Young Amman woman converts vocational training into skill set

AMMAN — Rand Alyaseem, 21, is a fine example of what youth can achieve by choosing to partake in the technical vocational education and training (TVET) stream. 

In 2017, Rand saw an advertisement online for scholarship opportunities being offered at Luminus Technical University College (Al Quds College). 

Rand was quick to apply. “First, I didn’t tell anyone and went alone to submit my application. Then, I told my parents. They were so supportive as they value education and want me to be happy.”

Rand grew up in Amman, the youngest of her four siblings. She didn’t succeed at Tawjihi (Secondary School Certificate) but was not one to despair.  

“Tawjihi doesn’t represent an insurmountable object. If you don’t pass it, your life does not stop. There is so much ahead and so many ways to improve yourself. When I saw the TVET scholarships, I was eager to learn valuable skills," she said.

The scholarships are offered as part of the UNESCO “Provision of TVET for Vulnerable Jordanian and Syrian Refugee Youth” project, implemented with generous funding and strong partnership from the Government of the Republic of Korea. 

The project is carried out by the UNESCO Amman office, which has been taking a leadership role in contributing to the realisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development Goal 4 is centred upon inclusive and quality education for all and promoting lifelong learning.

Rand was among those at risk of being “left behind”, but was soon accepted into the BTEC Level 2 Art and Design programme. She rose to become one of the top performers in her class and completed her coursework and on-the-job training in 2018. Rand began searching for a job in design and media, matching her competencies, and right after graduation, she found the perfect fit. 

Rand smiles brightly when she speaks about her job: “I work at a social media/marketing firm called ‘Boom Media’ in Amman. I love my team and know that having the right people makes a huge difference. I love learning and expanding every day and felt prepared by my training, especially in terms of the graphic design and soft skills training.”  

“When I was young, I wanted to be a fashion designer and I have always been artistic. Now that I am older, media is my passion. I think that taking small steps to improve each day is important. One day, I’d like to be in charge of graphic design at the firm. I won’t stop until I make a footprint on society.” 

Rand continues to build her interests, volunteering in her free time at the Children’s Museum, Loyac Foundation and the Jordanian Clothing Bank. 

UNESCO and South Korea have been working to support access to meaningful, accredited post-basic education. In 2019, 111 vulnerable Jordanian youth and 135 Syrian refugee youth were enrolled in TVET studies in a series of six disciplines, with support from Korea and UNESCO. 

UNESCO contributed this article to The Jordan Times.