Research on Reduced Inequalities [List] (10.1)

Research addressing social inclusion, equity, and the reduction of inequalities within and among communities. 

Introduction:

Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU) demonstrates a strong institutional commitment to advancing SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities through rigorous, evidence-based research addressing social inclusion, equity, and equal opportunity. The University’s research strategy aligns with national and international frameworks promoting justice, accessibility, and human dignity. This commitment is reflected in a wide range of peer-reviewed publications, policy analyses, and community-based studies that explore inequality from multidimensional perspectives—economic, social, cultural, educational, and digital.

AAU’s research portfolio emphasizes practical solutions to reduce disparities within and among communities, with particular focus on vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities, refugees, migrants, women, low-income families, and first-generation students. These studies apply interdisciplinary approaches combining social sciences, public policy, economics, psychology, and information technology to design inclusive models that foster equal access to education, employment, healthcare, and digital services.

The University encourages open access and collaborative research to maximize societal impact and ensure that knowledge generated supports inclusive policy development and evidence-informed decision-making. Many of these studies are indexed in Sc-opus and other reputable databases, demonstrating both academic rigor and international recognition.

In alignment with SDG targets 10.2, 10.3, and 10.4, AAU’s research contributes to reducing inequality by identifying barriers to participation, evaluating the effectiveness of inclusion policies, and proposing equitable frameworks for social and economic integration. Collectively, this body of research reinforces AAU’s mission to serve as a catalyst for inclusive growth, social justice, and sustainable human development, both nationally and globally.

Impact Evaluation & Development Plan

A. Performance Evaluation

• Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU) demonstrates strong and consistent performance in research addressing social inclusion, equity, and the reduction of inequalities, aligned with SDG Target 10.2 – Empower and promote social, economic, and political inclusion for all.
• Between 2023 and 2025, AAU scholars published more than 35 peer-reviewed studies focusing on vulnerable and marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities, refugees, migrants, women, and first-generation students.
• Approximately 42% of all sustainability-related research during this period included an SDG10 component, reflecting a robust institutional integration of equity principles into the university’s research agenda.
• Data is systematically collected through the Sustainability & Global Ranking Center, cross-verified with the Deanship of Scientific Research, and cataloged in the AAU Research and Innovation Dashboard to ensure transparency, accuracy, and traceability of impact outcomes.

B. Development Actions

Target: Increase the proportion of research outputs directly addressing inequality, inclusion, and social mobility to at least 50% of all sustainability-related research by 2027.

• Action 1: Establish the AAU Inclusive Research Cluster (2025–2026) to integrate social science, economics, education, and digital technology in addressing inequality issues.
• Action 2: Launch a Regional Equity Research Fellowship Program supporting young researchers focused on refugee inclusion, gender equity, and disability rights (2026).
• Action 3: Expand open-access publication funding and encourage collaborative, interdisciplinary projects with local NGOs, ministries, and global universities focusing on SDG10.
• Action 4: Develop a Community Impact Database (2026–2027) to document measurable societal outcomes and policy impacts derived from SDG10-related research.

C. Bench marking & Best Practice

• Bench marking Reference: University College London (UK) and University of Melbourne (Australia) — both institutions integrate equity-focused research indicators within their institutional SDG monitoring frameworks.
• Adopted Practice: Incorporating social-impact metrics (e.g., participation, policy uptake, and equity outcomes) in research evaluation and linking each publication to specific SDG targets for transparency.
• Local Adaptation: AAU localizes these practices by embedding inclusion indicators within Jordan’s national higher-education strategy, ensuring research outcomes respond to local challenges such as refugee integration, gender disparities, and digital access gaps.
• Future Benchmark Goal: Establish the AAU Social Inclusion Observatory by 2028, serving as a regional hub for tracking, evaluating, and publishing data on higher-education contributions to reduced inequalities and social justice.