AAU's Faculty of Agricultural Technology Celebrates World and National Olive Day

In a commemoration of both World and National Olive Day, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, with the endorsement of Professor Sari Hamdan, our university President, and support from the Student Affairs Deanship, partnered with the Bayader Cooperative Association in Al-Balqa Governorate. Together, they launched the "Olive Harvest: Social Responsibility - Collaboration - Skill" campaign on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. The campaign's program featured opening remarks and an insightful lecture delivered by Dr. Subhieh Saifan, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology. Dr. Saifan underscored the olive tree's cultural significance and its economic and environmental importance within the Jordanian community. She emphasized the campaign's pivotal role in advancing the notion of community participation, a principle deeply woven into the fabric of the university's educational mission. Ms. Hala Al-Abadi, President of the Bayader Cooperative Agricultural Association and a member of the Jordanian Women's Olive Network, extended a warm welcome to participants. She stressed the vital role of such collaborative initiatives in integrating students into and enriching their exposure to agricultural activities, particularly those associated with olive harvesting. Representing the local community, Ms. Raghad Arabiyat, Director of the Bayader District, expressed gratitude for the organization of olive harvesting campaigns. She highlighted the significance of the skills acquired through collaboration with local communities. Dr. Rasha Al-Tarawneh, Head of the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, delivered a lecture titled "Olive in Jordan: Varieties and Harvesting," shedding light on the most cultivated olive varieties in Jordan and the technology employed in olive harvesting. Representatives from Portugal and Germany, part of the Boundless Sustainability project, also actively participated. The campaign witnessed enthusiastic involvement from faculty members and students across various faculties, including the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Dentistry, Medical Sciences, Educational Sciences, Information Technology, Business, Culinary Arts, Arts and Sciences, Law, Nursing, and Architecture and Design. Through their collaboration with the local community in the olive harvesting process, participants showcased the university's steadfast commitment to community engagement.