Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan achieved a distinguished national accomplishment by securing the project "Rehabilitation of Wadi Al-Arab Dam Pumping Station", prepared by the students Safi Shawqi Khalil Abu Laban and Sujood Sameeh Mohammad Al-Maghribi, supervised by Dr. Mahmoud Zidan and Dr. Yazan Al-Shamayleh, with the second place in the "Intilaq" graduation project award at Jordanian universities in the field of water technologies, organized by the Hussein Fund for Excellence and Innovation with broad participation from Jordanian universities and colleges.
The project was honored during the exhibition of winning projects inaugurated by the Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Professor Dr. Azmi Mahafzah, while the awards ceremony was sponsored by the Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Engineer Sami Samirat, attended by the General Director of the Hussein Fund for Excellence and Innovation, Dr. Ali Yaghi, the Deputy Dean of Scientific Research and Innovation at the university Dr. Bara’ Shawagfeh, and the Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Dr. Bilal Al-Wadi, along with a number of academics and stakeholders in the innovation and entrepreneurship sector.
On his part, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Professor Dr. Youssef Jaradat expressed his pride in this achievement, which reflects the quality of the educational process at the faculty and the competence of its students and faculty members, and asserted that the project represents an advanced model of the integration between engineering knowledge and practical application in addressing national challenges related to the water sector.
Jaradat explained that the project combines engineering design, electrical control systems, digital modeling, and smart monitoring technologies, consistent with the faculty's approach towards applied education linked to market needs, illustrating how it offers an advanced engineering model for updating the operational infrastructure of the Wadi Al-Arab Dam pumping station through the use of smart control systems, remote monitoring technologies, and SCADA cloud systems and digital linking through Node-RED, allowing real-time monitoring of pump performance, data analysis, reducing sudden failures, supporting predictive maintenance, and enhancing operational reliability of the station.
In turn, Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Dr. Bilal Al-Wadi confirmed that this achievement reflects the institutional vision adopted by Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan in supporting innovation and transforming graduation projects into practical and entrepreneurial solutions capable of addressing national challenges, pointing out the role the center plays in discovering promising projects and preparing students to participate in local and international awards and competitions through training, guidance, and developing innovative models according to the highest standards.
He added that the winning project represents an advanced model of the university students' ability to apply engineering knowledge to service vital sectors, particularly the water, energy, and smart infrastructure sectors, enhancing the university's presence in the national innovation system.
The project supervisors, Dr. Mahmoud Zidan and Dr. Yazan Al-Shamayleh, explained that the idea of the project stemmed from the need to develop operating and monitoring mechanisms for the pumping station by building a smart model that allows centralized control of the pumps and continuous performance and safety monitoring, contributing to enhancing operational efficiency and reducing unplanned outages.
They added that the team that executed the project succeeded in developing a practical model that combines PLC systems, SCADA technologies, and cloud communication, which enhances the efficiency of managing pumping stations and links academic knowledge with the water sector needs in Jordan.
The supervisors also appreciated the support and facilities provided by the Jordan Valley Authority, represented by its Secretary-General Engineer Hisham halal Al-Haysa, Assistant of the Northern Jordan Valley Engineer Faisal Al Fakir, and the manager of Wadi Al-Arab Dam Engineer Ahmad Mohammad Al Shaib, which contributed to the project's completion, enhancing its practical value and linking it with the operational reality of the pumping stations.
This accomplishment reaffirms the leading position that Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan continues to cement in the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation, and applied education, through supporting student projects capable of transforming into practical solutions with economic and societal impact, enhancing students' ability to compete in national forums and provide innovations that serve the development priorities of the kingdom.
