UJ Supports Efforts to Bridging Gap between Industry and Academia
The University of Jordan (UJ) on Wednesday, April 13, took part at a workshop aimed at enhancing partnership between academics and industrialists, particularly in the pharmaceutical field, to build on achievements and deliver further mutual benefit. The Workshop explored challenges facing partnerships and means of bridging gaps between the two sectors. Experts from industry and academia contributed in this conference. The attendance included Deans of Schools of Pharmacy from the Arab World who had participated in the discussions. Organized by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty and the Jordanian Club of Humboldt Fellows, the event was under the patronage of HRH Princess Sumaya, president of the Royal Scientific Society and chairperson of the board of trustees of the Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT). H.E. Eng . Maha Ali , Minister of Industry ,highlighted the role of the partnership between academia and industry in increasing Jordan's pharmaceutical exports, which form 11 per cent of Jordan's total exports, citing some 150 local pharmaceutical companies exporting to 60 countries. H.E.Dr. Salah Mawajdeh,Corporate VP, Hikma Pharmaceuticals highlighted the perspective of the industrial sector . UJ President Prof. Azmi Mahafzah highlighted the role of student internship programmes at industrial firms and factories to help them acquire a business-oriented perspective. He also encouraged developing a programme for faculty members to spend their sabbatical leaves at business institutions. The academia and the industry sectors will have a bigger impact if they do not work in isolation, Mahafzah stated. Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof. Rula Darwish, who moderated the first session, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the two sectors and suggested national strategic plan and its implementation to further enforce the collaboration and this was discussed deeply throughout the session