The Bologna for Science Education in Palestine and Jordan (BASE) Project has been officially shortlisted for the Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year category at the Times Higher Education Awards Arab World 2026.
The official shortlist, announced on 16 July 2026, places BASE among eight leading initiatives selected from higher education institutions across the Arab world. This recognition highlights the project’s innovative and transferable approach to reforming science education and strengthening the quality, relevance and international compatibility of higher education in Palestine and Jordan. (THE Awards Arab World)
Led and coordinated by An-Najah National University and co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme, BASE was launched in 2024 as a comprehensive teaching and learning transformation initiative. It brings together universities, ministries of higher education, national accreditation and quality-assurance bodies, European academic institutions and specialised regional organisations from Palestine, Jordan, Italy and Spain.
At the heart of BASE is an ambitious model for restructuring selected four-year bachelor’s degrees in the basic sciences into three-year, competency-based programmes aligned with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, followed by a structured professional year. This professional component incorporates applied learning, workplace placements and industry-relevant microcredentials to strengthen graduates’ academic, professional and employability skills.
The project addresses several pressing challenges facing science education in Palestine and Jordan, including declining student enrolment in basic science disciplines, gaps between academic programmes and labour-market requirements, limited graduate employment opportunities and the need for stronger international recognition of qualifications.
BASE works simultaneously at three interconnected levels. At the regulatory level, it supports the development of national frameworks related to accreditation, quality assurance and qualification recognition. At the university level, it helps partner institutions revise their academic policies and degree structures. At the programme level, it strengthens the capacity of academic staff to develop student-centred curricula, measurable learning outcomes, modern teaching methods and effective assessment practices aligned with Bologna Process principles.
The project has already achieved important regional milestones. These include advancing formal dialogue with ministries and national accreditation authorities, delivering capacity-building and curriculum-development activities, and organizing a regional webinar that attracted more than 200 participants. BASE has also received the Union for the Mediterranean Label, recognizing its strategic relevance and potential contribution to regional cooperation and higher education development.
Reaching the final stage of the THE Awards Arab World reflects the dedication of the entire BASE consortium and its shared commitment to building modern, inclusive and internationally aligned science education systems. It also confirms the importance of sustained cooperation between universities, public authorities, accreditation bodies, European partners and industry in creating meaningful and scalable educational reform.
The winners of the THE Awards Arab World 2026 are scheduled to be announced during the awards ceremony in Morocco on 3 November 2026.
