Equality of Opportunity in Education and Training - National Institute for Training (NIT) - Jordan

The NIT was established in 1968 under the name the Jordanian Institute for Public Administration (JIPA). In 2001, a law was issued to replace JIPA with the National Institute for Training (NIT). The Administrative Organizing Law of NIT of 2001 (13 articles) entrusts the institute with the mission of developing the performance of human resources in Jordan through training courses that initiate employees into knowledge and skills essential for a successful implementation of administrative, social, and economic development plans.

Article 5 specifies the mission of the Institute. It is to contribute to development of the public administration through training programs, specialized workshops, conferences, and symposiums, in cooperation with training centres in the private sector. Article 6 states that the Institute is to have a consulting board in charge of:

1. suggesting principals according to the needs of public institutions;
2. evaluating the Institute's activities;
3. studying training programs proposals;
4. deciding on standards and criteria for training;
5. specifying costs and salaries; and,
6. dealing with other issues delegated to it by the Minister.

The training plan of the Institute includes leadership, middle management, qualifying management, basic management, and newly appointed orientation programs. In addition computer and English courses are offered.

In cooperation with some corporations in Sudan, the NIT conducted three training programs for Sudanese employees in Amman; in the United Arab Emirates, it conducted three training programs in Abu Dhabi; and in Yemen, it has conducted two training programs for Yemeni employees in Amman.

At the level of international cooperation, the NIT was adopted as a regional centre in the near east (Palestine, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan) and it signed an agreement with the UNICEF to train 3000 youth service providers in governmental and non-governmental organizations. In addition, it conducted two training programs for the Palestinian National Authority fully financed by International Labour Organisation, as well as an executive program with the Turin Arabic Centre about administrative reform in the Arab world.