By Zayed Alzyoud
The Ministry of Youth on Saturday held a consultative meeting at Al Hussein Youth City in Amman, bringing together presidents of Jordan’s public and private universities to strengthen cooperation on youth programmes and volunteering initiatives.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Youth Dr. Raed Al Adwan and Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Prof. Azmi Mahafzah.
Talks focused on developing joint programmes to empower young people, with particular emphasis on volunteer work, and on universities’ role in informing youth policy and decision making.
The University of Jordan (UJ) was represented by President Prof. Nathir Obeidat.
In opening remarks, Al Adwan said youth issues intersect with the work of all ministries, stressing the need for coordinated action that translates academic expertise into lasting social and development gains.
Mahafzah urged universities to step up their role in addressing challenges facing young people. He called for a practical national strategy to address substance abuse among youth, with clear timelines and measurable indicators, and suggested linking it with anti smoking awareness efforts.
He also stressed the importance of boosting student engagement and strengthening universities’ capabilities in technology and innovation, pointing to incubators as a key platform for research, entrepreneurship and start up support.
Obeidat underscored the importance of sustained partnership between universities and the ministry to deliver effective long term youth programmes, noting that universities through their expertise and students’ energy can help deepen a culture of volunteerism.
University presidents and representatives put forward proposals to empower youth and raise awareness, including integrating volunteer work into curricula and extracurricular activities, establishing specialised units to organise volunteering, and strengthening national frameworks regulating volunteer work to improve efficiency and expand community impact.
The meeting concluded with a presentation on ministry programmes, including the National Youth Strategy 2026 to 2030, and an overview of the Al Hussein bin Abdullah II Award for Voluntary Service and its categories.