The Aoun Jordan Private Association, in cooperation with the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women’s Studies and the Deanship of Student Affairs at Yarmouk University, launched the “Future of the Kingdom” initiative in celebration of the silver jubilee of His Majesty King Abdullah II assuming his constitutional powers, which aims to prepare and develop women leaders in particular and develop the capabilities of... youth social, economic, and political in general.
Dr. Batoul Al-Muhaisen, director of the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies, confirmed the Center's ongoing endeavor to enhance the role of Jordanian women and develop their capabilities in various fields so that they can carry out their role in the development of Jordanian society.
She pointed out that cooperation with the “Kingdom’s Future” initiative comes to fulfill the university’s role in building students’ capabilities and serving the local community, stressing the necessity of working on political education and possessing leadership skills, especially for female students, to help them raise their awareness and push them to set their goals.
Al-Muhaisen pointed out that this training targets university students to enable them to build their leadership skills and capabilities, enhance their social and political participation, and thus be able to perform their active and supportive roles for women.
In turn, the CEO of the Jordan Aoun Society, Nour Al-Duwairi, said that the “Future of the Kingdom” initiative aims to build women’s leadership skills in order to raise awareness among women and youth in all fields and self-development, which helps them determine their public and private goals.
Al-Duwairi pointed out that framing the mental image of women in traditional templates comes not only practically but also intellectually and socially, as the economic participation of Jordanian women constitutes 14%, despite the fact that the percentage of educated women in Jordan is 97%, while the percentage of Jordanian women’s participation in party life is 40.8%. While the percentages of women’s participation in leadership positions in parties certainly did not exceed a quarter, which means that the parties corrected their situation with a percentage of women and youth amounting to 20% for each category, which increased women’s membership, this did not correct the situation related to women assuming leadership positions in parties.
She explained that the “Future of the Kingdom” initiative came to correct social behaviors, change the mental image of women, and encourage women to discover themselves, their abilities, and their plans for the future, as they are not only half of society but also the educators of the second half, which makes them a cornerstone in the process of change towards the desired future in Jordan’s second centenary.
Al-Duwairi pointed out that the “Kingdom’s Future” initiative is divided into two tracks: “capable and active,” where “capable” is concerned with training young women and men, helping them identify and solve their problems, setting general and specific goals, helping them innovate and pioneer, raising awareness of the importance of electoral and partisan participation, and involving them in public work.
She pointed out that the “Qadira” track contains three main portfolios (social work, leadership and innovation, and political leadership), so that female students are distributed among the portfolios according to their desires so that communication, social, and self-development skills are honed, and then each portfolio is allocated to them to develop themselves in a conscious and mature manner. It encourages the integration of gender roles in accordance with the responsibilities and image of a conservative and cohesive Jordanian family while directing an “active” path for youth.
The Yarmouk University Student Union 2024 instructed the Deanship of Student Affairs and the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies to arrange a training discussion session for university staff.
According to Dr. Batoul Al-Muhaisen, director of the Center, the Center and the Deanship are collaborating on workshops and training sessions to teach university staff about various instructions, especially those pertaining to the student body, and to qualify them to handle them effectively and accurately.
She emphasized that the university's cadres, including members of the administration and teaching bodies, should attend this session to learn about the changes made to the student union's new guidelines.
During his presentation of the workshop, Muwaffaq Al-Batayneh, assistant director of the department of cultural and artistic activities at the deanship, stated that its organization is in line with the deanship's directive to create a program of training and dialogue for university staff. The objective is to equip them to participate in the management of upcoming student merit, symbolized by the 29th session of the University Student Union Council elections. The institution plans to finish determining eligibility somewhere in the middle of the current school year's second semester.
As he went on to say, the deanship is doing everything it can to ensure that the election process comes out looking magnificent, as befits Yarmouk University and its long history.
We also presented the session in collaboration with Wasel Al-Omari, a member of the Deanship of Student Affairs' Student Bodies Department.
At a conference hosted by the Lutheran Charitable Federation, the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies was able to share its findings on the economic and social rights of Jordanian women, as well as the recommendations made by the Local Communities Alliance for the Universal Periodic Review. Her Excellency Haifa Al-Najjar, Jordan's Minister of Culture, graced the event.
As part of the project "The Rights-Based Approach: Women's Social and Economic Rights in Jordan from Local to Global," which involved holding dialogue sessions with a group of experts in the fields of gender-based violence and women's economic rights, LWF and its coalition partners in Jordan presented the recommendations of the shadow report of the Universal Periodic Review. The project also produced policy papers.
The Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies held an esteemed training session at Yarmouk University. Field researchers, volunteering with the Center as part of their project to increase community involvement in municipalities, attended the event. The Integrity Project is collaborating with the Al-Hayat Rased Center to carry out this initiative.
Contributed to by the EU and the Spanish Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation
Her Highness Princess Alia bint Al Hussein, Executive Director of Princess Alia Foundation, and Professor Islam Massad, President of Yarmouk University, signed a memorandum of understanding between the two sides aiming for cooperation in achieving sustainable development and enhancing social responsibility in issues related to women.
Her Highness Princess Alia stressed the importance of cooperation and partnership between the Foundation and Yarmouk University since Yarmouk has always been distinguished by scientific leadership and community service. Her Highness added that the Foundation appreciates signing memorandum due to its great value in various fields, especially women, sustainable job opportunities, and the environment. She then indicated that the mission of Princess Alia Foundation is better summarized in terms of influencing the civil society and all partners and relevant parties through charitable work and social responsibility.
Massad said that Yarmouk University, based on the philosophy of its mission, is always trying to expand its network of relationships with national institutions that are active in social and community service, indicating that the Princess Alia Foundation is at the forefront of these leading Jordanian institutions at the level of women, social and volunteer work. He added that the memorandum of understanding gains its great importance from its role in contextualizing the interactive work conducted by the University in favor of the Jordanian society and population.
He also stated that Yarmouk University is ready to deploy its capabilities and the expertise of its cadres in the service of Princess Alia Foundation and its goals, programs, and activities. He then pointed to the efforts of Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies, its vision through scientific leadership in the field of social research and Jordanian women's studies, and its effective contribution to building a society characterized by greater diversity, democracy, and respect for human rights, where women can enjoy equal opportunities and means of advancement in various aspects of life.
The memorandum, which was signed by the Director of Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women’s Studies at Yarmouk University, Dr. Batoul Al-Muhaisen, stipulated that the Foundation is allowed to use the University’s facilities and human resources and seek assistance from its expertise and educational staff to implement activities and programs that target female students and contribute to developing their abilities. It also stipulated the provision of the names of female students who wish to participate as volunteers or trainees in the Foundation’s programs and projects.
Dr. Muhammad Al-Anqara, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, represented the President of Yarmouk University and sponsored the opening of the seminar titled "Media and Women: National Pillars for Political Action," which was organized by the Faculty of Arts, the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies, and the Center for Sustainable Development at the university, with the participation of Engineer Nour Al-Lawzi, Dr. Safaa Al-Sammadi, Sultan Al-Khalayla, and Ahmed Hajjaj.
According to Al-Anqara, Yarmouk University is proud of its role as a leading educational institution in enriching political work in Jordan, as it provides, through its academic programs and intellectual activities, an advanced scientific and intellectual framework that contributes to supporting and improving the political process in the Kingdom, with the aim of inspiring and motivating students, researchers, and academics to actively participate and contribute to politics.
He also mentioned the university's eagerness to adopt and enhance the role of women in enriching political work, in line with His Majesty King Abdullah II's visions, which constantly emphasize the importance of empowering women in all fields, particularly politics, stressing that developing women's capabilities and increasing their effective participation in the political process is an important investment for Jordan's future.
Al-Anqara emphasized the importance of the media in highlighting success stories and women's positive roles in political and social processes, urging all media outlets to present a balanced and fair image that highlights women's contributions in various areas of public life, which helps to change stereotypes and improves women's position in society. He emphasized the importance of the political modernization system in increasing women's political roles in Jordan, describing it as an important step toward further progress and development in the Kingdom, as well as reflecting Jordan's commitment to achieving equality and justice for all members of society.
Dr. Batoul Al-Muhaisen, director of the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies, emphasized that women are a symbol of national achievement, and the media must support women and convey their correct image to society by highlighting their achievements and creativity in various fields. He emphasized the center's constant endeavor to strengthen the partnership between the university, as an academic institution, and the national community institutions.
She emphasized the importance of the developmental role that creativity and scientific research play in various fields, particularly political and social work, emphasizing the Center's unwavering belief in the ability of women and men to create a prosperous future for Jordan, making it critical for decision makers and politicians to reduce the sanctions they face and support them in a variety of ways to assist them in performing their role in serving society.
During the talk, Al-Lawzi discussed women's involvement in elections and how the media should support them. She highlighted some of her electoral, political, and media experience, while Al-Sammadi spoke about her partisanship and the importance of women's political engagement. Al-Khalayla also discussed the National Committee for Modernizing the Political System and women in politics, while Hajjaj looked at the motivations for being active in politics, the role of the media, the structure of the political message, and when good political participation begins. Dr. Tariq Al-Nasser, Deputy Director of the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies, led the lecture, and the panelists answered audience questions at the end.
Dr. Batoul Al-Muhaisen, Director of the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies, kicked off the two-day educational awareness-raising workshop on "Yarmouk University's Regulations and Instructions," which targeted female administrators employed at the university. Dr. Safaa Al-Suwailemeen from the university's School of Law oversaw the workshop.
Al-Muhaisen emphasized Yarmouk University's eagerness to build community awareness of the various issues of concern to women through the combined efforts of its human resources, as well as its eagerness to enhance the capabilities of female administrative employees from the university's various colleges, departments, and scientific centers, enabling them to assume leadership roles and prove their competence in them, stressing the center's constant endeavor to empower women in various.
Al-Muhaisen stated that the workshop's goal was to empower female university administrators and prepare them to reflect on the information and experience they gain at the administrative and functional levels based on their legal awareness.
In addition, 25 administrative female university workers attended the session.
The President of Yarmouk University, Professor Islam Massad, and the President of the Jordanian Women's Union Association, Amna Al-Zoubi, signed a memorandum of understanding with the aim of consolidating and framing cooperation between the two sides in the field of exchanging experiences, academic studies, and training and awareness programs concerned with women.
Massad stressed that the signing of the memorandum of understanding comes within the context of Yarmouk University’s vision and its societal responsibility in consolidating cooperation with various national institutions and bodies concerned with women, society, and youth. He then indicated that the memo represents a new framework for exchanging experiences, studies, training and awareness programs with the Jordanian Women’s Union Association. He then added that the establishment of Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies at Yarmouk University came with the aim of involving women of the local community in the public and private sectors with women in the academic sector, which enhances and reflects the achievements of Jordanian women and their effective contribution to serving their community and country.
In return, Al-Zoubi stressed the importance of cooperation with a leading academic institution like Yarmouk University, which has been keen since its early beginnings to carry out societal responsibility, noting the Union’s aspiration to implement a number of joint programs and activities related to Jordanian women and their progress in cooperation with Yarmouk. She appreciated the efforts of Yarmouk University and its support of Jordanian women's issues as well as the University’s openness and constant keenness to communicate with civil society institutions and exchange experiences with them in a way that serves the Jordanian society.
The memo signing was attended by the University’s Vice Presidents, Professor Mousa Rababah and Professor Samer Samarah, the Director of Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women’s Studies, Dr. Batoul Al-Muhaisen, and the Director of Public Relations and Media, Dr. Nawzat Abu Al-Asal.
MASAD: "Yarmouk" thinks that collaboration with civil society organizations is essential for achieving a participatory vision that matches the royal aim for successful political life.
Al-Batayneh: Our identity in this nation is Jordanian, and we want to grow and progress in Jordan while also fighting to free Palestine.
Obaidat: The Parties Law made it easier for young people to join political parties with specific programs.
Caucasus: Parties provide actual forums for young people to voice their opinions and demonstrate their participation in building and promoting their community.
Al-Saleh: Our civilization is young, and it has the most significant factors of production, represented by the human factor.
Dr. Islam Massad, President of Yarmouk University, encouraged the activities of the dialogue seminar titled "Political and partisan life and the role of young men and women in the royal vision for modernizing the political system," which was organized by the Deanship of Student Affairs and Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women's Studies in cooperation with the "Yalla nsharek, Yalla nehtazeb" initiative and with the participation of the former ministers Nidal Al-Bat
In his speech, Massad affirmed Yarmouk University's belief in the importance of cooperation and participation with civil society institutions to reach a participatory vision that meets the royal desire for an effective political life that achieves tangible results through the involvement of all political, social, and economic forces and the different opinions on outcomes capable of moving society to a more developed, prosperous, and open society, in accordance with the
He went on to say that this dialogue seminar comes at a time when the national reform process is seeing tangible progress in various aspects of the political, economic, and social systems, citing His Majesty the King's constant affirmation that continuing the comprehensive reform process is a strategic choice and a necessity imposed by the Jordanian people's interests and the requirements of building the prosperous future they desire.
Massad emphasized that young men and women are active and significant aspects of Jordan's political landscape, and their importance cannot be overstated when discussing integrated change and partisan development. During the reign of His Majesty King Abdullah II, women gained wide qualitative support via His Majesty's royal instructions to succeeding administrations on the importance of women's involvement in formulating and making choices in numerous domains.
Massad emphasized that the youth are the apple of the leader's eye and that they are and will continue to be the focus of his care and attention. His Majesty had given them free rein to express their inclinations and ideas, and he urged and encouraged them to engage in political and partisan life without fear or hesitation.
He stated that Yarmouk University, despite its awareness of the challenges, is preparing to hold the university students' union elections through its will and provision of all requirements and means for the success of this entitlement, and he encouraged all university students, regardless of their intellectual orientations and political affiliations, to participate in these elections, which will serve as a small picture of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
In reply, Al-Batayneh emphasized that our identity in this nation is Jordanian to develop and promote Jordan, but it is also a fighting identity to free Palestine.
He stated that what we need is competing party plans and that parties must be patriotic, suggesting that the fear of partisanship has become "one of the scarecrows of the past."
He went on to say that access to power is one of the ABCs of any political party, and in order to achieve this, the party must have a comprehensive plan for all aspects of life, as well as provide competencies to student councils in universities, chambers of commerce and industry, unions, and the House of Representatives.
Al-Batayneh explained that when partisan representatives form a quantitatively and qualitatively balanced bloc under the dome of Parliament, there is a party reference from the specialized committees that direct the various laws, and in this concept, the "National Representative" is achieved, who is the Deputy for Legislation and Oversight rather than the Deputy for Services.
For his part, Obaidat emphasized that the conscious Jordanian citizen is the ally of the state that has achieved proactiveness in reconciling security and democracy, as well as its proactiveness in establishing the Royal Commission to modernize the political system. This commission produced a system of legislation known as Al-Banan through the trinity of constitutional amendments, the election law, and the political party’s law, which is considered the main incubator for a prosperous
He emphasized the need for parties to improve their candidate selection of young women and men for the next parliamentary elections in order to have 39–40 MPs of women and young women in the next parliament.
Obaidat said that this sort of seminar will lay the groundwork for a partisan and programmatic youth society, demonstrating that young people are change agents and shapers of the nation's destiny.
He went on to say that in the future, young people will be able to form party governments from the bosom of Parliament and from under the dome, especially now that the Parties Law has opened the door wide for youth participation in programmatic political parties, with 30 parties so far, and that he hopes to increase party participation by 7–10%.
Obaidat believed that the system for practicing student party activities in higher education institutions resulted in several instructions that allowed for party affiliation and establishment, as well as allowing deanships of student affairs to serve as a point of contact for students interested in organizing party activities in universities.
Al-Saleh, for his part, emphasized that young men and women's engagement in parties is critical to the success of party activity and its capacity to propel Jordan forward.
He said that Jordanian society is youthful, with 54% of the population under the age of 24 and 66% under the age of 32. This suggests that Jordan has one of the most critical manufacturing components, the human factor, which outperforms that of other nations globally. As a result, it is critical to engage these skills and energy in labor, construction, and the capacity to contribute via deliberate, programmed party work.
Al-Saleh stated that involving both young men and women in party activities necessitates their access to education, which Jordan has successfully achieved for all of its citizens, as well as employment prospects that enable them to offer and accomplish.
He added that resolving these two difficulties necessitates matching educational achievements with labor market needs, as well as focusing young men and women's attention toward the professional labor market and future occupations where there is a shortage.
In response, Qawaqza emphasized that the better future to which Jordanians aspire would not be realized without national programmatic party activity and that Jordanians may now participate in party work and profit from worldwide party experiences that have proved successful.
Qawaqza said that the interest and focus on the role of youth and universities in party work is not a luxury but rather comes from the fact that universities are the incubator of future leaders and that the leaders of tomorrow, and those who will manage all national files in the future and make decisions about them, are currently university students, as they are the fuel for production and giving, hence the focus on the essentiality of their role in purposeful nationalism.
He emphasized the need for young people to understand the importance of playing their role in assuming their national responsibility for building and positive change through parties, which are considered real platforms for Jordanian youth to have their say and prove their role in developing society in various fields, and that young people distancing themselves from party work will inevitably result in a blank that causes work and advancements in all fields
The seminar, conducted by Saif Bani Mustafa and attended by a number of deans, representatives of the university's teaching and administrative staff, and a group of its students, concluded with the panelists answering questions and queries from the public.
