Under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Aladdin Al-Halhouli, President of the German Jordanian University, the School of Applied Humanities and Social Sciences, in collaboration with the Consultation and Training Center, launched the first cohort of the "Social Work Training Program: Mental Health and Community Work." The program, accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education, was inaugurated on Saturday, January 11, 2025.
The President of the University welcomed the participants in the program, emphasizing its importance and uniqueness, as it is being introduced for the first time in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The program aims to raise awareness of mental health and its prevention among practitioners, organizations, and communities, as well as to provide practitioners, researchers, and community workers with knowledge and skills related to mental health. It also offers an in-depth perspective on mental health issues in the context of culture and diversity.
On his part, Prof. Haytham Al-Thawabih, Dean of SAHSS, pointed out that the program was designed by experts at the GJU, combining theoretical and practical frameworks through four theoretical courses and a field training course, totaling 15 accredited credit hours. He also added that the program targeted teachers from the Ministry of Education in this batch, offering 45 full scholarships covering all costs.
The Dean also noted that the selection criteria for participants were precise and comprehensive, taking into account the geographical diversity of the Kingdom, covering most of its governorates, with a focus on the local community in the districts of Na’ur and Madaba, where about 15 scholarships were allocated. Furthermore, the selection considered the teaching specialties of the teachers and the different educational stages: kindergarten, primary, and secondary school, as well as gender considerations in the selection process.
In addition, the Head of the Social Work Department, Dr. Bader Al-Madi, emphasized that what distinguishes this program, in addition to the courses offered and the modern teaching methods employed, is that the teaching staff possesses both international and local expertise capable of equipping teachers with the training skills that enhance their competencies in the field. He also mentioned that the teaching staff includes some graduates of the Master’s Program in Social Work at GJU, reflecting the high quality of the program's outcomes and its ability to provide the local market with experts in the field of mental health.
The program participants expressed their great appreciation to the GJU for its attention to teachers, and they expressed their admiration for the design of the academic program content, as it intersects with the challenges they face in the field, especially with students who suffer from mental health issues. They also appreciated the warm hospitality and excellent reception provided by the program organizers.
In conclusion, the President of the University extended his deep thanks to the supporting institutions of the program, represented by the EDU-SYRIA Program, funded by the European Union and the Psychosocial Support and Working with Trauma Project in collaboration with the Jordanian Ministry of Health / German International Cooperation (GIZ). He confirmed that this support is a testament to the importance of the program and the belief of the supporting institutions in the academic and training projects offered by the GJU. He also expressed his thanks to Prof. Haytham Al-Thawabih, Dean of SAHSS, Dr. Bader Al-Madi, Head of the Social Work Department, the faculty members in the department: Dr. Nada Eltaiba, Dr. Tamara Al Rawwad, the program coordinator Fawwaz Al-Saqqar, and the Director of the Consulting Center Mr. Osama Al Hanandah, for their great efforts in the successful launch of the program. The President also thanked the teachers for their interest in the program and their dedication to developing themselves for the benefit of our students in the Ministry of Education schools.