The International Research Center for Water, Environment, and Energy was established in 2009 at Al-Balqa Applied University through a strategic partnership with UNESCO and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Fund. The Center is dedicated to advancing applied scientific research at both local and regional levels, with a focus on innovation and excellence across the domains of water, environment, energy, and sustainability.
Its research scope includes both conventional water resources—such as surface and groundwater—and alternative sources including treated wastewater, greywater, and rainwater harvesting. It also encompasses environmental impact assessments, engineering evaluations, renewable energy, climate change, climate justice, and integrated solid waste and water management.
The Center offers a dynamic applied learning environment through Jordan’s first Environmental Modeling and Climate Change Laboratory, providing a comprehensive research platform for graduate students and researchers to build technical expertise and enhance employability. It supports this mission with specialized programs, smart applications, and state-of-the-art facilities for water and environmental analysis.
Alongside research and education, the Center plays a vital role in community development. In collaboration with national and international partners, it delivers advanced training programs in areas such as remote sensing, statistical analysis for water and environmental data, financial management of environmental projects, and occupational safety in wastewater treatment facilities.
The Center’s key initiatives include the launch of Al-Balqa Applied University’s first Climate Action Plan and the development of a specialized research and data-sharing platform. This platform provides centralized access to scientific information, datasets, and equipment databases for internal and external academic communities, supporting evidence-based decision-making and innovation across water, environment, energy, and climate-related fields.
In addition, the Center introduced the Green Calendar program, designed to encourage eco-conscious practices and green growth to further promote environmental awareness and sustainable development
Aligned with the university’s strategic objectives, the Center adopts the Theory of Change as its core methodology, emphasizing social inclusion, youth empowerment, participatory governance, and institutional development through measurable performance indicators.
An outstanding achievement of the Center is the Al-Balqa University Station for Excellence in Water and Environmental Engineering in Fuhais. This facility serves as a pilot site for decentralized wastewater treatment and reuse, providing a real-world model for sustainable water and energy management in Jordan and the wider region. It supports a wide range of academic, training, and research activities, including graduate-level research on advanced treatment technologies for both drinking water and wastewater. The station also hosts educational visits for students, engineers, and policymakers, and fosters national and international partnerships in water, environmental, and renewable energy sectors.
Through its comprehensive initiatives, the Center aims to enhance the university’s global profile, expand international collaboration and funding opportunities, and provide strong support for graduate education and scientific advancement.
| Vision |
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Providing innovative solutions to achieve sustainable development.
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| Mission |
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Promoting sustainability in the fields of water, environment, and energy through research and projects that lead to technological solutions aimed at improving efficiency and quality of life.
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The International Research Center for Water, Environment, and Energy seeks to achieve the following objectives:
- Conducting research related to water, environment, and the energy sector in Jordan, including studies on water and energy resources in all their forms and management, natural and human resources, environmental impact assessments of projects, as well as offering services in environmental awareness, monitoring, environmental modeling, climate change, climate justice, environmental engineering designs, participating in drafting environmental legislation, and organizing conferences, seminars, and training programs to award certificates in the fields of water, environment, and energy.
- Collaborating with research centers and relevant institutions and building partnerships at local and international levels to advance sustainable development in line with the Center’s goals.
- Establishing and managing a database for studies and research related to water, environment, and energy.
- Adopting research projects aligned with the Center’s objectives and secure financial support for them through local and international funding institutions.
- Engaging with donors and research institutions nationally and internationally to explore opportunities for cooperation and support for the Center’s activities.
- Providing consultancy services, technical studies, and laboratory analyses to government entities and the private sector within and outside Jordan, in addition to bidding for projects relevant to the Center’s fields of work.
- Enhancing innovative technological solutions in education, scientific research, and capacity-building, contributing to the university’s international rankings.
- Providing an applied educational environment for academic courses related to water, environment, energy, climate change, and sustainability.