(MENAFN- Jordan Times) The University of Jordan (UJ) on Monday signed an agreement with the Washington-based George Washington University (GWU) and the USAID Jordan Tourism Development Project (Siyaha) to develop the faculty of hospitality and tourism at the UJ.
Under the agreement, the universities will exchange scholars, faculty and students, according to GWU President Steven Knapp.
He said that GWU, which was established 200 years ago, was the first US university to offer a master's degree in tourism education.
The university has also provided training for doctors at Jordan Hospital, he added, noting that 40 per cent of its patients are international and that this is considered part of tourism.
Beth Paige, mission director at USAID Jordan, said the agreements signed on Monday would support the development of hospitality and tourism programmes and curricula in Jordan and the exchange of students and faculty between the two universities.
She added that USAID recognised the importance of the hospitality and tourism sector to the development of Jordan and would cooperate with the UJ to support the development of programmes in the faculty of tourism.
"To ensure that Jordan's youths are well prepared to serve in the tourism and hospitality industry, it is important that Jordan's higher education institutions continue to modernise their curriculum and strengthen their linkages with the private sector," Paige noted.
The UJ's faculty of tourism and hospitality was set up in Aqaba in 2009, and 200 students are currently enrolled in it.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.