Amman, November 30, 2016:  The UNESCO Office in Amman launches an exciting new project generously funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea and implemented in partnership with Al Quds College. The project supports the Government’s efforts to provide technical and vocational education and training opportunities for Jordanian and Syrian refugee youth affected by the Syria Crisis. His Excellency Mr. Mohammad Al Kharabsheh, Acting Secretary General of The Ministry of Higher Education And Scientific Research noted, “the importance of this project lies in that it comes within a series of projects organized by international institutions supporting Jordan and enabling it to continue to perform the international community’s humanitarian duties benefitting Syrian refugees”.

Launched under the patronage of H.E. Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Professor Adel Tweissi, the new project is aligned with the 2016-2018 Jordan Response Plan and provides post-basic education opportunities for vulnerable Jordanian and Syrian refugee youth. In total, 250 Jordanian and Syrian youth,will participate in the BTEC Level 3 Diploma program, a one-year internationally accredited diploma program focusing on seven different specialities. Fifty percent of the program’s participants will be women. Students will also benefit from additional courses in English language, life skills, computer literacy and study skills. 

As the leading UN organization for Education, UNESCO’s support of essential work and life skills is grounded in the Organization’s lifelong perspective of learning, which seeks to ensure equal opportunities for all. UNESCO’s partnership with Al Quds College, made possible with funding from the Government of the Republic of Korea represents an important milestone in collaborative programming in the country. As stated by Ms. Costanza Farina, UNESCO Representative to Jordan, during the event, “Since the very beginning of the Syria crisis, UNESCO has joined the international response to address its adverse impact both in Jordan and in the neighboring countries. Our contribution focuses on resilience-based approaches and addresses mid- and longer-term development priorities, as reflected in the Jordan Response Plan”.

His Excellency Mr. Lee Bom-yon, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea commended UNESCO for its efforts in launching this project in partnership with Al Quds college and added, “I hope this project will fill youth with enthusiasm … and convince those youth, their parents, trainers and company chiefs that a promising future is possible through good vocational training". The Korean government has been generous in their regional funding, pledging USD 12 million in humanitarian assistance across Jordan, Turkey, Syria and Lebanon and is “happy to work together with UNESCO in supporting the Jordanian government in its response to the Syrian crisis”.

The event was well attended by representatives of the Government of Jordan, United Nations agencies, and national and international organizations working  closely with Jordanian institutions to provide relevant education and training opportunities for youth. In his speech, Dr. Ayman Maqableh, Dean of Al Quds College noted the value of Luminus’ 36 years of experience serving Arab youth through international programs and partnerships. Dr. Maqableh stated, “we are aiming to support the objectives of the Government of Jordan Response Plan to mitigate the effects of the Syrian crisis, by providing access to Syrians and Jordanians with meaningful internationally accredited education and training programs”.

At the end of the ceremony, students benefiting from this project expressed their gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Korea, UNESCO and Al Quds College. One of the Syrian beneficiaries expressed the meaningful nature of the scholarship explaining, “I have the opportunity to study Interior Design and this will strengthen my character and will help me establish social relationships with new friends. In addition, this scholarship has had a positive impact on my family who have celebrated my success with a party”.