Research Ethics Education Program in Jordan: Achievements and Challenges

The Fogarty-NIH-funded Research Ethics Education Program in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region was launched in Jordan in 2015 in collaboration between the University of California-San Diego Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST). In the program's first phase, 118 researchers from 13 countries were trained in empirical research methods and research ethics and awarded a one-year fellowship in Responsible Conduct of Research. In the program's second phase, which started in 2022, the first regional master's in bioethics enrolled 35 students with the aim of reaching 40 students. The program has also created self-learning training modules in the Arabic language for students and researchers. Over 2,000 training completion certificates have been issued through these modules. The program also organized nine conferences on research ethics in Jordan and the region. In conclusion, we believe that this education program significantly impacted the MENA region's individual and institutional capacity for research ethics education.