Jordan Times
Sunday, September 10, 2006
US educators review Jordan’s
nursing programmes
AMMAN (JT) — The dean of nursing at the University of Cincinnati (UC) is leading a
quality review of Jordan’s 22 associate and six baccalaureate nursing programmes.
A team of 20 US nursing professionals, headed by Dean Andrea Lindell of UC’s College
of Nursing, will meet in Cincinnati Sept. 15 for a one-day workshop to prepare them
for the review, according to a statement released by the University of Cincinnati Academic
Health Centre.
For the last six years, the country has been working to improve the quality of its higher
education programmes in computer science, business administration, law, and accounting and
is currently focusing on nursing.
Al Hussein Fund for Excellence is sponsoring the review. A nonprofit organisation supported
by the banking sector, the fund was established in 1999 to enhance and improve the quality of
the country’s higher education among other goals.
The Hussein Fund is working with the Centre for Quality Assurance in International Education
(CQAIE), based in Washington, DC, to lead the external review of Jordan’s nursing degree programmes,
the statement said.
The CQAIE selected Lindell to head the review for three primary reasons, according to Marjorie Lenn,
the organisation’s executive director.
“Dr. Lindell has outstanding experience in United States accreditation, long-standing leadership at a
national level in nursing, and senior-level experience in the administration of one of the most highly
esteemed nursing programmes in the country,” Lenn said.
Lindell said she was “very honoured to be selected as the US representative to help Jordan measure the
quality of its nursing programmes and ultimately raise the standards they use to judge themselves.”
“The fact that Jordanian leaders requested the assistance of the United States shows they value what
we’ve done to monitor and assess our own nursing programmes to ensure quality,” she added.
The review process began earlier this year when Lindell travelled to Jordan to meet with dignitaries,
including HRH Princess Muna, president of the Jordan Nursing Council, and nursing leaders. During her
visit, Lindell shared the expectations of a quality assurance review and how Jordan can effectively
prepare for it.
Nursing educators in the country are currently undergoing self-reviews and preparing documentation that
will be evaluated by the US review team, which will travel to Jordan in November and December to meet
with the nursing educators and expects to complete the reviews by early next year, according to the statement.
Demand for national and regional nursing programmes at local colleges and universities is increasing,
according to Hilda Ajeilat, executive director of Al Hussein Fund.
“The nursing profession demands wide knowledge, problem solving and practical skills,” Ajeilat said.
“That’s why we want to improve the quality of our programmes. We’re also experiencing an increased need
for nurses because of a number of new hospitals in the region.”
The highest quality baccalaureate programme will receive $45,000 from the Fund, while the best associate
programme will receive $15,000, the statement said.