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JEI Defines Partnership
Achieving our Vision
It is rare for an opportunity to emerge where the two very
different "worlds" of the public and private sectors work
closely together to strengthen cultural understanding and to
achieve meaningful cooperation between peoples of this world
committed to social and economic development.
An opportunity of this kind is now emerging in the Jordan
Education Initiative [JEI], born of the vision of His
Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and endorsed by the World
Economic Forum, whose members are contributing to the
enrichment, strengthening and deepening of the impact of
this initiative.
In fact, so powerful is the capture of the JEI that to date
no less than 17 global corporations, 17 Jordanian entities,
and 11 governmental and non-governmental organizations are
working together to achieve the JEI objectives in
partnership with the Government of Jordan. Direct
contributions to the Initiative from global and local
partners have reached over US$10 million. These, coupled
with the Government of Jordan's in-kind contribution of over
US$3 million, are being innovatively channelled to advance
this public-private partnership model for effective and
advanced learning deployment.
The JEI is in many ways a bold experiment - on the one hand
the experiment must hold firm to the four "pillars" or
objectives of the initiative. On the other hand, the
experiment, of necessity and from an impending sense of
urgency to take advantage of this rare opportunity, must
actively and aggressively facilitate the rapid generation
and application of innovation - in part through untested
partnerships and unique and untried approaches to defining
and overcoming challenges. In many respects, the JEI is both
the "keeper" of an exceptional vision as well as being the
"enabler" of that vision.
The two hands of the experiment must work together if the
JEI is to achieve the success that many are envisioning. How
we maximize the effectiveness of this partnership depends on
you - the partners of the JEI. The answers you provide must
quantitatively and qualitatively enhance the ability of the
public and private sectors to work together in a concert of
effective synergy.
The challenge is threefold. First, we must arrive at a
shared understanding of the exceptional experiment called
the JEI. Second, we must channel our collective interest,
wisdom, commitment and energy to define the most effective
ways to rapidly enable the JEI to live, grow and realize
that unique vision. Third, we must reach deep within -
challenging our own assumptions about what it is we offer to
the experiment - in order to provide those critical elements
and resources essential to the future success of the Jordan
Education Initiative.
Welcome to this day - the first day of the future - and a
day which is yours to create. |
