From the Classrooms of the Faculty of Tourism & Hotels to Production Lines
As part of its strategic approach to strengthening partnerships with the industrial sector and reinforcing the concept of applied education aligned with labor market needs, Yarmouk University participated in organizing a scientific field trip for Hospitality Management students to Al-Youm Food Company in Al-Dhulail/Al-Hallabat. This initiative was conducted in collaboration with the Irbid Chamber of Industry and supported by the Employment in Jordan 2030 Project (GIZ).
The visit was supervised by Dr. Omar Taha and Ms. Fatima Al-Kafarini and aimed at exposing students to real industrial environments while equipping them with practical skills related to food manufacturing processes, quality systems, and occupational health and safety requirements. It also provided direct insight into modern production mechanisms within food processing facilities.
The program included a comprehensive field tour across the company’s facilities, where students explored production lines in bakeries, dairy and juice plants, as well as packaging and processing units. They were introduced to the latest standards in food safety and quality control, enhancing their applied understanding of operational requirements across both the industrial and hospitality sectors.
In this context, Professor Amjed Al-Fahoum, Industry Liaison Coordinator at Yarmouk University, stated that this visit represents a tangible outcome of effective institutional collaboration between the university and the industrial sector. He emphasized that the university is systematically working to build high-quality partnerships that expand opportunities for students to become leading, work-ready graduates. He further noted that this approach aligns with the university’s vision of linking academic outcomes with the needs of productive sectors, particularly in technical and applied fields experiencing growing demand.
As the Dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Prof. Dr. Saad Al-Saad, pointed out, such visits are a direct reflection of the vision of the faculty, which works to develop its academic programs periodically to keep pace with the transformations in the hospitality and food sector by updating curricula, enhancing the practical aspect, and integrating students into real work environments through field training and cooperation with sector institutions. It also strives to build strategic partnerships with employers to ensure an accurate understanding of their needs and expectations of graduates, which contributes to raising the students’ readiness to engage in the labor market efficiently and confidently, enhances their employment opportunities after graduation, and enhances the quality of tourism and hotel education.
For his part, Mr. Hani Abu Hassan, Chairman of the Irbid Chamber of Industry, affirmed that this visit is part of a series of practical programs aimed at empowering youth and enhancing their job readiness. He highlighted the Chamber’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with national universities to build meaningful bridges between education and the labor market. He added that direct exposure to industrial production environments increases students’ awareness of future career requirements and contributes to preparing qualified professionals capable of effectively engaging in the industrial sector.
Dr. Al-Fahoum also noted that the organization of this visit was the result of joint efforts between himself and Eng. Sami Mashaqba, within a framework that promotes the integration of academic education with hands-on training, ultimately preparing a generation capable of keeping pace with industrial advancements and competing in modern work environments.
It is worth noting that this visit is part of a broader series of applied activities implemented by Yarmouk University in collaboration with its industrial partners, aiming to empower students, enhance their professional readiness, and promote a culture of experiential learning—thereby positively impacting the quality of higher education outcomes in Jordan.
