Under the patronage of Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya and University of Jordan President Dr. Nadhir Obeidat, the University of Jordan celebrated the graduation of the first cohort from its Master of Management in Local Development program.

The ceremony, attended by representatives of the European Union Delegation and the United Nations Development Programme in Jordan, along with several vice presidents and deans, marked a pivotal moment for the university and its partners, representing a transition from the implementation phase to the development of specialized professionals capable of strengthening local reform and development initiatives in the Kingdom.

In his address, the Minister of Interior expressed his pride in the graduation of a group of public sector employees and civil society representatives who completed the requirements for a Master's degree in Local Development. He emphasized that the collaboration between the Ministry, the university, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jordan has served as a successful model for developing the capabilities of personnel working in ministries and institutions concerned with local governance and decentralization. He also noted the program's impact on supporting local governance efforts by preparing qualified personnel capable of managing development and delivering services efficiently and transparently, in line with the state's administrative reform priorities.

Al-Faraya explained that the program, launched in 2019 as part of the EU-funded Decentralization and Local Development Support Program implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), provided knowledge and skills that contributed to enhancing the capabilities of employees in the social, economic, and developmental fields. It also supported national efforts to reduce poverty and inequality through investment in local and national resources. He expressed his appreciation for the European Union's support of the government's development priorities and for the efforts of the university and its international partners in preparing and implementing the program.

For his part, Obaidat affirmed the university's pride in this moment, which embodies a national and international partnership that has yielded the first cohort of specialists in local development. He noted that graduate programs require a high level of commitment and effort, the impact of which is reflected in the workplaces of state institutions. He explained that the university is working to modernize its academic and digital infrastructure by transforming classrooms into smart learning environments and digitizing courses, thus enhancing its readiness to prepare qualified national talent. He expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Interior, the European Union, and the United Nations Development Programme for their contributions to the program's success.

For her part, the Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jordan, Engineer Majda Al-Assaf, explained that the program is one of the most important outcomes of the strategic partnership between the UNDP, the Ministry of Interior, the European Union, and the University of Jordan. She noted that it has provided grants to more than seventy employees and was designed to align with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the local development needs of Jordan and the region. She emphasized that the program has strengthened the capacities of institutions with a direct impact on economic and social development by integrating international knowledge with the local context.

The Head of the Governance and Human Development Team at the European Union Delegation to Jordan, Marie Horvers, also pointed out that the program represents a model of effective cooperation between the European Union and the Kingdom. She explained that the comprehensive partnership adopted by the European Union with Jordan in 2025 aims to align European support programs with the needs of the Jordanian labor market and expand areas of cooperation to include training, capacity building, and the exchange of expertise.

In his remarks, Dr. Abdul Hakim Akhwarshida, the program director and coordinator at the Faculty of Business, affirmed that this day represents a significant step in the university's journey. He noted the program's alignment with His Majesty King Abdullah II's vision for administrative modernization and the empowerment of local authorities. He explained that the program was designed in partnership with experts from the Netherlands and Italy, the Ministry of Interior, and the United Nations Development Programme, along with professors from the university's Department of Public Administration. He clarified that its themes encompassed decentralization, local development, and sustainable good governance, and pointed out that its success stemmed from the integrated efforts of the students, the university, and its local and international partners.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Minister of Interior and the University President presented certificates to eighty-two graduates, the first cohort of the Master's program in Local Development, amidst official and academic attendance. The University of Jordan affirmed that this program represents a model of cooperation between state institutions and international partners, and a vital contribution to bolstering local development efforts with qualified professionals capable of supporting the administrative reform process in the Kingdom.