Anti-Discrimination Policy

Policy prohibiting workplace discrimination based on religion, sexuality, gender, or age.

Introduction

Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU) maintains a zero-tolerance approach toward all forms of workplace discrimination through its institutional Labour Rights and Non-Discrimination Policy, which strictly prohibits discrimination based on religion, gender, age, nationality, disability, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

This policy ensures that every employee, faculty, administrative staff, technical teams, international staff, and outsourced workers receive fair, dignified, and respectful treatment in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, promotion, compensation, workload distribution, and access to training opportunities.

AAU aligns its anti-discrimination commitments with:

Jordanian Labour Law,

international conventions on human rights,

SDG 5 (Gender Equality),

SDG 8 (Decent Work),

SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and

SDG 16 (Justice & Strong Institutions).

Through robust grievance mechanisms, equal-opportunity committees, staff representation channels, and continuous training, AAU guarantees an inclusive, safe, and equitable environment where diversity is respected, protected, and celebrated.

Centers and Departments

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01Human Resources and Institutional Development Unit

Leads the implementation of the Labour Rights and Non-Discrimination Policy, manages grievance procedures, and ensures equal access to rights and protections. The unit monitors hiring practices, promotion criteria, and workplace behavior to guarantee fairness across all employee categories.

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02Sustainability and International Ranking Center (SIRC)

SIRC monitors SDG-related non-discrimination indicators and publishes validated data in AAU’s sustainability reports. The center ensures transparency and alignment with global standards on equality and fair treatment in the workplace.

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03Women Health Center (WHC)

WHC supports gender equality by offering specialized health services, awareness workshops, and support programs for women. The center plays a crucial role in ensuring that female staff have equitable access to workplace protections and representation.

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04Al-Ahliyya Amman Center for Consultations and Psychological Care (CCPS)

Provides mental-health support, counselling, and safe-space services for staff experiencing discrimination, workplace stress, bias, or harassment. This ensures psychological safety and emotional well-being for all employees.

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05Global Engagement Center (GEC)

Ensures inclusion of international staff by providing cultural-integration support, rights awareness, and equal access to representation channels, strengthening non-discrimination across nationalities and cultural backgrounds.

Activities

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01MoU with The Human Rights Organization “Rain Collective”

Promotes inclusion for persons with disabilities and guarantees equal opportunities in training, engagement, and workplace integration. This supports nondiscrimination based on physical ability or health condition.

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02Advanced Crisis Management Training – Business Faculty

Includes components on ethical leadership, gender-sensitive decision making, and fair treatment during crisis response supporting an institutional culture free from bias.

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03AAU Digital Library Portal – Open Educational Access

Provides equal access to learning resources without discrimination based on gender, age, income, or nationality. This promotes inclusive educational opportunities for all.

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04Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) – Open Access Programs

Offers entrepreneurship training, innovation programs, and capacity-building workshops accessible to all students and staff without discrimination. Supports equal participation in economic and skills-development opportunities.

Impact Evaluation & Development Plan

Performance Evaluation

Structured Assessment Tools

AAU evaluates awareness of anti-discrimination principles through:
- sustainability literacy surveys,
- competency-based rubrics assessing ethical conduct,
- reflective assessments,
- course-embedded evaluation instruments. These tools assess knowledge of workplace fairness, social inclusion, equity, diversity, and human rights.
- Annual Assessment Cycles
Anti-discrimination awareness is measured annually among employees and students across all levels. Trends in inclusion, fairness perception, and equitable treatment are tracked yearly.
- Quantitative & Qualitative Indicators
Data collected includes:
- multiple-choice assessments on labour rights & equality,
- Likert-scale measures of fairness and inclusion,
- open-ended reflections describing experiences with workplace equity.
This ensures a multidimensional evaluation of AAU’s anti-discrimination culture.
- Integration with Curriculum
Assessment outcomes are used to enhance SDG-related content in business, law, psychology, HRM, nursing, and social sciences courses. Modules related to equity, human rights, discrimination prevention, and ethical labour practices are embedded in the capstone and practical courses.
- Transparency and Public Reporting
Findings are validated by SIRC and published through:
- AAU Sustainability Report 2024–2025
- Executive Sustainability Report
- AAU Sustainability Portal
Development Actions
Action 1: University-Wide Anti-Discrimination Awareness Survey Annual mandatory survey for all staff and faculty. Target: ≥ 70% participation. Action 2: Inclusive Workplace Standard (IWS) Develop a standard ensuring equal representation, equal opportunity, and non-discrimination. Target: Implementation by 2026. Action 3: Anti-Bias & Inclusive Leadership Training Deliver mandatory annual training covering discrimination prevention, ethics, and diversity. Target: 2025–2027. Action 4: Workplace Equity Dashboard A digital dashboard tracking equity indicators, complaint resolution rates, gender representation, and inclusion metrics. Target: Operational by 2026. Action 5: Regional Benchmarking Benchmark AAU’s anti-discrimination practices against top MENA universities. Target: Annual published report.
Benchmarking & Best Practice
AAU benchmarks its equality and non-discrimination framework against:
- University of British Columbia
- University of Cambridge
- University of Gothenburg
Best Practices Adopted
- institutional anti-bias training,
- transparent reporting systems,
- inclusive hiring practices,
- equal access to representation mechanisms,
- support systems for women, international staff, and individuals with disabilities.
Localization to Jordan’s Context AAU adapts global practices through:
- Labour Rights and Non-Discrimination Policy,
- Workplace Anti-Discrimination Procedure,
- alignment with Jordanian Labour Law,
- alignment with Jordan’s National Human Rights Action Plan.
Institutional Integration Summary AAU ensures that the Anti-Discrimination Policy is fully embedded across HR processes, staff training, grievance mechanisms, academic programs, and reporting systems. Through strong policies, proactive monitoring, international partnerships, and inclusive institutional culture, AAU guarantees that every employee, regardless of gender, age, religion, nationality, disability, or identity, receives equal protection, respect, and opportunity. This framework strengthens AAU’s commitment to SDG 5, SDG 8, SDG 10, and SDG 16, and reinforces its position as a leader in promoting fairness, equality, and justice in higher education.