Day: December 1, 2021

Minister of Culture Haifaa Najjar discussed Tuesday with Korean ambassador Lee Jae-wan prospects of cultural cooperation between the two countries and means of enhancing them.

Najjar said that Jordan cherishes its good relations in various domains and added that her ministry is committed to boosting Jordanian-Korean cultural ties through renewing a joint cultural cooperation agreement.

In turn, the Korean ambassador emphasized that his country will continue to support Jordan in its journey and endeavors to bring about peace and prosperity in the region.

He said next year will mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, expressing hope of continuous and comprehensive cooperation and partnership in next years.

Jordan signed the first cultural cooperation agreement with the Republic of Korea in Seoul in 1977, and in 2018 an exchange program in education, higher education, culture, antiquities, media and sport fields was signed for the 2018-2020 period.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Queen Rania Teacher Academy (QRTA) received international academic accreditation for its Teacher Education Professional Diploma (TEPD) from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the largest accreditation council of its kind in the United States.

The QRTA has become the first educational organization in Jordan to be fully accredited by CAEP for the coming seven years, which is the maximum accreditation length granted by the council. The QRTA is also the third educational organization in the Middle East to obtain the CAEP accreditation, after the United Arab Emirates University and Zayed University, making Jordan the second country in the region to receive such recognition.

Commenting on the most recent accomplishment, the QRTA CEO Osama Obeidat said: “This achievement is one of many underscoring the vision of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah for education, marking yet another addition to QRTA’s longstanding track record.” He added that the CAEP accreditation positions QRTA alongside many international institutions working in the field of teacher preparation and training.

The QRTA continues to extend free training programs for school teachers – including the School Networks Program, Advanced Instructional Leadership Professional Diploma, Psychological Adaptation Skills Program in Crises and Emergencies, and several MOOC courses, among others.

He pointed out that as part of the CAEP accreditation process, the council examines the soundness of QRTA’s quality assurance systems to ensure continuous improvement and innovation that reflect on its program outcomes and graduate competencies.

The CAEP considers proficiencies of the teachers in the subject they are preparing to teach, and their ability to apply that knowledge efficiently, and create viable educational opportunities for a diverse student population.

QRTA Business Development Senior Manager, Nabila Bashir, stressed that “obtaining the CAEP accreditation is a substantial academic achievement that bolsters the Academy’s standing and programs both locally and globally.”

She noted that the accreditation process took two years to be completed, starting with a rigorous strategic plan and detailed road map. This was followed by a comprehensive action plan, including extensive documentation and a self-study report demonstrating evidence of meeting each of the five CAEP standards. The process concluded with a site visit involving interviews with various relevant stakeholders.

“The accreditation is a seal of approval for QRTA that assures quality in educator preparation,” said Bashir. “It includes a framework that prompts such programs to continually self-assess and conduct evidence-based analysis to gauge their efficacy in order to promote continuous improvement and produce distinguished educators.”

Established in 2009, QRTA is a non-profit organization committed to the vision of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of supporting and empowering educators with the skills to become creative and diligent professionals, who are well-equipped to nurture and lead future generations. QRTA offers innovative and evidence-based professional development programs informed by international best practices and the latest research in the field.

QRTA has extended thousands of professional development opportunities to public school teachers and leaders, and continues to offer many training programs and host its annual Teacher Skills Forum. This year’s forum, which was held virtually, drew the viewership of nearly 7,000 educators from 50 countries worldwide.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The first edition of an Arab-European border security conference was launched in Amman on Wednesday, aiming to open bridges of regional and global dialogues on managing border security and responding to a range of security risks and emerging crimes.

The first Euro-Arab Border Security Conference is organized by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the General Secretariat of the Arab Interior Ministers Council (AIMC) in cooperation and coordination with the Jordanian Public Security Department (PSD).

The conference, which was inaugurated by Interior Minister Mazen Faraya on behalf of the Prime Minister, aims to launch an international dialogue on border security and preventing and combating migrant smuggling, human trafficking, cross-border crime, and terrorism.

More than 100 high-ranking representatives of border authorities in 44 countries from the European Union and the Arab world are participating in the conference, in addition to bodies including the European Commission, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Organization for Migration and the International Center for Migration Policy Development.

In a speech, Faraya called for closer Euro-Arab cooperation on border management to face what he said are common challenges, stressing the importance of taking into account the economic dimensions and freedom of travel and movement of people across borders.

He said that Jordan and other countries bear heavy security burdens that require more support to prevent infiltration, smuggling, drug trafficking and other contraband.

The minister noted that the conference is taking place at a time when Jordan is still hosting more than 1.3 million Syrian refugees for more than a decade, explaining that the Kingdom, despite its limited resources, is still providing all services to refugees, including Covid-19 vaccines.

In addition to helping the refugees and their hosts, the minister indicated that managing the Syrian refugee crisis requires the resettlement of part of them in other countries based on the principle of burden-sharing, and at the same time, launching an international effort to restore stability to Syria to ensure the safe return of these refugees.

With regard to the response to the Corona pandemic, Faraya stressed the importance of coordination and agreement on strict health protocols on the borders between countries to protect human health, preserve health and economic systems and prevent their collapse.

In turn, AIMC Secretary-General Muhammad bin Ali Koman, affirmed that Euro-Arab cooperation has yielded “impressive results” in addressing security and criminal challenges, foremost of which are terrorism, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration.

He noted that the conference will discuss three major global issues, namely, border security and control, the coronavirus pandemic, and illegal immigration, to come up with recommendations that advance cooperation and coordination to confront these issues.

European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi said that the conference will discuss a number of issues such as illegal migration, and combatting criminal networks involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking.

He added: “These criminal organizations breed corruption, destabilize our societies, and cause immense human suffering. Moreover, they are often also engaging in the smuggling of weapons, drugs and sometimes fund and equip terrorist organizations.”

The Executive Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Fabrice Leggeri stressed that there could not be a better place than Amman for this conference to succeed due to the effective partnership between European border security agencies and their counterparts in Arab countries.

He called for launching a constructive dialogue with partners to combat crime and enhance border security through the application and development of border security protection protocols.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Kingdom will be affected on Wednesday by a cold air mass accompanied by a depression centered over eastern Turkey. Therefore, a tangible drop in temperatures is expected, bringing relatively cold and partly cloudy weather with rainfall at times in the northern, central and southwestern regions.

According to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD), winds will be westerly active with strong gusts exceeding 50 km/ hour and blowing dust in the Badia, the JMD added.

The department warned of slippery roads in the areas experiencing rain, and of poor visibility in the Badia and highlands due to dust and fog formation.

As we head into Thursday, relatively cold and partly cloudy conditions will continue to prevail, with a weak chance for light and scattered showers in the early morning hours over the southwestern areas. In the afternoon, the weather will gradually start to stabilize, the JMD predicted.

On Friday, mercury levels will rise few degrees, but relatively cold weather will remain in most parts of the country, except in the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea and Aqaba where it will be moderate, with southeasterly winds, the department noted.

The highs in Amman and other highlands across the Kingdom today will range between 13 and 17 degrees Celsius, dropping at night to 7C or even 4C in the northern highlands. In the Gulf city of Aqaba, it will be warmer with mercury reaching a high of 24C and a low of 13C.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Chairman of the Board of N. Nazarbayev Center for Development of Interfaith and Intercivilization Dialogue in Kazakhstan, Bulat Sarsenbayev, affirmed that the center is keen to develop international partnership with Jordan.

In a statement issued by the Kazakh embassy in Amman on Wednesday, Sarsenbayev praised the Jordanian-Kazakh relations, saying these ties “have reached a high level.”

“As part of a working trip to Amman from November 24 to December 2 of this year, Sarsenbayev held a number of meetings with a number of Jordanian senior officials to enhance cooperation and discuss the ongoing preparations for the upcoming VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which will take place on September 14-15, 2022 in Kazakhstan,” the statement noted.

Sarsenbayev stated “Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in February 1993, bilateral relations have been characterized by dynamic development and multifaceted nature, placing the Kingdom on a par with our country’s closest and most reliable allies in the Middle East region.” He also invited a number of Jordanian officials, religious figures and intellectuals to participate in the interfaith event.

For their part, the Jordanian participants of the round table noted the uniqueness of the Kazakhstani platform – Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, as well as the significant contribution of N.Nazarbayev Center in consolidating joint international efforts and promoting the ideas of tolerance, harmony, interreligious harmony and stability in the world, the statement indicated.

On the sideline of his working visit to the Kingdom, Sarsenbayev took part in the opening of the photo exhibition, which was organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Jordan on the eve of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Strengthening the bilateral partnership, N. Nazarbayev Center and the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, under which the parties will develop cooperation in the implementation of joint scientific projects, expand the academic mobility of researchers, scientists and employees of the two organizations, exchange analytical materials and publications, conduct thematic seminars, conferences, round tables and other events of mutual interest.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Jordan and Syrian on Wednesday announced the reopening of the Jordanian-Syrian Joint Free Zone.

The step comes to carry off the desired aims of establishing the Free Zone; which include revitalizing the commercial corridor, attracting investments, boosting service sector, thus creating job opportunities and supporting the economic and social development for both countries.

Established under the Economic Cooperation Agreement between Jordan and Syria, the Joint Free Zone has been fully rehabilitated and is now ready to receive local, regional and international investments.

Source: Jordan News Agency