AArU’s Executive Director Delivers a Lecture at Al-Balqa Applied University on Globalization in Higher Education

Professor Ahmad Fakhri Al-Ajlouni, President of Al-Balqa Applied University, received Professor Anas Ratib Alsoud, Executive Director of Association of Arab Universities, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen academic cooperation and exchange expertise between the Association and the University in ways that contribute to advancing higher education and enhancing institutional performance.

 

Following the meeting, Professor Anas Ratib Alsoud delivered a specialized scientific lecture entitled: “Globalization in Higher Education and the Role of Scientific Research and Innovation in Enhancing the International Presence of Universities.” The lecture was attended by the University Vice President for Planning and Quality Assurance, Professor Haitham Al-Shibli, along with a distinguished group of deans, center directors, academic leaders, faculty members, and researchers.

 

During the lecture, Prof. Alsoud reviewed the latest developments in global university ranking systems and the mechanisms for improving universities’ positions within them. He emphasized that competitiveness in higher education is no longer confined to the local context, but is increasingly measured by universities’ ability to integrate into the global academic ecosystem through high-quality research, international collaboration, and openness to leading global experiences.

 

Prof. Alsoud also addressed the major challenges facing Arab universities, stressing the importance of adopting flexible and sustainable institutional strategies centered on supporting scientific publishing in internationally refereed journals, improving the quality of research outputs, and developing innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems within universities. He further highlighted the pivotal role of digital transformation in advancing higher education systems, given its impact on improving educational quality, expanding learning opportunities, and enhancing academic and administrative efficiency in line with international standards.

 

The lecture witnessed extensive discussion and strong engagement from attendees, with participants exchanging views on the requirements for excellence in international rankings and mechanisms for enhancing academic and research performance. Several initiatives and ideas were also proposed to support institutional development and strengthen the global presence of Arab higher education institutions.

 

Prof. Alsoud affirmed that global rankings are not the sole indicator of a university’s international standing and progress. He noted that a productive university that delivers high-quality practical education and impactful applied research does not need rankings to prove its excellence. At the same time, he emphasized that the importance of rankings in enhancing international visibility and attracting international students and research projects cannot be ignored. However, universities should not become distracted from their core missions in pursuit of short-term ranking outcomes. Therefore, efforts related to rankings should aim at improving institutional performance across various indicators, rather than merely achieving a specific position.