Under the patronage of Professor Dr. Khalid Al-Salem, President of Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), the Water Diplomacy Center (WDC) inaugurated today the seventh regional training workshop entitled “Remote Sensing for the Assessment of Groundwater Resources: Theory and Practical Applications", held within the framework of the Blue Peace Middle East – Capacity Development Project, supported by the Government of Switzerland.

The opening ceremony was attended by 50 participants representing various ministries, academic institutions, and organizations from different sectors.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Mutwakel Ubaidat, Director of the Water Diplomacy Center, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of the workshop in enhancing skills and knowledge related to remote sensing applications in groundwater exploration and management, noting that groundwater represents more than 94% of the world's available fresh water. He highlighted the Center's ongoing commitment to fostering regional cooperation and building capacities in the field of water diplomacy.

Prof. Waseem from the Water Diplomacy Center explained that this workshop is part of a broader training program series implemented by the Center, covering topics such as water conflict resolution and negotiation, international water law, water governance, climate diplomacy, and the Water-Energy-Food-Environment (WEFE) Nexus. He noted that the ultimate goal is to build a regional network of experts capable of transforming shared water challenges into opportunities for cooperation and integration.

Prof. Mohammad Al-Azzam presented an overview of the Center's objectives and achievements, reaffirming its role as a regional hub for water diplomacy and capacity building in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. He expressed appreciation for the continued support of the University's leadership and the fruitful partnership with the Swiss Government.

Prof. Nawras Shtanawi from Al-Balqa Applied University explained that the five-day training program combines theoretical foundations with practical applications of remote sensing technologies for groundwater management. The program is designed to strengthen participants' technical and analytical capabilities and promote collaboration among regional professionals.
A total of 20 representatives from the Blue Peace Middle East countries (Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey) and five students from the Master's Program in Water Diplomacy at JUST will continue with the intensive training throughout the week.

The opening ceremony concluded with an emphasis on the importance of regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the use of modern technologies to promote sustainable management of shared water resources.

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