Medical Schools in the Middle East are currently suffering from a critical shortage of scientists and academicians holding higher degrees in the various disciplines of basic medical sciences (BMS). For most of these Schools, the requirements for a Bachelor degree in Medicine include the successful completion of three years of intense coursework in BMS, prior to passing through three additional years of patient-oriented, bedside clinical coursework. Thus, iBMS-JO project responds to the needs to graduate students with deep background in BMS. This can be achieved by the establishment the first innovative intercalated BSc (iBSc) programs in BMS. Moreover, Telemedicine Labs (TL) will also be established to support the research activities of students and faculty, as well as providing services to the health care facilities. The establishment of an intercalated BSc (iBSc) programs in BMS is an opportunity for students to learn more about a particular topic, to develop transferable skills and/or participate in a more in-depth research project than previously available as part of a medical degree. This is can be offered after the 3rd or 4th year, which could also include an intercalated year into their standard medical programs, making them a 7-year degree, where an intercalation typically lasts one year. The expected outputs of this program include: n. 6 accredited iBSc programs in BMS, capacity building for the staff (at least 48): a) to design curricula in line with the Bologna process, b) to design and develop inter/multidisciplinary course curricula in clinical nutrition (at least 7 new modules, 120 students/year); and c) to apply innovative and flexible teaching and learning methods. Moreover, TL will provide research facilities for students and staff (n. >40 research project/year), which will support the iBSc programs and function as life-long learning resources and Centres of Excellence in medical education and research.

With the rise in population and drop in the economy, Jordan needs new ideas and schemes involving the younger population for the country to strive in the future. JOB-JO is an initiative brought together by universities in the South of Jordan lead by Mutah University, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, as well as European partners. The aim of the project is to promote youth employment and reduce poverty in Jordan’s remote areas which will empower economic and social aspects of these communities as well as provide women more opportunities for success. Although the literate rate in Jordan is high, and people are getting more educated than ever, the employment rate is low due to many social and economic factors. As most universities provide the best education possible, students still lack many skills that would be easy to gain. The career centers would provide services in order to teach and train unemployed graduates to be requalified for more job opportunities. Services such as training courses, skills and communication workshops, as well as support entrepreneurships and initiatives brought by the community would be offered. These services would have European influence through exchange programs as well as the great relationship to happen between universities in Jordan and the experienced universities in Europe. The short term impact would be to allow graduates to gain skills and training needed for their professions where in the long term, these career centers would foster the economic growth and reduce the unemployment and poverty in the remote areas of Jordan.

The MERID project (Middle East Research and Innovation Dialogue) proposes a comprehensive action to intensify and encourage research and innovation cooperation between the EU and the Middle East region, directly involving partners from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine, directly involving partners from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. The project intends to build upon the experience carried out in countries of the region that have already participated in the previous framework programmes, and therefore are at a relatively advanced stage of research cooperation with Europe, like Egypt and Jordan. Attention is paid to calibrating in the most appropriate way the intervention logic of the project, adapting actions to the specific needs of the target countries and their research constituencies. The needs of Iran and Iraq will for sure prove different from those of countries where cooperation with the EU has a proven track record behind. The project is the first attempt to systematise support to the policy dialogue and involvement of research communities of Iran and Iraq in the H2020 programme, as well as an initiative that seeks to give continuity to collaboration frameworks already established between the EU and Middle East countries. The project has high potential to deliver long-lasting impact and structuring effects on cooperation between the EU and the Middle East region. It focuses on enhancing direct cooperation among researchers and on laying or consolidating preconditions, in the region, fostering joint research projects and initiatives with the EU, establishing optimal framework conditions for international cooperation and increasing coordination between policies and programmes. These objectives will be achieved through series of different on-line and in-person activities, among which are meetings of researchers, brokerage events, info-days, training and coaching, webinars and other tools, relevant for this project proposals.

Beyond teaching history, science or languages, teachers guide our children… shaping the attitudes, skills, & values they will use in the world beyond the classroom (Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah)Early Childhood Education is considered an important base for life-long learning & whole person development & the most important & most vital of all stages in the proper development of a child whether is in the emotional, behavioral or cognitive domain. Early years of child life are crucial as it is of the utmost importance in the child's physical, emotional & intellectual development.In line with the current digital era, teachers are required to integrate ICT in their daily teaching &replace their traditional methods with modern tools &facilities. (ICT4EDU) proposal addresses the need in Jo-HEIs for newly graduated student teachers to be able to teach using ICT, & for improving teachers & students digital competence, especially when dealing with children with special educational needs or disabilities, ICT plays a key role to facilitate their education process. Carrying out (ICT4EDU) project trans-nationally is essential for under-setting practices, & impacting policies & curricula in school of educational sciences & the integration of ICT teacher education to meet the requirements for digitally competent youth & children. The Main objective of (ICT4EDU) project in to enhance the quality of ICT competencies of early childhood teacher’s educators in the (8) higher education institutions in Jordan, Palestine and Egypt in line with advance EU practices, thereby enhancing the quality of the education in pre-schools in Jordan, Palestine and Egypt.

In 2015 and 2016, the EU experienced an unparalleled influx refugees and migrants. This situation poses multiple challenges for social- and health services and labour markets in host communities as well as for the lives of the refugees. In response to this situation, the vision of FOCUS is to increase understanding of, and provide effective and evidence-based solutions for, the challenges of forced migration within host communities and thereby contribute to increased tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and reduced radicalization across Europe and in the Middle East. Based on a comprehensive mapping and trans-disciplinary, multi-site field research conducted in Jordan, Croatia, Germany and Sweden, FOCUS explores the socio-psychological dimensions of refugee- and host-community relations and analyses the socio-economic integration of refugees and the consequences of this in host societies. The research sites have been selected to ensure that insights and lessons are derived from medium- and long-term experiences with forced displacement and local integration. This knowledge is used to transform and strengthen existing promising solutions for social- and labour market integration. The integration solutions will be pilot tested in at least five European countries by governmental and non-governmental end-users. The solutions are finally brought together in the Refugee and Host Community Toolbox, which will support policy makers, municipal actors, civil society organisations and other stakeholders in responding to the needs of both refugees and host communities and thereby act as agents of change in this field. In addition, FOCUS undertakes an ambitious programme of engagement with policy makers, end-users, host communities, refugees and other stakeholders. This will ensure that FOCUS research and solutions are acceptable and useful for policy makers, while meeting the needs of end-user organisations and ultimately refugees and host communities.