Yarmouk University and the Ministry of Social Development signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to achieve their shared goals in empowering women and promoting gender equality. This will be pursued through joint research, scientific, and training initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable development, providing a safe environment that ensures women’s rights, and reducing forms of discrimination.
The MoU was signed on behalf of the University by its President, Professor Dr. Malek Al-Sha’ari, and on behalf of the Ministry by the Minister of Social Development, Ms. Wafaa Bani Mustafa.
Dr. Al-Sha’ari expressed the University’s pride in its strategic partnership and cooperation with the Ministry in implementing various national programs. He emphasized that signing this MoU represents a foundation for broader and joint work between the University and the Ministry across different scientific fields, particularly in supporting the activities of the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women’s Studies to implement the outcomes of this agreement.
He added that Yarmouk is a comprehensive university with diverse academic disciplines, offering programs in the humanities, sciences, health, and engineering. The University has graduated nearly a quarter of a million alumni who have contributed—and continue to contribute—to development and progress within Jordan and beyond. He also highlighted the University’s commitment to fulfilling its mission in education, scientific research, community service, and building partnerships that drive development.
Dr. Al-Sha’ari stressed the importance of training for students across various disciplines to build their capacities and enhance their professional skills. He also underlined the need to deepen students’ understanding of the importance of volunteer work and community initiatives, noting that the “Nahno” platform, affiliated with the Crown Prince Foundation, provides a solid framework for documenting and institutionalizing volunteer work among Jordanian youth.
For her part, Ms. Bani Mustafa stated that signing the MoU with Yarmouk University—an outstanding national and academic institution—strengthens effective partnership frameworks. She noted that the cooperation will cover several social fields, programs targeting the Ministry’s beneficiary groups, as well as joint programs with various university faculties and the Princess Basma Center for Jordanian Women’s Studies.
She added that the MoU focuses on knowledge and expertise exchange for university students, enabling those in educational and social disciplines to gain experience in volunteer work and training through the Ministry’s affiliated social institutions. She explained that the professionalization of social work—aimed at regulating the profession—will support their engagement in this field.
She further indicated that the MoU includes cooperation in launching and implementing joint initiatives to support women’s empowerment, backing research focused on economic empowerment, and enhancing women’s participation. It also includes organizing awareness campaigns about protection, care, and development programs implemented by the Ministry, as well as strengthening efforts in preparing research and studies.
The MoU aims to establish a general framework for cooperation and coordination between both parties in the field of women’s empowerment through the exchange of knowledge and expertise, as well as forming joint committees and research teams to develop specialized concept papers.
