Amman, Feb. 18 -- Minister of State for Public Sector Development, Badria Balbisi, said the establishment of the Jordan Academy for Government Administration is intended to align government capacity-building with global digital transformation momentum and national priorities in advanced technology, including digitization, data, artificial intelligence, and the knowledge economy.

In remarks to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Balbisi said the Cabinet recently endorsed the rationale for the academy’s draft bylaw, transforming the Institute of Public Administration into the Jordan Academy for Government Administration as a new, modern structure.

She said the academy will adopt a flexible, competency-based approach to developing public-sector capabilities, expand access to training, and embed sustainable professional development through cumulative learning pathways aimed at strengthening leadership, managerial, technical, and behavioral competencies.

She said the draft bylaw seeks to unify national frameworks and standards for accrediting curricula, programs, learning technologies, and training providers across government entities, reduce duplication, improve spending efficiency, and advance digital and blended learning.

Balbisi said the academy will shift from a fragmented course-based model to an integrated national capacity-building system linked to career pathways and modernization priorities, positioning it as a driver of higher government performance and lifelong learning for public employees, and reinforcing Jordan’s role as a reliable regional partner in modern public administration.

She added that the academy will adopt a collaborative model bringing together government, universities, and the private sector, enabling Jordanian companies to deliver innovative learning solutions and compete in regional and international markets, supporting the knowledge economy and treating investment in public-sector human capital as a national priority with direct impact on state performance and the economy.

On the transition from the Institute of Public Administration, Balbisi said the structural shift will not affect employees’ rights. Staff capabilities will be assessed against the academy’s operational needs, with placements aligned to experience and competencies inside or outside the academy, alongside professional development opportunities for those meeting baseline requirements.

She said employee arrangements will be handled under the public-sector human resources management bylaw, with a ministerial committee to be formed under Article 143 to conduct a comprehensive review, as part of an institutional approach aimed at safeguarding staff rights, leveraging experience, and supporting public-sector modernization goals.

//Petra// AO