Cabinet okays plan to attract top college achievers to civil service

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Tuesday endorsed the Ministry of Public Sector Development’s recommendations to reinforce the role of top university achievers in enhancing the performance of the public sector.

The recommendations meet the goals of the ministry’s recently held forum for top university graduates, which is part of the ministry’s executive plan for 2015 to enhance creativity and excellence in providing public services, and to strengthen the role of the younger generation.  

In Tuesday’s session presided over  by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, the Council of Ministers also approved forming a joint committee of the ministry, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Civil Service Bureau and the General Budget Department to set the foundations for the implementation process.

Minister of Public Sector Development Khleef Al Khawaldeh said there will be a six-month job training programme for 200 graduates distributed among 103 government departments, based on the needs and graduates’ specialties.

Trainees, according to the minister, will also receive monthly allocations from their host institutions.

An average of 150 top achieving graduates will be hired annually in the government, and are to be exempted from regulations of selection and appointment upon the recommendations of Civil Service Council. 

Commenting on the Cabinet’s decision, Khawaldeh said it suggests that government institutions and departments will engage a number of the best-achieving graduates in conducting studies and research, adding that they will be given priority to take part in contracted projects as per signed agreements.  

Recommendations will also give excelling graduates an opportunity to attend workshops, definitional meetings, forums and training programmes the ministry holds, he said, adding that these employees are expected to engage in brainstorming sessions.

Khawaldeh noted that the ministry has launched the government forum for top achievers among university graduates in order to benefit from their capabilities in government work, reinforce innovation and productivity, and enhance performance. 

He added that the initiative helped establish a constant communication network with excelling graduates and a database that aims to prepare them, to invest in their abilities, and to provide the appropriate environment to encourage their innovation and thus develop government performance. 

The first phase of the initiative, he concluded, targets top public university graduates who majored in engineering, business and information technology over the past five years. More universities and fields of study will gradually be included in the future.