The oldest university in Jordan is the University of Jordan, founded in 1962.
The desert kingdom of Jordan grew out of the semi-autonomous region of Transjordan, which was carved from Palestine by the British under an international mandate. Jordan won independence in 1946. It is an important player in Middle East politics despite its small size and scant resources. Its influence is due primarily to its location, as well as to the ability of its longtime ruler, the late King Hussein, to negotiate the conflicting pressures of the major powers. Jordan is the second Arab country (after Egypt) to sign a peace treaty with Israel. In 1989 parliamentary elections were reinstated; political parties were legalized in 1992. Real power, though, remains with King Abdullah, Hussein's son. The economy is heavily dependent on foreign aid but has become more diverse in recent years. The kingdom is home to many sites mentioned in the Bible.
July and August are the hottest and driest months of the year, especially in Amman and the Jordan Valley, and in the desert areas, with temperatures over 97°F (36°C). Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times to visit with clear, sunny days and moderate temperatures. The winter months from November to April can be very cold, particularly in Amman, with snow, rain and wind, but there is little rainfall in the desert regions and in Aqaba, which makes a pleasant wintertime resort. About 75 percent of the country can be described as having a desert climate with very little annual rainfall.
Averages for: January and February 63 mm (2 inches); April 17 mm (.5 inches); June-Sept 1 mm (.03 inches); November 28 mm (1.1 inches).
Overview of Higher Education
The oldest institution of higher learning in Jordan used to be Birzeit University, but the territory in which it is located, the West Bank, was lost in war to Israel in 1967. Now the oldest is the University of Jordan, founded in 1962.
A bachelor’s degree requires four years of undergraduate study. In subjects such as medicine, dentistry, and engineering, five to six years are required. Public universities offer three postgraduate degrees: the higher diploma, master’s, and doctorate. A higher-diploma program focuses on a specific profession and lasts one to three years. A master’s program typically lasts two years, and a doctorate an additional three to five years.
Some 220,000 students were pursuing various levels of postsecondary education in 2006.
(Sources: BBC, The World Factbook, The Europa World of Learning)
Number of Colleges, Universities, Technical Institutes
Number of Colleges, Universities, and Technical Institutes (total): 51
Number of Colleges, Universities, and Technical Institutes (private/non-state): 12
Number of Higher Education Students
Number of students enrolled: 232,000
Number of international students enrolled: 2,320
Ministry of Higher Education
Pp. Box: 138 Amman 11941 Jordan
PO. Box: 35262 Amman 11180, Jordan
Web site: http://www.mohe.gov.jo/
Contact: Khalid Touqan, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research