HTU and SFP Upskilling Programme Graduation Ceremony

AMMAN — (Under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Water and Irrigation Dr. Motasem Saidan) Al Hussein Technical University (HTU) and Sahara Forest Project on Tuesday held an honorary graduation ceremony to conclude the first training group of their joint upskilling programme entitled “Agricultural Technology and Food Security”. Her Excellency Norwegian Ambassador to Jordan and Iraq Ms. Tone Allers and Sahara Forest Project Managing Director Mr. Kjetil Stake attended the event via video conference in addition to University President Prof. Ismael Hinti.

This first upskilling programme came pursuant to the memorandum of understanding that was signed between HTU and Sahara Forest Project in June last year. The agreement aimed at supporting the development of a Jordanian talent pool that is skilled in the areas of modern agricultural technology and clean energy. The first training started in September, and was supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Jordan and the Costa Corciere Foundation.

13 female bachelor’s degree holders from 7 different Jordanian universities were selected from about 90 applicants. The participants received applied technical training at the hands of practicing professionals in the agriculture, energy, and economic sectors who designed curricula and learning experiences that provided the participants with the competencies they need to successfully venture into and offer value to the agricultural technology job market.

In addition to addressing technical skills, the program aimed at taking action to increase women’s active participation in economic development and specifically in technology. Hence the participants were guided and supported by two female mentors; sustainability consultant Ruba Zubi and Director of Operations at Mujeb Organic Farms Zeina Fakhriddin, who volunteered to counsel the trainees during the 4-month programme.

The training included two field visits to the Sahara Forest Project site in Aqaba and several visits to private and government-owned agricultural and renewable energy establishments, giving trainees the opportunity to develop their skills in an applied approach.

Ambassador of Norway to Jordan Tone Allers addressed the event attendees with highlighting the following: “Providing women with better opportunities to access the labour market, will not only help realize women’s potential, but also strengthen gender equality in society. The program also fits well with Jordan’s focus on food security and innovation. The 13 women who were selected to take part in the first training are fortunate to be able to combine academic learning with field practice, the Norwegian Ambassador said”

In his statement, Mr. Kjetil Stake Managing Director of Sahara Forest Project said : “The 13 trainees challenged our experts and staff in a very good way. They are a highly skilled and talented group of young women. I see them as very well positioned to be at the forefront of modernizing the agriculture sector in Jordan, and we are honored that we have been able to have them onboard this exciting and action-oriented job training. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with HTU to bring even more female trainees to Sahara Forest Project in Aqaba later this year, Mr. Stake said.

Secretary General of the Costa Corciere Foundation, Mr David Triacca added: ‘Today we have a reason more to be proud of the collaboration with Sahara Forest Project. Together with HTU they have successfully made possible this unique programme for these 13 talented Jordanian ladies giving them the opportunity to get the right skills for the tomorrow’s in agricultural technology job market. In our Company we know very well how the contribution of women spurs growth and development, and benefits everyone working in the community. I wish to offer them my warm congratulations for a bright future!’.

HTU President Dr. Ismael Hinti said that the university seeks to provide students with unique technical education at the all levels, and providing students the required technical information and skills needed in local and international markets.

HTU and Sahara Forest Project plan to further expand this upskilling programme by launching more training cohorts targeting aspiring female engineers and increasing their outreach within the agricultural technology sector in Jordan.

The first discussions between HTU and the SFP in regards to establishing this training programme started on the side lines of the state visit by King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway to Jordan in early March.

The Norwegian King and Queen were accompanied by Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide and Minister of Trade and Industry Iselin Nybø. The visit allowed for an excellent opportunity to explore new prospects for cooperation between Norwegian and Jordanian partners.

The Sahara Forest Project Foundation is a Norwegian non-profit established to enable sustainable and profitable innovation and deployment of environmental technologies within the food, water and energy sectors, according to the statement.

Al Hussein Technical University (HTU) located in Amman, was established by the Jordanian Crown Prince Foundation out of a need to bridge the gap between the numbers of graduates and their rate of employment in technical fields. HTU aims to enrich Jordan’s technical workforce through a dynamic, practical and applied educational experience.