By Zayed Alzyoud
The University of Jordan (UJ) on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS) to expand cooperation on health and community awareness and develop educational materials to be integrated into a credit-bearing university course.
The partnership aims to strengthen students’ understanding of family and household care work (including unpaid care responsibilities in the home), encourage shared caregiving responsibilities, and support women’s participation in the labour market. It will also equip students to lead campus awareness campaigns and related activities.
The MoU was signed by UJ President Prof. Nathir Obeidat and RHAS Director General Dr. Amal Ireifij, in the presence of the university’s vice presidents, deans, and heads of relevant centres and administrative units, along with RHAS representatives.
Under the agreement, UJ will deliver a course that includes specialised content on family and household care work in line with university regulations and the approved course framework. RHAS, for its part, will provide evidence-based, practice-oriented learning materials to support quality delivery and help meet the project’s objectives.
The agreement also covers training for faculty members on delivering the added content, as well as capacity-building programmes for student volunteers. It further includes interactive workshops and activities designed to strengthen students’ leadership and communication skills and enable them to lead on-campus awareness efforts.
In addition, the two sides will coordinate campus activities with relevant centres and faculties to empower students and raise awareness. The programme will also provide tools and resources for interactive sessions built around real-world caregiving scenarios, reinforcing the practical application of the concepts covered.
Ahead of the signing, Obeidat said the MoU reflects the university’s commitment to high-quality education and awareness programmes and underscores its role as a national partner in initiatives that serve society. He added that cooperation with RHAS supports national efforts to promote health awareness among young people and helps prepare students to contribute effectively to social and economic development.
Ireifij said the partnership is an important step toward strengthening health literacy through a scientific, interactive approach within the university environment. She added that it enhances young people’s awareness, strengthens their leadership and social skills, and supports the sustainability of health-awareness programmes while expanding their community impact.