Prof. Dhafer Sarayreh, President of the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions (HEAC), held a meeting on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) to discuss updating study plans for the Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science specializations. The meeting also focused on enhancing the skills of faculty members and students in these fields.

Attendees included PSUT President Prof. Wejdan Abu Elhaija, Al-Hussein Technical University President Prof. Ismail Hinti, National Cybersecurity Council Chairman Prof. Ahmad Hiasat, along with experts and academics from Jordanian universities, the private sector, and the labor market.

Prof. Dhafer Al-Sarayrah emphasized the importance of technical specializations like cybersecurity, data science, and artificial intelligence in preparing skilled graduates to meet local and global labor market needs. He highlighted their role in fostering innovation, improving technical infrastructure, boosting the knowledge economy, and enhancing performance across various sectors. He stressed the need to enhance faculty skills, update study plans, and improve the educational environment to achieve these goals.

Al-Sarayrah also noted the importance of keeping faculty up to date with global advancements in technology, adopting modern teaching methods, and strengthening cooperation between academia and industry. He called for continuous evaluation of study plans, support for professional certifications, and encouragement of lifelong learning to ensure students are well-prepared for the labor market.

Prof. Saad Bani Mohammad, Vice President of the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions (HEAC), gave a presentation on methods to enhance study plans and build the skills of faculty members and students in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data science. He emphasized HEAC's commitment to regularly updating study plans to align with international standards and equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to adapt to rapid technological advancements.

PSUT President, Prof. Wejdan Abu Elhaija, welcomed the attendees and emphasized the university's commitment to fostering local and international partnerships to enhance higher education in Jordan. She highlighted the university's role as a leading institution in developing cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data science by providing ongoing support to faculty members and students.

Dr. Qutaiba Albluwi from PSUT summarized key recommendations from the Accreditation Standards Review Committee, formed with the National Cybersecurity Council to improve cybersecurity programs in Jordanian universities. These included enhancing faculty qualifications through accredited professional certificates, updating study plans to meet international standards, and re-evaluating programs to align with labor market needs. The committee also recommended building a database of academic qualifications.

Prof. Fida Al-Tamimi, Assistant to the President of HEAC, moderated a session reviewing the experiences of American and British universities in developing curricula and learning outcomes for cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data science.

Dr. Safwan Weshah from the University of Vermont, USA, and Dr. Diab Taha from the University of Georgia, USA, emphasized the importance of practical training in these fields and encouraged students to pursue specialized professional courses to enhance their skills and competitiveness in the labor market.

The meeting concluded with an extensive discussion led by Prof. Yousef Abdallat, Assistant to the President of HEAC, with participation from representatives of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data science departments in Jordanian universities, as well as experts from the private sector and the IT field.