British ambassador celebrates Int’l Day of Education in Zarqa

AMMAN — British Ambassador to Jordan Bridget Brind on Tuesday visited Zarqa Governorate to celebrate the International Day of Education and UK-Jordanian education partnerships, The Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The ambassador began her visit by meeting Governor Hassan Al Jbour and Mayor Emad Al Momani, according to a British embassy statement. 

Ambassador Brind visited the Hashemite University where she met students and academics. The university is benefiting from the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships, which support students and academics to build international connections and become more globally competitive. 

It has also secured funding through the British Council’s Gender Equality Partnership to support women working in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). In addition, the university has run several programmes in partnership with British academic institutions through the Newton-Khalidi scientific cooperation scheme.

In a plenary discussion with students, the ambassador emphasised the UK’s commitment to championing the value of education for all and its work in Jordan on improving access and quality of education for vulnerable boys and girls. 

She highlighted the UK’s support for international education partnerships and the opportunities for Jordanian students to study at outstanding British universities, as well as the UK’s prestigious Chevening Scholarship Scheme. This offers a number of awards to Jordanians each year to study in the UK for a fully funded master’s degree course.

Continuing her visit, Brind joined a roundtable at the “Nusharek” centre, a community-based organisation specialising in youth empowerment and social cohesion. She heard about the views and aspirations of young women and men, and work being taken forward in a new partnership with the UK. Under the umbrella of the “Inclusive Security and Youth Resilience Programme”, this aims to help develop citizens’ civic engagement skills to build a harmonious and prosperous society, the statement said.

The ambassador reflected on the benefits of studying in the UK, home to two of the world’s top three universities (with a further 26 ranked among the global top 200), with one of the most diverse subject offerings in the world and rich traditions of critical thinking and academic rigour.

A UK degree can also provide valuable work placements and internships to build new skills and apply learning in a real-world professional environment. Following the successful completion of study at UK bachelor’s degree-level or above, international students in the UK will be eligible to apply for the graduate route to remain in the UK for two years to work once they have successfully completed their studies (three years for PhD students), the statement said.

Concluding her visit, the ambassador Brind said: “I’m delighted to celebrate the International Day of Education here in Zarqa, home to three universities and many educational institutions.  The UK is proud of our world-class education offer and I am particularly pleased that we have so many strong academic partnerships with Jordanian institutions, including those I have heard about in Zarqa today. Through supporting educational and social resilience programmes, the UK is glad to invest in Jordan’s future, ensuring that the young people of today are gaining the knowledge and skills they will need to develop, grow and power the economy of tomorrow.”