Princess Sumaya patronises event on women’s impact in STEM at PSUT

AMMAN — HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Princess Sumaya University for Technology, sponsored the event “Women’s Impact in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Creative Inquiries,” which was organised by Princess Sumaya University for Technology in collaboration with the Embassy of Ireland in Jordan.

The event was attended by Marianne Bolger, Ambassador of Ireland to Jordan, Wejdan Abu Elhaija, President of Princess Sumaya University for Technology, and various academic, scientific, and literary figures, along with the deans of the university’s schools, according to a university statement to The Jordan Times. 

Princess Sumaya expressed pride in attending the event celebrating the creative potential of women in STEM fields. She emphasised that supporting women is not only a matter of fairness but also essential for innovation and meeting societal needs.

She stated, “Global challenges require diverse perspectives, and women play a key role in finding innovative solutions.”

Her Highness highlighted that challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, poverty mitigation, and healthcare innovation require diverse, interdisciplinary thinking, emphasising that supporting women in STEM fields is key to fostering innovation and addressing these issues.

She noted that Princess Sumaya University for Technology has embraced inclusion since its founding over three decades ago and has become and has become a leader in technological and scientific excellence in Jordan and the region, with women playing a key role in its success.

Her Highness also pointed out the shared aspects of knowledge, experience, hopes, and concerns between Jordan and Ireland, emphasising that accessible education and professional empowerment in STEM are now essential. She stressed the importance of a strong educational infrastructure and ecosystem to support STEM education.

Her Highness affirmed that Jordan’s continued success is driven by talented and ambitious women, and Jordanian women will continue to lead the region and future generations in STEM.

Ambassador Bolger thanked HRH Princess Sumaya and Abu Elhaija for their inspiring leadership at Princess Sumaya University for Technology.

She emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation in innovation and science between Jordan and Ireland. 

She noted that this event, part of Ireland’s St. Brigid’s Day celebrations, highlights the role of women in leadership and creativity. 

The embassy supports the growth of STEM in Jordan, in line with the country’s economic modernisation vision, through initiatives like the Jordan Young Scientists initiative launched in 2022.

Ambassador Bolger highlighted that the session aims to showcase the remarkable innovation led by women in both Ireland and Jordan, with the goal of inspiring students to pursue careers in STEM and attracting talented individuals to shape the future of Ireland, Jordan, and the world.

The event featured a panel discussion by University Assistant to the President Adiy Tweissi, with contributions from prominent female academics, including Professor Helen Roche and Professor Siobhán McClean from University College Dublin (UCD), and Dr. Yvonne Kavanagh from South East Tech University (SETU) in Ireland. 

Also participating were Dr. Amal Al Omari, the Chief Scientific Officer at the King Hussein Cancer Centre, and Valentina Kassisieh, CEO of the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation. 

They discussed the challenges facing women in STEM and shared inspiring success stories that highlight women’s impact on these fields.

The event concluded with a call for a flexible, comprehensive educational system that supports women in both scientific and literary fields, highlighting Jordan’s role in fostering creativity, inclusiveness, and empowering women to lead the region’s scientific future.