EDUCATION & CULTURE

The Jubilee School

The Jubilee School Project was first announced in 1977 during Jordan’s Silver Jubilee celebrations of King Hussein’s accession to the throne as a tribute to His Majesty’s development efforts, especially in the field of education. In 1984, Queen Noor accepted a request by the Prime Minister to assume responsibility for the project, and in 1985, when the Noor Al Hussein Foundation was established, the Jubilee School became one of its major projects.

King Hussein and Queen Noor’s commemorative photograph with the students & staff of the Jubilee School after laying the foundation stone of the first phase of construction of the Jubilee School’s new campus at Yajouz

After years of research, planning and teacher training, the Jubilee School was founded as an independent coeducational secondary school for outstanding scholarship students. In the Fall of 1993, eighty seven Jordan’s brightest ninth graders, from various socio-economic backgrounds and geographical regions, chosen for their exceptional individual and academic potential, embarked on a pioneering educational experience. The School, temporarily located in a Ministry of Education building, has expanded to include a total student body of around 300 students.

King Hussein and Queen Noor chat with students at the Jubilee School. The School cultivates the intellectual and leadership potential of outstanding high school students, with special emphasis on the economically underprivileged from all regions of the country

Vision for the Future

On May 2 1995, on the 42^nd anniversary of His assumption to the throne, King Hussein, one of the major supporters of the Jubilee School, laid the foundation stone for the first phase of the construction of the new campus in Yajouz near Amman. The School moved to its new site in 1998. In addition to boarding facilities, which enables the School to welcome a larger number of students from remote areas of the Kingdom as well as students from the rest of the Arab world, the campus also includes a comprehensive library providing students with access to databases worldwide, modern computer and language laboratories, vocational and teacher training centers, a music and drama center and athletic facilities.

King Hussein, accompanied by Queen Noor, laying the foundation stone for the first phase of the construction of the Jubilee School's new campus at Yajouz

Discovering a World of Knowledge

Besides the basic requirements of the Ministry of Education, Jubilee School students are required to take courses especially designed to develop their critical thinking, and their problem solving, investigative, creative and decision-making abilities. The School is committed not only to equip its students with a strong academic base, but also to build character and a sense of social responsibility through programs such as the Leadership Guest Speakers and Community Service Programs.

Queen Noor helping out a young computer programmer at the Jubilee School

Center for Excellence in Education

The Center, which cooperates with the Ministry of Education and other educational institutions, was established to develop and disseminate knowledge of innovative approaches and advances in mathematics, science and the humanities, which can become a resource for secondary school teachers in Jordan. Its Counseling and Career Center provides personal and career guidance to students and offers workshops and training programs for teachers and counselors from Jordan and other countries.

School Funds

The enrollment of students on a scholarship basis is an important feature of the Jubilee School’s egalitarian philosophy. Two funds have been established to support the School:

• The Scholarship Fund provides individual students scholarships from the donations of national and international institutions, individuals and financially-able parents. At present, the Noor Al Hussein Foundation covers the cost of all the students at the School, estimated to be 2000 JD per student annually.

Queen Noor touring the new Jubilee School campus and facilities, July 1999

• The Building Fund will raise the finances for the second phase of construction of the school’s facilities, which will include the auditorium, the human sciences building, the fine and applied arts building.

	Prince Hashim giving the keynote address at the Jubilee School graduation, July 1999
	US First Lady Hillary Clinton visits the Jubilee School with Her Majesty Queen Noor, November 1999

Mission

The Jubilee School reflects the Noor Al Hussein Foundation’s philosophy of integrated socio-economic development that is sensitive to traditional values and responsive to the needs, talents and aspirations of the people of Jordan. As with other Foundation projects, the School’s innovative approach to education encourages initiative and democratic participation, while contributing to enhance national educational standards. It provides equitable educational opportunities for outstanding students, with a special emphasis on students from less developed areas of the country. For more information, please e-mail the Jubilee School at jubilee@go.com.jo .

King Hussein and Queen Noor with the first graduating class of the Jubilee School, June 1997

Royal Endowment for Culture & Education (RECE)

RECE was established in 1979 to meet Jordan’s development needs in the fields of higher education, culture and the arts. The Scholarship Program sponsors outstanding Jordanian students to pursue masters and doctoral degrees abroad in specialized fields vital to Jordan’s national development. The Research Program conducts field studies to identify current trends and future needs related to Jordan’s national development. Special courses address specific community needs such as training courses for public school English teachers.

Queen Noor with two recipients of the RECE Scholarship Program, which has produced Jordanian specialists in aviation administration, theater-in-education, various health specializations, gifted education, children’s programs and urban planning

The Pioneer Program for Gifted Students was established by the Salt Development Corporation in 1984 to encourages its most talented secondary school students to fulfill their intellectual and creative potential. Students receive additional instruction after class hours in their fields of respective interest, using well-equipped classrooms, language laboratories and computer workshops. The RECE supports this program as a valuable educational model for the country.

International Educational Projects

United Nations University / International Leadership Academy (UNU/ILA):

Queen Noor is the Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the United Nations University International Leadership Academy, which was launched November 1995 in New York with former U.N. Secretary General Mr. Boutros Boutros - Ghali on the occasion of the UN’s 50th anniversary. The International Leadership Academy, which is based in Amman and is the first global leadership training facility, aims to create a network of enlightened future leaders, who will enhance global cooperation through dialogue and intercultural exchange.

Her Majesty Queen Noor and former Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali (flanked by the Prime Minister of Jordan - left - and UNU Rector) launched the United Nations University International Leadership Academy (UNU/ILA) at the UN Headquarters in New York. Queen Noor (far right) meets with new UNU Rector Dr. Hans van Ginkel (far left) at her home "Bab Al Salam" (Door to Peace) in Amman, 24October 1997

The 1997 Leadership program, that was inaugurated by Queen Noor in June 1997, featured workshops and interactive discussions between 163 participants from 64 countries and 50 distinguished keynote speakers, including His Majesty King Hussein, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mr. Amr Moussa and former President of the European Parliament Simone Veil. The speakers for the 1998 program, which was launched by the Queen in July 1998, included current and former leaders, high-level United Nations and government officials, heads of political parties and directors of international organizations. The 1998 Program comprised interactive seminars and workshops on issues of peace, security and global leadership challenges as well as training courses on creativity and leadership skills conducted by "The Center for Creative Leadership" in the United States. The program also involved a field study component of travel to different regions of the world.

Queen Noor inaugurates the first annual session of the 1997 International Leadership Program in Amman

King Hussein and Queen Noor (front row center) with the participants of the 1997 International Leadership Program

The Advanced Leadership Program, which took place in April 1999, was a 6 weeks extended program that provided in-depth training in leadership skills and attitudes to a group of participants selected from the 1997 and 1998 Leadership Programs. The participants focused on a selection of global issue, took part in independent research and concluded with a thesis that was submitted to the Academy. For more information, please e-mail the UNU / ILA at un2@ju.edu.jo .

United World Colleges (UWC):

Queen Noor is President of the United World Colleges (UWC), which is an equal opportunity international secondary education program designed to foster cross-cultural understanding and global peace. Founded in 1962, it consists of ten colleges situated in Wales, Canada, Singapore, the United States, Swaziland, Italy, Venezuela, Hong Kong, Norway and India.  

In 1998, the UWC International Board enthusiastically endorsed the establishment of an 11th United World College in the Middle East and preliminary studies for the college were undertaken at a site in Aqaba, which overlooks the strategic and symbolic juncture of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel.  The Board decided to name the college “the King Hussein United World College of the Middle East”, which will also have an Institute for Middle Eastern Studies linked to it.

All UWC Colleges, with the exception of the Simon Bolivar College in Venezuela, offer the International Baccalaureate Program. The UWC students are chosen on merit regardless of race, creed, color, background or financial ability and the majority are awarded scholarships.

President Nelson Mandela is President of the UWC International Council. As UWC President, Queen Noor has inaugurated the ninth UWC college in Norway with Queen Sonja and the tenth UWC college in India, hosted the UWC’s first regional conference in the Middle East and participated in UWC fund-raising events and activities in South Africa, Swaziland, the UK, New York, New Mexico and Toronto.

	Queen Noor and President Nelson Mandela officially assume their presidencies of the UWC and the UWC International Council at a ceremony in South Africa

CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF THE UWC COLLEGES.