The Council of Higher Education decided on Thursday to begin redesigning study plans in all programs and majors of the bachelor's degree, by making the first year a preparatory year in order to ensure high-quality educational outputs. The preparatory year will start in the first semester of the academic year 2019/2020.

The Council discussed the project of the National Strategy for Human Resource Development (2016-2025), which includes "reviewing the requirements and regulations of certain specializations to include a preparatory year"; with the aim of providing fair admission opportunities for students on the basis of merit and competence, to join the second year with high efficiency in order to ensure adaptation to the requirements of specializations and programs of knowledge and skills.

The decision to direct Jordanian universities to the preparatory year comes as follows:

Introduction of courses in the preparatory year which will require basic scientific excellence and study capabilities, using advanced teaching methods with periodic evaluations and follow-ups.

Design of rigorous examinations able to assess the readiness of students at the end of the preparatory year to move to the second year.