The University of Jordan (UJ) has recently launched a fundraising campaign to raise JD100 million under the theme: "UJ Development Initiative".
The purpose of the initiative is to provide financial and in-kind support for the University’s development and infrastructural reinforcement projects.
UJ has set plans to enhance its overall performance, and achieve the following target: a campus that is global, smart, attractive, productive, financially-stable, and culturally enlightening.
UJ President Prof. Abdul Karim Al Qudah has announced the launch of the unprecedented campaign during a special ceremony on Tuesday, March 19, in presence of the University’s staff, students, and a crowed of alumni and supporters.
The University’s council of deans has provided a donation of JD100, 000 while the faculties of medicine and dentistry have provided another JD50, 000.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University, Prof. Adnan Badran has donated JD10, 000 and instructor Mohammad Hamdan has provided a donation of JD15, 000.
The campaign comprises of four stages. The second stage will include approaching UJ’s over 250,000 alumni; the third is targeting the Jordanian community; whereas, the fourth stage will include individuals and institutions outside of the Kingdom.
Prof. Badran said that the initiative is "fundamental". Advancing in research, the educational process, and the teaching and learning tools necessitates the availability of vast financial resources, he said.
For his part, Prof. Al Qudah said that "it is no longer possible to continue to rely on the tuition fees for income, nor the declining governmental support." "Through this initiative, we ought to seize the positive opportunities offered and to build on what have been built for the sake of the coming generations," UJ president added.
According to Al Qudah, the amount collected is to be spent on augmenting UJ's technological and physical infrastructure, implementing its ambitious projects, meeting the increasing needs of its students and staff, and enhancing the University's ranking and reputation nationally, regionally, and internationally.
UJ aims at funding a number of essential development projects, including a ring road with an environment-friendly means of transportation to ease student movement on campus, the necessary digital infrastructure for the enhancement of teaching and learning, including blended and online learning, its solar energy project, the research and scholarship schemes and a major facelift of the campus infrastructure, facilities and landscape.