Title: Operations Research in Jordan: contrasting university courses and companies expectations

Authors: A.A.S. Al-Zawahreh, M.A.A. Cox

Addresses: Department of Business Administration, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13115, Jordan. ' Ridley Building, School of Psychology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK

Abstract: The study assesses the training and education of Operations Research (OR) in Jordan and contrasts this to the requirements of companies. Three questionnaires were used in this study. The first was directed to the practitioners in all quoted Jordanian industrial companies (86). The second was circulated to all relevant educators in Jordanian universities (51). The third was presented to a random sample of students studying OR courses in the universities (168). Questions addressed are: is OR education relevant to the needs of the practitioners? Is there a gap between what is taught and what is applied? This results in a few simple proposals whose adoption should enhance OR courses currently delivered.

Keywords: developing countries; higher education; Jordan; operations research; OR education; university courses; company expectations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIOME.2008.019653

International Journal of Information and Operations Management Education, 2008 Vol.2 No.3, pp.315 - 326

Published online: 18 Jul 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article