Suha Al-Subaihi – The Center for Women's Studies at the University of Jordan held an awareness lecture today titled "Skills and Competencies Required for Students to Enter the Labor Market in the Field of Information Technology," with a special focus on the Financial Technology (Fintech) sector.
This lecture was organized in cooperation with the King Abdullah II School of Information Technology and featured active participation from "MadfooatCom" company, represented by Ahmed Makki, Director of Human Resources and Training. The event was part of the "Challenge Fund for Youth Employment" project, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project aims to equip and support young men and women, providing them with productive employment opportunities in safe working environments.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Amal Al-Awadah, Director of the Center, emphasized the Center's commitment to providing students with knowledge and skills that align with the rapidly evolving labor market. This falls within the university's broader efforts to align its educational outcomes with actual market needs and equip students with the tools and skills necessary to build a successful professional future.
For his part, Dr. Marwan Al-Tawil, Vice Dean of the School, welcomed the attendees and stressed the importance of fruitful collaboration between institutions concerned with student employment across various sectors.
Ahmed Makki delivered a comprehensive presentation titled "The Future of Jobs in the Fintech Sector," in which he highlighted the dynamic nature of this vital industry, its differences from the traditional banking sector, and the types of jobs available—ranging from entry-level to technical, analytical, and administrative roles.
The speaker also shed light on the technical and soft skills, as well as the financial literacy, required to succeed in this field. He offered practical advice to students on how to prepare for entering the job market and emphasized the importance of continuous learning.
Regarding labor market readiness, Makki encouraged students to start early—even before graduation—through volunteering, internships, or part-time work in projects or startups. He urged them to make use of online training courses, build their résumés through simple projects, participate in entrepreneurship competitions and financial hackathons, stay updated with the latest developments in the fintech world both locally and globally, and actively take part in relevant workshops and exhibitions organized by universities or companies.
Makki stressed the importance of lifelong learning in the fintech sector, pointing out the sector's rapid evolution and how technologies can become obsolete within just a few months. He urged students to continuously develop their skills.