The 25th edition of the Italian Language Week in the World was held on October 12, 2025, at the School of Foreign Languages, under the theme “Italophony: Language Beyond Borders.”
The event was organized in cooperation with the Italian Embassy, the Swiss Embassy, and the Dante Alighieri Society – Amman Branch, with the aim of promoting the Italian language and culture and enhancing their global presence.
In his opening remarks, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages, Prof. Marwan Jarrah, welcomed attendees and highlighted the significance of the event in strengthening cultural exchange and broadening the academic horizons of Italian language students, particularly in the fields of literature and translation. He also expressed his aspiration to expand cultural and academic cooperation with the Italian Embassy in Amman.
First Secretary and Head of Economic, Cultural, and Scientific Affairs at the Italian Embassy, Giorgio Bassotti, expressed his appreciation to the University for hosting the event, noting that the Italian language serves as a global cultural bridge. He also announced the relaunch of the Issa Naouri Translation Award, in addition to the provision of approximately 20 annual scholarships for Jordanian students to pursue studies in Italy.
For her part, Diplomatic Attaché at the Swiss Embassy, Claudia Elmiger, affirmed that this year’s theme reflects the power of culture to transcend borders and bring people closer together. She commended the University’s role in supporting Italian language education and promoting the values of dialogue and cultural openness.
During the ceremony, Bassotti announced the winner of the Issa Naouri Translation Award, Yara Yousef Saadeh, a student in the Italian Department, who won for her Italian translation of a poem by the renowned Jordanian writer and poet Issa Al-Naouri.
The program also featured academic sessions delivered by several university professors and concluded with bilingual poetry and literary readings in Arabic and Italian by students from the Italian language program, showcasing their talents in translation and literary appreciation.