The Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Arab Open University in Jordan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the integration of students with disabilities into higher education.

The MoU was signed by His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad, President of the Council, and Professor Dr. Tahreer Hamdi, President of the Arab Open University – Jordan, in the presence of Dr. Mufeed Abu Mousa, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Anas Ghazalat, Vice President for Administrative and Financial Affairs, and Dr. Muayyad Hmidi, Director of the Center for Training and Continuing Education.

His Royal Highness Prince Mired emphasized the Council's commitment to supporting higher education institutions in providing technical and knowledge-based support to facilitate access for students with disabilities. This initiative aims to promote inclusive education and increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

The MoU aligns with the legal obligations outlined in Articles (21) and (22) of the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities No. (20) of 2017, which mandate the provision of reasonable accommodations and accessible designs to ensure equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities.

This collaboration is part of the Arab Open University's commitment to the Third Global Disability Summit, chaired by His Majesty King Abdullah II and German Chancellor in April 2025 in Berlin.

Under the MoU, the Council will provide technical and knowledge-based support to the university in areas such as infrastructure accessibility, inclusive education concepts, communication methods with persons with disabilities, and the integration of rights-based approaches into curricula. Additionally, the university will work on providing accessible educational materials, including Braille, large print, simplified electronic formats, and sign language integration. The establishment of Access Centers within the university will offer academic, psychological, and administrative support to students with disabilities. Furthermore, students with disabilities enrolled in these institutions will receive tuition fee discounts.

This partnership reflects the Arab Open University's dedication to implementing human rights principles within the academic environment and ensuring equitable access to education for all students.