Professor Sari Hamdan at the Tenth Arab Conference on Giftedness and Excellence: The Greatest Challenge is Integrating Technology, Education, and Psychology Without Compromising Educational and Ethical Values

During the opening session of the Tenth Arab Conference organized by the International Foundation for Youth, Environment, and Development on Research in Giftedness and Excellence, held under the title: "Education, Psychology, and Modern Technological Trends in the Knowledge Society," and under the patronage of His Excellency Professor Nadhir Obeidat, President of the University of Jordan, Professor Sari Hamdan, our president, delivered a speech on behalf of the university as its strategic partner in this conference. Professor Sari Hamdan began his speech by congratulating the University of Jordan for its global ranking of 368 according to the QS World Ranking for 2025. He also extended congratulations to AAU for maintaining its leading position among private Jordanian universities and for advancing to the third position among Jordanian public and private universities, improving by 40 ranks within the 801-850 range globally in the QS World Ranking for 2025. Additionally, Professor Sari Hamdan highlighted the university’s first-place ranking among Jordanian universities in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for 2024, where it also ranked eleventh among Arab universities and within the 201-300 range globally. These achievements reflect the university's commitment to academic and research excellence and its success in developing programs and creating an advanced educational environment that fosters creativity and innovation. Professor Sari Hamdan emphasized that education in Jordan, both at the school and university levels, is in good shape and is a source of pride despite the challenges it faces. Continuous development in Jordanian education is ongoing, with teachers being the cornerstone of the educational process. Providing a suitable work environment and a fair salary for teachers will positively impact the quality of education overall. He added that despite the challenges in the education sector, the will and determination to continue development and improvement are present. He is confident that these efforts will result in a comprehensive educational system offering equal and high-quality opportunities for all students, whether in public or private schools. He also stressed the importance of mental health for students and called for qualified psychologists in all educational institutions, highlighting the pioneering initiative by AAU in establishing Al-Ahliyya Amman University Center for Psychological Care at the beginning of 2022. This center operates on a non-profit service philosophy and aims to assist students in various aspects of their university life, as well as serving the local community. In the context of the conference theme, Professor Hamdan pointed out some modern technological trends that could significantly contribute to improving education and enhancing the learning experience for students, such as e-learning, blended learning, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality. He stated that the greatest challenge is integrating technology, education, and psychology in a comprehensive and balanced manner, benefiting from modern technologies without compromising the educational and ethical values we strive to instill in our students. Special attention must also be given to ethical considerations and protecting students' privacy and personal data. After thanking all participants, speakers, and experts at the conference, he looked forward to fruitful discussions and constructive dialogues on this important topic. Professor Hamdan concluded by stating that education in Jordan will remain strong under the guidance of His Majesty King Abdullah II. In his address, Professor Nadhir Obeidat, President of the University of Jordan, highlighted the importance of integrating psychology into curricula and updating teaching methods to improve educational quality and design curricula that address students' psychological needs. He emphasized that the University of Jordan is committed to using collaborative learning techniques between students and teachers to enhance student participation and interaction both inside and outside the classroom. He also pointed out that extracurricular activities are a fundamental part of the University of Jordan’s comprehensive development, and enlightened management based on psychological principles is more capable of achieving a balance between discipline and support to enhance academic success. Professor Obeidat concluded by expressing gratitude to everyone who contributed to organizing the conference and all participants and speakers. The head of the conference organizing committee, His Excellency Professor Dr. Marwan Kamal, Chairman of the Royal Advisory Committee on Education, welcomed the participants and attendees, stating that the conference committee values their expertise and specialization in the educational and knowledge fields. With their presence and fruitful cooperation, the conference will have a significant impact on the recommendations presented at its conclusion. Dr. Adnan Al-Toubasi, the General President of the International Foundation for Youth, Environment, and Development, also addressed the audience, congratulating the University of Jordan for its achievement of ranking 368 globally according to the QS World Ranking and Al-Ahliyya Amman University for its continued excellence and progress among universities in international rankings. He emphasized that it is time for psychology to have a place in our curricula and textbooks and for future students to possess creative minds, productive personalities, and balanced cultures. Teachers must also be passionate about the subjects they teach to have a positive impact on students and serve as role models.