Amman – September 8, 2026 – The German Jordanian University (GJU), in partnership with the Queen Rania Teacher Academy (QRTA) and with the support of the EU-funded EDU-SYRIA Program, has launched the Higher Diploma in Integrated Education (STEAM), in a step aimed at enhancing teachers’ professional development, enabling them to keep pace with the rapid transformations in education and technology, and equipping students with the skills they need for the future.
The diploma was launched during a specialized conference held under the theme “We Innovate. We Inspire. We Educate.” The conference brought together officials, experts, academics, and educators to discuss the future of education and skills, in the presence of H.E. Eng. Mothanna Gharaibeh, Former Minister of Investment, Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship.
The diploma offers an integrated educational model that brings together science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. It aims to empower teachers to design learning experiences that go beyond the boundaries of individual subjects and connect knowledge with practical applications and real-world challenges, with a focus on inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and innovation.
During his keynote address on the future of STEAM education and teachers’ professional development, H.E. Eng. Mothanna Gharaibeh emphasized the importance of building students’ future skills from the early years and shifting the focus from knowledge acquisition toward enabling students to apply knowledge in real-world situations, while developing their abilities in critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration.
Gharaibeh highlighted the pivotal role of teachers in developing these skills and the importance of ensuring that education keeps pace with rapid developments in technology, artificial intelligence, and the labor market, while simultaneously strengthening human skills that will become increasingly important in the future. He stressed that preparing students for the future is a shared responsibility that requires integrated efforts among schools, universities, the private sector, and policymakers.
President of GJU, Prof. Ala’aldeen Al-Halhouli, said that launching the Higher Diploma in Integrated Education (STEAM) reflects the University’s belief in the importance of investing in teachers and equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to develop educational practices and create a tangible impact in learning environments.
He added that the program comes at a time when the world is witnessing rapid transformations in technology and artificial intelligence, making the development of education and the empowerment of teachers essential to preparing generations capable of learning, innovating, and competing. He emphasized that empowering teachers is an investment in people and in the future of the nation and its economy.
For his part, Chief Executive Officer of the Queen Rania Teacher Academy, Abdul Majeed Shamlawi, said that launching the diploma represents a model of partnership that connects academic knowledge, professional expertise, and the needs of the education field. He noted that advancing STEAM education and achieving sustainable impact require joint efforts among universities, teacher preparation institutions, the Ministry of Education, human resource development institutions, the public and private sectors, and international partners.
Shamlawi added that the Higher Diploma provides an academic and professional framework that enables teachers to translate integrated education concepts into practical practices within learning environments and design experiences that are more closely connected to students’ lives and realities, thereby strengthening the teacher’s role as a learning designer and a leader of innovation within the school.
The Higher Diploma in Integrated Education (STEAM) consists of 25 credit hours distributed over three academic semesters. It aims to prepare teachers capable of designing and implementing integrated educational units and experiences that connect different disciplines, utilize knowledge and technology in real-world contexts, and incorporate design thinking, project-based learning, and inquiry into educational practices.
The program also focuses on enabling teachers to utilize educational and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality, while enhancing experiential learning. It also aims to develop assessment methods that measure students’ learning and their ability to apply knowledge, demonstrate creativity, and solve problems. The first cohort of the diploma is scheduled to begin in October 2026.
The launch of the diploma comes within the framework of cooperation supported by the EU-funded EDU-SYRIA Programme, contributing to expanding access to high-quality professional development programs, strengthening teachers’ capacities, and supporting efforts to improve the quality of education in Jordan.
The conference featured a series of dialogues and discussions on the future of education, the skills students need in a rapidly changing world, the evolving role of teachers, and how innovation and technology can contribute to enhancing the learning experience. It also provided a space for dialogue among various education stakeholders on shifting from a focus on knowledge transfer toward building students’ capacities to apply what they learn, engage in inquiry and experimentation, collaborate, and innovate.
The launch of the diploma reflects the outcome of a partnership between GJU, the Queen Rania Teacher Academy, and the EDU-SYRIA Program, with support from the European Union, around a shared goal of investing in teachers, connecting academic knowledge with professional practice, and developing more innovative and reality-based learning experiences. This contributes to preparing students to better navigate a future in which knowledge, skills, and opportunities are changing at an accelerating pace.