His Royal Highness Prince Hassan bin Talal, in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, remotely attended and patronised Yarmouk University’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of its establishment. The ceremony was held at Al-Kindi Auditorium in the university’s Faculty of Arts.
In his keynote address, Prince Hassan stressed that celebrating the university’s Golden Jubilee should not be limited to recalling the past 50 years. Rather, it should serve as an opportunity to reflect on the university’s founding experience, look ahead to the future, and work towards making knowledge a genuine tool for improving people’s lives, rather than merely an accumulation of degrees and research papers.
He began by recalling 1976, when the university was established with the blessing of the late King Hussein bin Talal. He noted that the idea behind founding Yarmouk was not simply to add another university to the country’s education landscape, but to launch a vision aimed at bringing knowledge closer to people and enabling the northern region of the Kingdom to participate in shaping its own future.
Prince Hassan also recalled the university’s first graduation ceremony in 1980, when he received an honorary doctorate alongside scientist Mohammad Abdus Salam, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist.
Addressing the rapid transformations of the artificial intelligence era, Prince Hassan questioned whether the abundance of information necessarily leads to a deeper understanding among people. He highlighted the growing influence of algorithms on what people read and watch, as well as how they interpret the world around them.
He also pointed to the challenges this creates in shaping human awareness and distinguishing between facts and information presented as facts.
He stressed that universities’ responsibility is not limited to teaching future generations how to use artificial intelligence. It must also extend to developing their ability to recognise its limitations and distinguish between what machines generate and what humans decide, ensuring that people remain in control and accountable for how technology is used and directed.
Prince Hassan emphasised that honouring Yarmouk University’s 50-year journey requires turning the achievements of the past into a foundation for looking ahead to the next 50 years. During that period, the university should continue fostering critical thinking, linking scientific research to practical applications, and preparing generations capable of creativity and contribution.
He concluded by stressing that “the giving human being is our most valuable asset.”
In his address during the ceremony, Yarmouk University President Malik Al-Shrairi, speaking in the presence of Minister of Education and Minister of Human Resources Development Azmi Mahafzah, said that the university’s 50-year journey had not been built by an institution alone, but by successive generations who believed in its mission and worked sincerely to fulfil it.
He added that the university was marking the occasion with deep appreciation for the efforts of the Royal Founding Committee, its governing councils, and the former university presidents who successively led the institution, each contributing to its development.
Al-Shrairi presented the university’s 2026–2030 strategic plan, noting that achieving its vision is a shared responsibility requiring the combined efforts of the university community, including academic and administrative staff, students, graduates, and the local community, as well as partners from national and international institutions and the public and private sectors.
He stressed that the future Yarmouk aspires to build cannot be achieved through plans alone, but requires determination, hard work, cooperation, and mutual trust.
The ceremony also featured the announcement of the establishment of a Deanship of Future Readiness and Economic Engagement. The new deanship aims to strengthen the alignment of university graduates’ skills with local and global labour market needs, and connect students’ projects, innovations, and creative work with practical and productive opportunities.
The university also announced the launch of the Yarmouk University Endowment, which aims to support financial sustainability and diversify funding sources.
The celebration included a short film documenting the university’s establishment and development, as well as an exhibition showcasing the work of students and academic and administrative staff in art, design, architecture, technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics.
The programme also featured a Golden Jubilee musical performance celebrating the university’s journey since its establishment, its development and achievements, and its vision for the future.
The performance also highlighted the success story of Yazan Al-Shunik, a graduate of the Faculty of Information Technology and Computer Science, and his achievements and awards at international, Arab, and local levels.
Yara Al-Nimri, the performance’s general supervisor, said that more than 150 students from various university faculties had taken part, alongside the Jordanian Armed Forces Orchestra.
She added that the performance celebrated the university’s cultural diversity, with more than 60 international students participating by presenting their traditional costumes, folk arts, national flags, songs, and dialects. The event concluded with a Golden Jubilee anthem documenting 50 years of dedication and achievement.
The ceremony also honoured former Prime Minister Abdulraouf Al-Rawabdeh, who served as Yarmouk University’s first secretary-general, alongside former university presidents. They were presented with the Golden Jubilee commemorative medal in recognition of their efforts and contributions to the university’s five-decade journey.
The Hisham Adeeb Hijjawi Scientific Foundation, the late Samir Shamma, and Malaysia’s Pahang Foundation were also honoured in recognition of their roles as supporters and partners who contributed to the university’s academic and research development and helped advance education, scientific research, and innovation.
