His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday said it is unacceptable for universities to become a hub for violence and division as well as extremism or alienation.

During a meeting with presidents of public universities at Al Husseiniya Palace, King Abdullah said that violence is totally rejected and that no one is above the law whether students or university employees.

Violence at universities must stop, the King said, a goal that requires cooperation from all the concerned parties to make 2017 a new beginning, His Majesty said, urging all parties to work as a team and shoulder their responsibilities to raise a generation that can stand up to face challenges.

During the meeting, the King highlighted the importance of university academics who are responsible for the most significant asset of the country, as a role model for the youth.

His Majesty called for building a positive environment within campuses through instilling the values of creativity, leadership and active citizenship, calling also for rehabilitating students and upgrading their skills to meet the needs of the labour market.

For his part, Higher Education Minister Adel Tweissi said that for three years, universities have been implementing various measures set by the Higher Education Council to minimise violence at their respective campuses.

The presidents showcased these plans, which involve various activities and campaigns to raise the awareness of students and develop their skills and personalities.

They vowed continuous coordination with the concerned authorities to address campus violence, as part of their educational and pedagogical responsibility to render campuses violence-free and create an environment conducive to student innovation and creativity.

The meeting was attended by Royal Hashemite Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan.