AMMAN, Jordan – The U.S-Jordan Cybersecurity Youth Academy in Amman, a joint initiative supported by the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Purdue University and Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT), has successfully graduated 50 young Jordanians after an intensive 10-month program.
The academy aimed to strengthen Jordan’s cybersecurity posture by equipping participants aged 18-24 with essential cybersecurity skills while fostering their exploration of career and academic pathways in the sector.

There are currently almost 4 million cybersecurity jobs vacant around the world, said John Glover, executive director of the Global Development and Innovation division of the Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI). “Jordan is not immune from this dearth of qualified professionals,” Glover said. “The academy strategically addressed this gap.”

The academy also included a blend of virtual sessions to increase cyber awareness, a four-week hands-on bootcamp that focused on experiential learning, training with real-world simulations and exploration of career opportunities in the field.

“It’s been an incredible journey contributing to the Cybersecurity Youth Academy for Jordan. This program has been pivotal in advancing cybersecurity knowledge and inspiring the next generation of professionals,” said Ammar Odeh, director of the Consultation and Training Center at Princess Sumaya University for Technology, one of the program’s partners. “I’m proud to have played a part in this initiative.” PARI and Purdue’s Center for Research and Education in Information Assurance and Security also were part of this endeavor, all in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Amman.

The partnership also supports the U.S. government’s commitment to strengthen Jordan’s cybersecurity posture while engaging youth as a major force for positive change.
“Equipping young Jordanians with cybersecurity tools and knowledge helps them successfully compete for lucrative careers,” said Anthony Miranda , U.S. Embassy Amman’s public diplomacy counselor. “This strengthens Jordan’s ICT sector, which in turn creates more opportunities for U.S. businesses looking to partner with Jordanian firms. This program underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to education, workforce development, and economic opportunities.”
Glover thanked PSUT for the opportunity to work with them and to bring the lessons learned about building a pipeline of young cyber practitioners back to Purdue University.

Media queries: Please contact Diana Harbison dbharbis@purdue.edu or Ginger Bolen gbolen@purdue.edu