Aqaba:A two-day consultation workshop commenced in Aqaba, aiming to connect private-sector employers in southern Jordan with BTEC schools to enhance work-based learning, practical training, field visits, and future employment pathways for students.
According to Jordan News Agency, the workshop is organized by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development in cooperation with UNESCO, with support from Global Affairs Canada. It is part of the Transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Jordan (2024-2027) project.
The initiative seeks to bring together employers, sector representatives, and BTEC schools to identify practical areas for cooperation and address skills gaps and barriers to work-based learning. Education Ministry Secretary-General for Education, Sahar Shakhatreh, noted the importance of private-sector partnerships in providing workplace-based learning opportunities and practical skills that enhance student readiness for employment.
Thabet Nabulsi, Commissioner for Tourism and Youth at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, highlighted the role of tourism, hospitality, and service businesses in Aqaba in offering practical training environments for students. He emphasized the authority's efforts to better align educational outcomes with the needs of local economic sectors.
UNESCO education specialist Tab Raj reiterated the significance of private-sector involvement in developing a more adaptable vocational and technical education system that responds to labor-market demands.
The workshop's first day focused on fields such as information technology, business, art and design, creative media, and agriculture. The second day will cover hospitality, tourism and travel, construction and the built environment, engineering, hairdressing, and beauty.
Additionally, the program includes presentations on BTEC pathways and work-based learning models, along with experiences shared by employers and vocational education graduates. An interactive "Partnership Lab" is a key feature of the workshop, facilitating group work among employers and ministry representatives to pinpoint priority skills gaps and obstacles to work-based learning.