Queen Rania has launched a number of countrywide initiatives and programmes addressing the needs of different age groups throughout the year (Photo courtesy of Royal Court)

AMMAN — Friday, the 31st of August, marks the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Rania, who, in line with the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II, contributes to growing Jordanian talents and empowering society, a statement from Her Majesty's office said.

Aiming to build upon the nation’s successes in entrepreneurship and innovation, Queen Rania has launched a number of countrywide initiatives and programmes addressing the needs of different age groups, each of which stands as a testament to Jordanian achievement.

In the past year, education remained at the forefront of Her Majesty’s activities. Queen Rania continued to underscore the importance of providing quality education in line with the evolving needs of today’s job market, in order to position Jordanians to compete locally and abroad.

To stay abreast of the status of Jordan’s educational landscape, Her Majesty goes on regular field visits to schools across the country, where she hears from parents, students, and educators, the statement noted.

She also closely follows the progress of the nation’s youth and their entrepreneurial endeavours, working to open doors for them to succeed beyond the nation’s borders.

As part of her efforts to bring innovative, world class education to Jordan’s students, the Queen has journeyed abroad to establish relationships with world-renowned talents, allowing her to successfully bring their expertise and specialised knowledge to Jordan.

One example is the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development’s (QRF) partnership with Google.org, under which the global powerhouse has leant its support to Edraak, a digital learning platform offering free Arabic-language open educational resources to adult learners. With Google.org’s support, Edraak has launched a similar educational platform for school-age students, the statement continued.

International partnerships have also reinforced the offerings of the Queen Rania Teacher Academy (QRTA), allowing for the launch of its trailblazing pre-service diploma, the Teacher Education Professional Diploma (TEPD). Implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education and with the technical support of University College London (UCL), the TEPD has since celebrated the graduation of two cohorts of teacher trainees.

QRTA will soon be relocating to the University of Jordan, providing a permanent location from which the academy can equip aspiring educators with the skills they need to help the nation’s students realise their maximum potential.

Her Majesty also contributes to a culture of excellence and innovation among educators through the Queen Rania Award for Excellence in Education, an annual award recognising the achievements of the nation’s most esteemed teachers, principals, and counselors, according to the statement.

Queen Rania meets regularly with the beneficiaries and partners of her various initiatives, including the Jordan River Foundation (JRF), Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS), Al-Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans, and National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA), among others.

Serving as a positive role model for Arab women, Queen Rania uses her international platform to give voice to the experiences of Arab youth and to shed light on the most pressing challenges facing the region.

Her Majesty consistently draws attention to the refugee crisis and the resultant strain on refugees host nations, including overtaxed infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and rising youth unemployment.

By sharing the struggles and triumphs of the region with international audiences, she aims to promote global tolerance, increase understanding, and build bridges with world cultures, the statement concluded.