‘Delays expected in UJ Aqaba branch expansion as budget deficit continues’

AMMAN — The University of Jordan’s (UJ) budget deficit might hinder the expansion project of its branch in Aqaba, some 330km south of Amman, an official said on Monday.

Hani Dmour, president of the UJ Aqaba branch, said the expansion plan entails offering more programmes, which requires creating new buildings and facilities.

“Our vision for the Aqaba branch is to be a comprehensive university that offers a variety of programmes with all the needed laboratories and playing fields like any other Jordanian university,” he told The Jordan Times in a phone interview.

Dmour urged public and private institutions to financially support the expansion plan, calling for regional and international investors to take part as well.

“UJ’s annual funding for the Aqaba branch reaches JD1 million, which barely covers the salaries of professors and staff members, as well the expenses of services,” he said, stressing, however, that the Aqaba branch does not face danger of closure.

“The Aqaba branch does not wish to become a financial burden on the mother university,” Dmour added, noting that its 1,400 students are enrolled in 14 programmes, which are limited to the business, languages, information technology and tourism fields.

“Programmes like airport administration and ship engineering are needed, but not available,” he said, adding that establishing and equipping each additional building to the existing five will cost around JD6 million.

Dmour said he expected no more than 400 new students to enrol at the branch in the upcoming academic year due to the lack of facilities.

He added that the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority recently provided the university with three buildings at reduced rents, which the university will utilise as dormitories for female students.

UJ President Ekhleif Tarawneh was unavailable for comment despite several attempts by The Jordan Times to reach him.

In remarks in June, Tarawneh said UJ is working to narrow a 27 per cent deficit in its JD140 million budget.