Amman, Nov. 18 (Petra) -- Edraak, the Arab world’s leading nonprofit online education platform and a pioneering social education initiative by the Queen Rania Foundation, proudly announces that over 1.1 million young Arabs have enrolled in the Career Compass Pathway course since its launch in June 2023.

Sponsored by Crescent Petroleum, the course is designed to provide young people across the region with essential soft skills to improve job readiness, secure better employment opportunities, and enhance career growth. This milestone highlights the immense demand among Arab youth for practical training that supports career advancement in a competitive market.

The Career Compass Pathway, hosted entirely on Edraak’s platform, provides training in crucial areas such as English-language communication, resume writing, digital literacy, and interview skills all delivered in Arabic by expert practitioners.

Edraak’s approach ensures that learners receive practical, market-relevant skills free of charge, tailored to help young people across Jordan and the Arab world succeed in the modern workplace. Those who complete the course earn a certificate, signalling their readiness to meet the demands of today’s job market.

"Edraak’s mission is to equip youth with the tools and skills they need to thrive in their careers and contribute meaningfully to their communities," said Bassem Saad, Chairman of Edraak.

"The popularity of the Career Compass Pathway course reaffirms the importance of accessible, quality education that aligns with market needs. As youth in Jordan and beyond navigate a rapidly evolving job market, initiatives like these empower them to excel and strengthen Jordan's position as a hub for educational innovation in the Arab region."

As youth unemployment in the MENA region continues to challenge economies, programs like Career Compass Pathway play a pivotal role. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), average youth unemployment in MENA reached 24% in 2023, with a pronounced need for job-ready skills. Edraak’s Career Compass Pathway addresses this need by helping young people develop soft skills in interpersonal, communication, and professional competencies that the ILO identifies as critical for employability.

Majid Jafar, CEO of Crescent Petroleum, emphasized the impact of the partnership: "This milestone of more than a million registered underscores the massive demand of young people in our region to learn soft skills that will help them build their careers and reach their full potential. For more than 50 years Crescent Petroleum has focused on supporting the communities where we work, and our partnership with Edraak has helped advance this mission to upskill youth which are the future of our economy, and prepare them for the modern workforce."

The Career Compass Pathway course attracts learners from across the Arab world, with 42% of participants from North Africa, 34% from the Levant, and 24% from the GCC. More than 75% of students credit the course with helping them secure better job opportunities, promotions, or other advancements. While many initially joined the course to improve their English, they found the additional training in leadership and soft skills invaluable in enhancing their competitiveness in the job market.

Edraak continues to pioneer online education in Arabic, offering young people from Jordan and the Arab world access to high-quality educational resources that support career readiness, foster innovation, and bridge the skills gap. The Career Compass Pathway course and Edraak’s broader suite of programs are critical tools for the next generation to drive positive change and economic growth across the region.

//Petra// WH

18/11/2024 12:12:11