Speech by Ms. Mona K. Hider
UNDP Resident Representative, a.i.
Launch of Report on “Assessment of Gaps Between Knowledge and Skills Acquired Through Higher Education and Labor Market Demands Monday, 27 March 2006
Your Excellency, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Khaled Toukan,
Esteemed guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
On behalf of UNDP, I wish to extend our warm welcome to all of you for joining us here today to share with you the results of the “Assessment of Gaps Between Knowledge and Skills Acquired Through Higher Education and Labor Market Demands”, a pilot study which was conducted within the context of our project with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The project contributes to the common objective of the Government of Jordan and UNDP of reducing unemployment in the country. We are proud that Jordan has achieved great results in providing access to education at all levels. The UNDP Human Development Reports indicated that Jordan’s literacy rates had always been the best among the Arab countries. Yet based on Jordan’s figures, around 1 of 5 BA or higher degree holders are currently unemployed.
This joint intervention has been based on the fact that one of the identified causes of unemployment in Jordan, as in many Arab Countries, is the gap between the outputs of the Higher Education System and labour market requirements, which means that the full potential of the graduates in terms of skills and capacity remains underutilized. As youth is the target group (sector) most affected by this problem and as more than half of the Jordanian population are under 25 years of age, the need to support and invest in this human resource with improved education and better job opportunities becomes a crucial one.
The UNDP Arab Human Development Report delivered a similar message and stressed the need for synergy between education and the economic system, specifically with respect to higher education institutions.
Our project contributes to Jordan’s efforts towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, through providing better employment opportunities for young men and women, thereby contributing to sustainable efforts in poverty alleviation, achieving better educational opportunities and gender equality.
Based on this pilot assessment study, the project was able to make policy recommendations to support the reform strategy of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in order to ensure that students graduate with relevant qualifications, in order to meet Jordan’s labor market requirements.
Moreover, the results of this study open up different venues for change and progress and suggest ways forward for larger interventions in order to address this gap in a sustainable manner. In this context, UNDP is interested in continuing the successful partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in order to institutionalize a monitoring and evaluation mechanism that tracks the changes in both the educational system and the labor market and assist in developing a model for Employment Support Services for Jordanian Universities. Taking into account other relevant initiatives undertaken in this area, the model will promote linkages between the private sector and the university and assist graduates in finding employment.
In closing, I would like to seize this opportunity to thank the Danish Government for their contribution to the UNDP Arab Human Development Report Trust Fund, without which this intervention would not have materialized; and finally our gratitude is extended to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for their firm commitment, vision and valuable efforts exerted towards supporting this project and making this partnership a success.
Thank you all