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AMMAN — Ambassador of the Netherlands to Jordan Harry Verweij on Tuesday evening hosted an alumni gathering that brought together more than 200 graduates of Dutch universities and institutions.
Held at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts Park in Al Luweibdeh, the event aimed to strengthen ties between Jordan and the Netherlands and foster connections among alumni, according to an embassy statement.
The Netherlands boasts a broad and active network of Dutch-Jordanian alumni. More than 750 Jordanians have graduated from Dutch-funded programmes such as the Shiraka Training Programme and the MENA Scholarship Programme (MSP).
Also, many Jordanians have pursued degrees at Dutch universities independently.
This year, for the first time, the embassy is expanding its outreach to include these graduates, with the aim of bringing them into the growing Dutch-Jordanian alumni network and strengthening ties across all levels of academic and professional exchange.
“The key to strong bilateral ties lies in the people-to-people connections between our nations. Our alumni, whether trained through Dutch-funded programmes or graduates of Dutch universities, are living bridges between Jordan and the Netherlands,” said Verweij.
“The embassy is proud of this growing and diverse network, which forms the bedrock of our enduring partnership,” added the diplomat.
The ambassador also highlighted the importance of educational and cultural exchanges as mutual learning experiences where both the Netherlands and Jordan benefit from sharing the best practices, challenges and lessons learnt.
He emphasised that alumni of these programmes often go on to become change agents in their fields, driving positive impact within their communities and institutions.
Shiraka, the Netherlands’ “flagship” knowledge exchange initiative for the MENA region, was established in 2012 to boost the capacity of civil servants across a range of topics, the statement said.
Since its launch, over 650 Jordanian civil servants and government employees have received training in the Netherlands.
The MSP offers short courses and tailor-made trainings to young professionals from the Middle East and North Africa. The MSP aims to build bridges through knowledge, strengthen institutional capacity, and foster lasting ties between the Arab region and the Netherlands.
Looking forward, the embassy plans to host regular alumni activities to encourage continued exchange, networking and collaboration.