AMMAN — The Hashemite University signed a memorandum of understanding with the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) to enhance women’s participation in green jobs and align higher education outcomes with labour market needs.
The agreement, signed under GIZ’s regional programmes "Women’s Increased Participation in Political and Economic Life in the Middle East and North Africa" and "Green Jobs for Inclusive Economic Growth," aims to reinforce partnerships between academia, industry and development stakeholders, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
The MoU seeks to establish a "Women in Green Jobs Summit" platform at the university to connect academic institutions, the private sector, entrepreneurs, students and development partners to highlight career and entrepreneurial opportunities in the green economy and expand women’s participation in future-oriented sectors.
It outlines cooperation on developing the platform’s technical framework, forming a joint organising committee, and establishing implementation plans and performance indicators, in addition to ensuring the initiative’s sustainability through future programmes that support women’s empowerment and better alignment between education outcomes and green economy requirements.
Hashemite University President Khaled Hiari said that the agreement aligns with the university’s vision of boosting its role in sustainable development and expanding strategic partnerships with international institutions to equip graduates with skills required by modern labour markets.
GIZ regional programme head Anette Funk said that the initiative seeks to expand women’s economic opportunities and enhance their readiness for green and industrial sectors through networking, mentorship and capacity-building platforms, contributing to more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
The university’s Centre for Women’s Studies Director Sahar Odwan said that the platform would enable students and graduates to directly engage with employers and experts, enhance skills development and boost innovation and entrepreneurship in emerging sectors.