Al-Hussein Fund for Excellence, Jordan in association with the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in the United Kingdom

Project for the enhancement of the quality of computer science programs in higher education in Jordan

Proposal for the recognition of achievement by the participating universities

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) on behalf of the reviewers is pleased to present to the Scientific Consultative Committee of the Hussein Fund for Excellence (HFE) the outcomes of the second phase of the project and to make recommendations for the awards.

Declaration
The subject review method used in the project is that published by the QAA in the Subject Review Handbook, September 2000 - December 2001, supplemented by a policy statement by the Board of the HFE in 2002. The method was applied consistently and fairly in line with the published description. The principles and professionalism associated with peer review were respected at all times. The reviewers endorse the process and the outcomes as recorded in the attached table. Reviewers are required to make judgments on, and agree a grade for, each of the six reviewers judge both the extent to which the student learning experience and student achievement in each of the aspects of provision contribute to attaining the objectives set by the subject provider, and whether the objectives set and the level of attainment of those objectives allow the aims set by the subject provider to be met. The outcomes were confirmed at a meeting of the review coordinators, the general manager of the HFE and the advisor on behalf of the QAA, held in London on Monday 17 March 2003.

Graded profiles:
The attached table presents the overall outcomes of the second phase. All eight participating universities achieve in at least half of the six aspects a quality where the aspects make a substantial contribution to the attainment of the stated objectives, and their stated aims are broadly met; there is scope for further improvement. In two universities five of the six aspects were graded as making a full contribution to the attainment of the stated objectives, the aims were met. In two universities one aspect was rated lower (grade 2), as making an acceptable contribution to the achievement of the stated objectives.

Progress
In 2001, none of the participating universities was able to demonstrate excellence. In the second phase, all participating universities demonstrated real progress in improving the quality of their progress since the first phase of the project. Two universities are awarded the highest grade for the measurable impact of their improvement plans within the period of the project. The reviewers also report progress in programs that were already judged to be good in 2001. In all participating universities, there is scope for further improvement.

Achievement
Six of the eight participating universities are given grades for the six aspects that total 21 or more points. All demonstrate a high level of commitment to continuing improvement. It is recommended that these providers be listed as providing high quality of higher education in computer science:

• Amman Al-Ahliyya University
• Jordan University of Science and technology
• Philadelphia University
• Princess Sumayya University
• University of Jordan
• Zarqa University

Recommendation for special awards:
Two universities standout for the internationally quality of the programs.
They are presented to the Committee for it to consider granting an award.

• Philadelphia University has demonstrated a quality education with the highest possible grade in five of six aspects and a total of 23 out of 24 points. It has also demonstrated an exceptional rate of progress since the first phase of the project and has given the reviewers confidence that the improvement is sustainable.
• Jordan University of Science and Technology was among the participating universities that achieved the highest grades in the first phase. It has demonstrated continuing improvement in the quality of its programs and achieved a total of 23 out of 24 points in the six graded aspects.