Amman, Aug. 11 (Petra) — Data Space Solutions on Tuesday launched
the action plan for its “Thousand Zero to Hero 2027” program, aimed
at expanding employment opportunities for young Jordanians in line
with the Economic Modernization Vision 2023-2033.

The plan targets training and qualifying 2,000 young men and women in
future skills to connect 1,000 of them to employment opportunities.
At least 40% of beneficiaries will be women and 15% people with
disabilities, while the program will focus on reaching young people
across governorates to promote equal opportunities and broaden access
to the digital economy beyond the capital.

The program places particular emphasis on the information technology
and digital creative industries sectors, with objectives including
developing qualified digital human capital, advancing high-level
skills, creating quality digital jobs, strengthening public-private
digital partnerships, and enhancing Jordan’s readiness in artificial
intelligence and its applications.

Data Space Solutions Director-General Zaid Al-Rifai said the program
represented a national platform bringing together various partners to
prepare a generation of young people equipped with future skills and
directly connect them with practical training and employment
opportunities.

“Real investment in young people is not limited to providing them
with knowledge. It starts by turning their capabilities into
applicable skills, then into experience, and ultimately into economic
value and sustainable jobs,” he said, stressing the importance of
continued cross-sector partnerships to ensure measurable and scalable
impact.

Hashemite Fund for the Development of the Jordan Badia
Director-General Ayesh Qatarneh highlighted the initiative’s
importance in empowering young people in the Badia and governorates,
noting its particular focus on providing opportunities for residents
of the Badia and remote areas, as well as empowering women and people
with disabilities.

Green Circle Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Al-Khudari said the
program was launched following a series of grants provided by various
entities and projects, which served as the initial impetus for
continuing efforts to strengthen integration between the private and
public sectors and provide services and opportunities for young
people.

Green Circle will implement the initiative through practical training
programs in cybersecurity and emerging technologies, equipping
participants with the practical skills required in the labor market.

Nidal Al-Bitar, chief executive of the Information and Communications
Technology Association of Jordan (int@j), said the association, as
the representative of Jordan’s information and communications
technology sector, supported the initiative through three practical
tracks.

These include aligning training programs with companies’ actual needs
through the association’s specialized sector councils covering
cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, fintech, and education
technology, as well as its outsourcing council; opening mentoring and
practical training channels within member companies; and connecting
high-performing participants with local employment opportunities and
jobs in export markets.

Executive Director of the King Abdullah II Center for Excellence
(KACE) Wedad Qutishat spoke about institutional integration to
achieve sustainable development impact, saying the ambitious national
initiative represented a genuine model of partnership and integration
across sectors.

She said it demonstrated that investing in people was the cornerstone
of sustainable development, building a more competitive economy and
creating a society better equipped to meet future requirements.

Yaseen Halil, director of the Youth Movement Support Fund, who
attended the launch ceremony on behalf of the Minister of Youth,
affirmed the ministry’s support for efforts to empower Jordanian
youth and enhance their readiness for future skills and employment
opportunities.

The program seeks to align education and training with labor market
needs and promising economic sectors, organizers said.

The launch reflects a clear shift from a “training for training’s
sake” model to a “training for employment” model, under which
beneficiaries’ journeys do not end with obtaining a training
certificate but continue through practical application,
experience-building, exposure to employers’ needs, and progression to
practical training and employment opportunities.

The program covers a range of high-demand sectors and future skills,
particularly cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, business
intelligence, and digital transformation, alongside professional and
personal skills related to youth employability. The program is
aligned with national priorities concerning the digital economy,
advanced skills, and future jobs.

The program’s action plan is based on a broad national partnership
model bringing together the private sector, universities, training
institutions, and civil society organizations.

The launch ceremony was attended by representatives of government
entities, the private sector, academic institutions, and civil
society organizations, as well as a number of chief executives and
representatives of companies, universities, and national
institutions.

Data Space Solutions is a Jordanian non-profit organization that aims
to empower young Jordanians by developing their digital skills and
preparing them for the labor market in technology fields with growing
demand.

//Petra// AF