In Jordan, each year around 60,000 to 70,000 Jordanian graduates enter the job market. However, only a third of them manage to secure employment immediately following graduation. According to Unicef Jordan, 32% of youth aged 15-30 are unemployed. “New grads entering the workforce face challenges. To stand out, they should develop practical skills, embrace entrepreneurial thinking, and seek innovation opportunities,” says Dr. Samer Ayasrah, Director of the Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center at Amman Arab University.

Despite this, Jordan holds the 49th position among the most entrepreneurial nations globally on the Global Entrepreneurship Index (GEI). The country boasts a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem driven by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which account for 95% of Jordan’s business market and play a crucial role as the main employers for 60% of the nation’s workforce. 

“Jordan is a youthful nation and it’s an amazing environment for entrepreneurship, we have the infrastructure, we have the mindset and we need to utilise the resources to support the young entrepreneurs,” explains Professor Mohammad Al-Widyan, President of Amman Arab University.

Despite this, so many young people leave higher education without the skills or experiences to enter the labour market. A skills mismatch is evident, wherein there is a misalignment between the skills and qualifications possessed by individuals and those demanded by the job market.

In this context, SPARK, through the Economic Resilience programme funded by the Qatar Fund for Development, has been collaborating with higher education institutions in Jordan, namely Amman Arab University, Al-AlBayet University and Jordan University of Science & Technology (JUST). Working with these institutions, together we have designed curricula that nurtures entrepreneurial talent and equips students and teachers with competencies highly valued in the labour market.

Over the past 14 months, SPARK has supported over 35 university professors in Jordan’s partner universities with comprehensive training in entrepreneurship, innovation and modern teaching methodologies. Through this programme, these educators have gained valuable insights and skills essential for fostering a dynamic and progressive learning environment for students. Equipping professors with the tools to integrate entrepreneurial thinking and innovative approaches into their teaching practices is designed to enhance the quality of students’ learning. Additionally, in 2023, a pilot course was introduced for 200 students in Jordan’s educational institutions, with frequent feedback sessions with teachers and students.

Since its official launch, the course has attracted over 2,000 students from three universities. Through modern teaching approaches, participants have honed essential competencies such as communication and problem-solving, gaining proficiency in value creation communications, commercial awareness and effective pitching techniques, among other skills. 

This comprehensive skill set not only empowers them in various professional settings but also positions them as candidates for roles demanding agility and an entrepreneurial mindset, enabling them to thrive in the job market by either building their own startups or seizing available vacancies.

SPARK and Qatar Fund for Development collaborate with universities, incubators, Chambers of Commerce, private sector companies and development partners to pursue Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on SDG 4 for quality education and SDG 8 for decent work and economic growth. They emphasise inclusive education and lifelong learning opportunities while promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and full employment. Through strategic partnerships, we contribute to global objectives, aiming for a more equitable and prosperous future worldwide.