As Jordan’s political parties hold internal elections to renew their leadership and organizational structures, attention is increasingly turning to university students as a key part of their efforts to attract and develop a new generation of political leaders.
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Several parties, including the National Covenant Party and the Initiative Party, have recently held internal elections, including within their youth wings. The changes form part of broader efforts to increase participation and give younger members a stronger role within party structures.
Universities have become an important part of that effort. Political parties are seeking greater visibility on campuses by supporting candidates and blocs in student council elections, as well as organising meetings, events and other activities aimed at students.
Party officials, however, acknowledge that engagement cannot be limited to election periods. There is a growing focus on building year-round programmes that address the issues students care about, including employment, leadership development, technology and artificial intelligence, volunteering and greater involvement in decision-making.
Training Young Members and Expanding Campus Outreach
Mayada Shreim, deputy secretary-general of the National Covenant Party, told Al Ghad that attracting university students has become an important part of the party’s youth strategy.
She said the party has established an internal “party school” to train young members and noted that young people made up a significant proportion of candidates on its most recent electoral list, reflecting an effort to expand their participation in political life.
The party is also planning further outreach to university students. Recent activities have included a field visit to Baqa’a refugee camp, while a series of university visits is expected to begin at Yarmouk University.
Shreim said there has been growing interest among students, particularly those aged 18 and 19, in becoming involved in party-affiliated activities.
According to Shreim, many are looking for structured opportunities to participate and take on a more visible role in political life. The party’s next phase will therefore focus on reaching students directly on campus, organizing their participation and providing training that can turn an initial interest in politics into sustained engagement.
Moving Beyond Seasonal Engagement
Nour Abu Ghosh, a member of Parliament representing the Umma Party, told Al Ghad that youth engagement has become an institutional priority for the party rather than an issue tied to individual leaders or election cycles.
She said the party is following a two-track approach.
The first focuses on giving young members a meaningful role within the party itself. This includes representation in administrative bodies, the Executive Office and the Shura Council, allowing younger members to contribute to policy and decision-making rather than being treated simply as an electoral base.
The second focuses on creating a long-term pathway for political participation and training, both inside and outside universities.
This includes political education programmes, parliamentary fellowships and other initiatives designed to ensure that students’ involvement does not end once student council elections are over.
Abu Ghosh said student elections should instead serve as an introduction to wider political participation, helping young people move from occasional involvement towards greater political awareness, party membership and sustained engagement.
The aim is to give young people the experience and opportunities needed to take a genuine role in political decision-making.
From Voters to Political Participants
Dr. Fares Al-Samadi, a member of the Initiative Party’s political bureau, said the party has entered a new stage of organizational development following its first extraordinary general conference and subsequent internal elections.
He said the new structure is expected to shape the party’s presence on university campuses, making its engagement with students more organized and consistent.
According to Al-Samadi, the goal is not simply to encourage young people to vote in student elections, but to develop a generation that understands political life and actively participates in it.
The party wants universities to become spaces where potential young leaders can be identified and developed. This would include giving students opportunities to take part in discussions, contribute to political positions and develop initiatives of their own.
Al-Samadi said parties must also engage with the issues that affect students in their daily lives rather than focusing solely on recruitment.
The broader objective, he said, is to move students from being passive voters to active participants who are capable of taking initiative and influencing political and party life.
For that to happen, students need to see political parties as more than organizations that appear during elections. They need to see them as long-term platforms through which they can participate, develop their skills and have a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect them.
Words by Ghada Al-Sheikh
