Umniah and Andalusia Institution Launch National Competition for Digital Citizenship in Partnership with the Ministry of Education

February 6, 2018 – Amman, Jordan: With the aim of reinforcing its supportive role in the local community and effectively partnering with organizations to support positive values and principles among students, Umniah and Andalusia Foundation, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, launched the National Digital Citizenship Competition, an initiative to encourage teachers and students to use technology positively and responsibly. The competition’s launch, which took place at Umniah’s entrepreneurship and innovation center The Tank ,was held in the presence of the Undersecretary for Educational and Technical Affairs at the Ministry of Education Muhammad Okour, Umniah’s Director of the Digital Transformation Department Riyad Kurdi, and the Head of the Andalusia Foundation Baraa Al-Dibs, in addition to a number of officials and stakeholders. The launch of this national competition comes in conjunction with the observance of Safer Internet Day (SID), with the theme of “Create, connect and share respect: A better Internet starts with you.” This initiative aims to provide a safer and more reliable environment on the Internet while increasing awareness on the importance of responsible use of the Internet. The national digital competition focuses on directing teachers to raise awareness among students on appropriate and responsible behavior when using technology and social communication methods, measures that reinforce digital etiquette among students and teachers alike. Safer Internet Day (SID) is a global initiative held every February since 2004, in partnership with the European Union and the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA), which works for a safer internet. In Jordan, the Safer Internet Day (SID) initiative is headed by the Andalusia Foundation. Speaking of the initiative, Kurdi said, “Umniah continuously works to be a real and effective partner in the Kingdom through its targeted support for superior initiatives that aim to reinforce positive behavior and values in the country.” He went on to add that the national competition for digital citizenship is an example of the outstanding initiatives supported by Umniah, a company that dedicates its capacities further growth and sustainability in the country. The National Competition for Digital Citizenship is part of the strategic partnership between Umniah and the Andalusia Foundation, which is being executed at Umniah’s entrepreneurship and innovation center The Tank. The partnership, which began in July 2017, saw the Andalusia Foundation launch the SAMT program that aims to instill and reinforce high moral values among school students. Kurdi noted that the competition’s objectives are to direct teachers and students to the wise and safe use of information posted on the Internet, in addition to reinforcing educational values, and principles during online time, including respect for others, the preservation of privacy, the importance of intellectual property and authorship rights, and the risks of incorrect Internet usage. Speaking on behalf of the Andalusia Foundation, Dibs said, “This competition reinforces positive values and helps instill moral principles and authentic values in our children, while enabling and motivating teachers to undertake their roles as protectors of a new generation armed with education, culture and principles. We also hope to help them build their personalities based on values and self-esteem while integrating them positively in their societies in a good way. Our aim is also to shape a generation of conscious youth with a commitment to digital citizenship as a basis for constructive education, motivating them and giving them the opportunity to spread good values in their communities. The Ministry of Education, represented by Okour, welcomed the initiative by the Andalusia Foundation, which will have a tangible effect on society by creating guidelines for behavioral standards during Internet usage, as well as preserving privacy, respecting opinions, maintaining intellectual property and authorship rights, as well as the risks of unsafe Internet use and their legal repercussions. Okour stressed, “There is a strong strategic partnership between the Ministry of Education and Umniah through joint projects and programs, including the implementation of the largest electronic connection project in the Kingdom for a large number of government schools as well as the safer internet project. We, here at the Ministry of Education, are eager to see this competition spread to all the country’s governorates. The Andalusia Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit educational institution with objectives that are dedicated to increasing morals throughout the world. In order to achieve this, the institution concentrates on enriching the Internet’s positive moral content, motivating individuals and groups to further their high morals, provide a civilized humanitarian and societal model, build the digital citizenship generation, aiming to achieve these objectives through programs and international partnerships in order to provide an effective moral model. -END