UJ, KOICA discuss establishment of $16m engineering institute specialized in cyber security, AI, green energy

AMMAN — President of the University of Jordan (UJ) Nathir Obeidat on Sunday met with Director of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Jordan Kim So Young and the accompanying delegation to discuss the establishment of the Korean Institute for Engineering Training.

Obaidat stressed the university's readiness to provide all necessary facilities to ensure the success of the project and its objectives, expressing his pleasure with the ongoing cooperation between the university and KOICA.

He also underscored the university’s esteemed global reputation, strengthened by its internationally recognised programmes and increasing appeal to students worldwide, positioning it as a forward-looking, globally oriented institution.

Obaidat also emphasised the crucial need to equip graduates with the skills required to thrive in a competitive international market, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Kim So Young said that the next phase would focus on developing an integrated executive plan for the project, ahead of signing the final agreement, expressing pride in the partnership with the UJ.

A representative from KOICA noted that the institute would be established with a $11 million budget from KOICA, as part of a five-year project (2025-2029).

The project aims to develop infrastructure, curricula, and staff training, and to enhance cooperation between the university and industry to improve the skills of engineering graduates.

Project representatives from the university Riyad Kasasbeh and Osama Habahbeh, presented the project's vision and goals, emphasising its aim to bridge the gap between educational outcomes and market demands by providing practical training in advanced fields such as cyber security systems, green energy, industrial automation and artificial intelligence.

They noted that the project was inspired by best practices from countries like South Korea, Singapore and Germany, aiming to build an effective partnership between the academic and industrial sectors to ensure high-quality educational outputs.

The total budget for the project is $16 million, with KOICA contributing $11 million to cover building, laboratory, training, and administration costs, while the UJ will contribute $5 million for land, infrastructure, and management.