By Suha Al-Subaihi
Under the patronage of the University of Jordan (UJ) President, Prof. Nathir Obeidat, the 25th edition of the Italian Language Week in the World kicked off today at the School of Foreign Languages under the theme “Italophony: Language Beyond Borders.”
The event, held on behalf of the President by the Vice President for Humanities Schools, Prof. Nahed Emaish, was organized in cooperation with the Italian Embassy, the Swiss Embassy, and the Dante Alighieri Society – Amman Branch, with the goal of promoting the Italian language and culture and enhancing their global presence.
In his opening speech, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages, Prof. Marwan Jarrah, welcomed the attendees and emphasized the importance of the event in strengthening cultural exchange and broadening the horizons of Italian language students in the fields of literature and translation. He also expressed his aspiration for further cultural and academic cooperation with the Italian Embassy in Amman.
First Secretary and Head of the Economic, Cultural, and Scientific Affairs at the Italian Embassy, Giorgio Bassotti, expressed his appreciation to the University for hosting the event, noting that the Italian language serves as a global cultural bridge and announced the relaunch of the 'Issa Naouri' Translation Award, as well as the offering of around 20 annual scholarships for Jordanian students to study in Italy.
For her part, Diplomatic Attaché at the Swiss Embassy, Claudia Elmiger, affirmed that this year’s theme embodies the power of culture to transcend barriers and bring people closer together, commending the University’s role in supporting Italian language education and promoting the values of dialogue and cultural openness.
During the ceremony, Pasotti announced the winner of 'Issa Naouri' Translation Award, Yara Yousef Saadeh, a student in the Italian Department who won for her Italian translation of a poem by the renowned Jordanian writer and poet Issa Al-Naouri.
The program also included academic sessions presented by several university professors and concluded with bilingual poetry and literature readings in Arabic and Italian by students from the Italian language program, showcasing their talent in translation and literary appreciation.