•  The apprenticeship scheme will partner technical universities in the Middle East, Asia and Africa with leading companies to ensure students are workforce-ready upon graduation.
  • HTU has piloted the program in Jordan and will support its implementation in other DCO member countries as an official observer.

Amman, Jordan: The Digital Cooperation Organization, a global body that aims to enable digital prosperity for all by accelerating the inclusive growth of the digital economy, and Al Hussein Technical University (HTU), A Crown Prince Foundation initiative, and one of Jordan’s leading technical education institutions, today announced their collaboration on an apprenticeship program to enhance the employability of graduates through study plans established in partnership with industry and tailored to the needs of the job market.

Established In 2016, HTU works to provide a world-leading (STEM) based education for young Jordanians in Engineering and Computer science, through a hands-on curriculum informed by industrial needs and local and global challenges. It seeks to enhance the employability of graduates through study plans established in partnership with industry and tailored to the needs of the job market. 

The DCO, with a focus on digital economy initiatives supporting youth, entrepreneurs and women across the Middle East, Asia and Africa, will work with HTU to tailor its successful education model to other DCO member state countries, whose combined population represents over half a billion people, 70% of them under the age of 35.  

HTU will also formalize its commitment to the DCO’s mission by joining as an official observer organization. HTU is the second Jordanian entity after the Information and Communications Technology Association – Jordan (int@j) to join the DCO as an observer.

The partnership signifies a shared commitment to providing opportunities for youth in the digital economy and builds on the DCO’s already growing membership ecosystem comprising pioneering digital organizations across government, the private sector, international organizations, NGOs and civil society with a united goal to create global digital prosperity.

The apprenticeship program and DCO observer announcements were made on the official visit to Jordan this week of Her Excellency Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization. Commenting on the exciting new program, the Secretary-General said:

“According to the International Labour Organisation, nearly 16% of global graduates are unemployed. We speak a lot about upskilling our workforce, but not enough about shaping the education of students to meet the needs of future employers and ensure that young people share in economic prosperity.

“Our collaboration on this apprenticeship program will maximize the probability of students finding and succeeding at the digital jobs that form the backbone of the global economy. By matching STEM students with potential employer from the get-go, we can ensure that the talent sitting inside our classrooms matches real-time business needs. 

“The pioneering work done by HTU in this area make the university a natural partner for us, and I am delighted to welcome it as the first academic institution and second Jordanian entity to join the DCO as an observer. I look forward to partnering closely with HTU to ensure that the students of all DCO member states can reap the benefits of apprenticeship."

Prof. Ismael Al-Hinti, president of Al Hussein Technical University, said:

“HTU is excited to join the DCO as an observer due to its track record of enabling digital prosperity. The missions of the DCO and HTU are aligned in fostering a new generation of highly qualified digital professionals. 

“Connecting our graduates with immediate workplace opportunities is one of our core missions. As we mark the first graduations of HTU apprentices, I am delighted to partner with the DCO on scaling the apprenticeship program, sharing our experiences with our international counterparts to adapt our successful pilot program in other regions of the world.”

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Media enquiries: Please contact media@dco.org 

About DCO: www.dco.org 

The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) is a global body that aims to enable digital prosperity for all by accelerating the inclusive growth of the digital economy.

DCO brings together governments, the private sector, international organizations, NGOs and civil society to enable more inclusive digital transformation and the growth of digital industries. The DCO’s membership accounts for a combined population of over half a billion people and GDP of nearly USD 2 trillion.

DCO’s key initiatives include programs to enhance cross-border data flows, promote market expansion for MSMEs, empower digital entrepreneurs and advance digital inclusion among women, youth and other underserved populations.

Members are The Kingdom of Bahrain, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the State of Kuwait, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Sultanate of Oman, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Rwanda and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

More information about DCO can be found at www.dco.org , https://twitter.com/dcorg  and https://www.linkedin.com/company/dcorg/ 

About Al Hussein Technical University (HTU) ( www.htu.edu.jo/ )

Al Hussein Technical University (HTU) was established by the Crown Prince Foundation to bridge the gap between the number of graduates and their rate of employment in technical fields. To address this gap, the Crown Prince Foundation set forth HTU as a model of technical education that features a seamless combination of excellence, rigor, and close alignment to the ever-changing demands and developments of industry.

HTU prepares students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and training. Students earn their degrees through a combination of the finest theoretical instruction and the latest practical applications in new, state-of-the-art laboratories. In addition, HTU has formed close ties with the technical industry in Jordan, regionally, and internationally, resulting in mutually beneficial partnerships.

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