His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday emphasised the importance of improving the quality of higher education to align educational outputs with labour market needs through a working plan and a “clear and practical” strategy.

During a meeting with the presidents of public universities, King Abdullah stressed his support for more independence for universities and the encouragement of scientific research.

“Reforming the higher education sector in the Kingdom has been and is still a top priority,” the King said during the meeting also attended by Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit, Royal Court Chief Khaled Karaki, King’s Media Adviser Amjad Adaileh and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Wajih Owais.

The coming stage is critical in the history of the country, the King told meeting participants, as Jordan pursues its goals in various fields. He stressed the importance of “moving reforms forward to meet the aspirations of the Jordanian people”.

The King said that economic and social reforms should be in line and in pace with political reforms within a comprehensive framework to achieve freedom, justice and equal opportunity.

The university presidents outlined challenges to their institutions, mainly regarding their role in creating job opportunities for graduates, the declining quality of higher education, the need to upgrade teaching methods and enhance universities’ independence and the problem of indebtedness.

They also highlighted the importance of developing study plans and programmes and preventing brain drain by improving faculty living conditions.