UNICEF and the Vocational Training Corporation Launch “Generation Ready” to Transform Technical Education

Jerash, August 5, 2025 - - Today, UNICEF and the Vocational Training Corporation, under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Khaled Al-Bakkaar, Minister of Labour and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Vocational Training Corporation (VTC), launched “Generation Ready” at the Gerasa Culinary Arts Center in Jerash Governorate.

This three-year strategic partnership aims to develop the vocational training system and is part of the “PROSPECTS” partnership funded by the Government of the Netherlands. The program seeks to equip young people with the skills needed to enter the labor market.

This three-year strategic partnership aims to modernize Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Jordan. “Generation Ready” is part of PROSPECTS partnership funded by the Government of the Netherlands, to equip young people with the skills that will enable them to access the labor market

Coinciding with the International Youth Day 2025, this event brought together national and international stakeholders to mark an important step forward in addressing the youth employment challenges and unlocking economic opportunities.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Vocational Training Corporation (VTC) and Minister of Labor, Dr. Khalid Al-Bakkar, expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah II and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah for their wise and continuous guidance, which has enabled Jordan to overcome challenges and difficult circumstances, turning them into real opportunities to build a generation capable of keeping pace with future changes and responding to development requirements.

Al-Bakkar welcomed representatives from UNICEF and the Dutch Embassy, appreciating their continuous support and cooperation with the Vocational Training Corporation in launching initiatives aimed at developing the training sector and building youth capacities.

He affirmed that the achievements made at the institutional level are significant and diverse, noting that the private sector is a key and essential partner in developing training programs. This aligns with the royal directives and the Economic Modernization Vision, aiming to reach a stage where the private sector can determine the nature of the training programs required in the labor market.

He pointed to the "Generation Ready" program, which will reach over 7,400 young people, offering not only skills training, but also pathways to employment. In addition, around 400 facilitators will be trained, and more than 1,000 internships and job opportunities will be created. Awareness raising campaigns will be launched to shift perceptions of vocational education, particularly among young women and refugee youth.

UNICEF Representative to Jordan, Philippe Duamelle declared, “This partnership reflects UNICEF and the Vocational Training Corporation shared commitment to enhance vocational education and training in Jordan. Working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Labor and various partners, we will support the VTC to become a hub of innovation, inclusion, and excellence, in line with the objective of the Economic Modernization Vision”. He added “Thanks to the generous support of the Government of the Netherlands under the PROSPECTS partnership, this project will help thousands of young people in Jordan to realize their full potential and actively contribute to Jordan’s future.”

“The Netherlands-funded Prospects partnership is all about supporting dignified living for both Jordanians and refugees. Aligning the outputs of TVET with the labor market requirements is a paramount outcome that I hope this strategic partnership between the VTC and UNICEF can help achieve with our support,” said Joost de Vries, First Secretary Humanitarian and Development Affairs of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Jordan.

For his part, the Director General of the Vocational Training Corporation, Dr. Ahmad Al-Gharaibeh, expressed his gratitude to UNICEF and the Dutch Embassy in Jordan for their support of the institution. He noted that the corporation has graduated around 14,000 trainees, with an employment rate of 62%.

Dr. Al-Gharaibeh explained that the institution works in partnership with more than 4,000 local entities and has reviewed over 40 training programs in collaboration with the private sector to align with labor market requirements.

He added that the VTC currently includes 30 institutes across all governorates and 9 specialized centers. Furthermore, 100% of the trainers undergo capacity-building and skills-enhancement programs.

He highlighted that the VTC is implementing a number of quality partnerships with international and local institutions, including partnerships with the public sector, the World Bank, and the " Partnership Approaches for Development-oriented Vocational Training and Labour Migration (PAM)" project, which is being implemented in cooperation with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Under this project, 46 trainees have graduated so far.

Dr. Al-Gharaibeh pointed out that the institution has more than 40,000 graduates in computer science, with around 2,000 currently working in e-commerce. The institution also provides many essential tools and skills to ensure graduates are ready for the job market, most notably: language skills, digital skills, critical thinking, technical skills, leadership, and cognitive skills.

He also extended his thanks and appreciation to all of the VTC’s strategic partners, both locally and internationally, valuing their active role in supporting the vocational training and qualification journey. He gave special thanks to Jadara University, which hosts the Jadara Center of Excellence for Culinary Arts, in recognition of its strategic partnership with the VTC. Moreover, he expressed gratitude to Irbid Electricity Company for its cooperation in implementing specialized training programs at the corporation’s institutes in the northern region, in addition to providing practical training sites at the company.

Dr. Al-Gharaibeh praised the ongoing collaboration with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), through the implementation of several projects aimed at economically empowering youth and women by developing vocational and technical training programs, improving the training environment, and linking outcomes to labor market needs.

He also thanked Leaders International for its strategic partnership with the institution in implementing a series of technical training sessions in the governorates of Amman, Irbid, Zarqa, and Mafraq, as part of the "Skills for Employment" project, which aims to enhance employment opportunities through quality training.