplinaryresearchcentersthroughcollaborationwithfacultyandstafffromGJUvariousdepartmentsandschoolsinareasrelatedtoenergy,environmentandwater,informationandcommunicationtechnology,andhealthandlifesciences.

AspartofGJUefforts,GSSRwillcontinuetosupportthedevelopmentofGermanacademicaspectsthroughstrengtheningGermanparticipation,developingjointanddualacademicprograms,andestablishingaffiliationsandexchangeprogramswithGermanpartneruniversities.Itwillalsocontinuetosupportoperationalandqualitymanagementprocessessuchasdocumentarchivingandcontrol,recordretention,communicationandactionmanagement,internalauditandreviews.TheDeans’CouncilhasrecentlyapprovedGSSRproposaltoinstallstructuresandprocessesofqualityassuranceinaccordancewithnationalandinternationalqualitystandardsandaccreditationsystems.TheobjectiveistopursueaccreditationattheEuropeanlevelforallgraduateprogramsinordertofacilitatejointanddualdegreestructurewithGermanuniversities.

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