By Khalid Neimat

AMMAN - Around 100 university students gathered on Saturday to review political reforms and means to improve their participation in civic activities.

In a national conference on youth and political reforms organised by Al Urdun Al Jadid Research Centre yesterday, Jordanian students from four private universities presented their visions and suggestions for political reform.

Inaugurating the conference, Minister of Political Development Musa Maaytah called on young citizens to take part in the Kingdom’s development.

“The ministry believes in youths’ role as an engine to make change,” Maaytah said, calling for the promotion of democratic principles in educational institutions.

During conference sessions, students engaged with experts and academicians representing several institutions from the public and private sectors on prospects to increase youth participation in civil society organisations and political parties.

Speakers from the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), the Ministry of Education, the Unified Jordanian Front Party, the Ministry of Political Development, the National Centre for Human Rights, the Jordan Bar Association and the Jordanian Environment Association took part in the conference.

In the afternoon session, several speakers from the Political Development Ministry, GAM and student activists called for a partnership between the public and private sectors to combat traffic accidents.

Participants called for the establishment of a “civil forum for youth activists”, at the conclusion of the conference, held in cooperation with the Middle East Partnership Initiative.