About Alumni 1. Introduce yourself?
Layla Bashar Al-Kloub is a senior journalist at BBC News Arabic office in Amman. Her articles and reports have had tens of thousands of views and have been translated into several languages. She is also a writer and novelist; her first novel, "I Believed in You," was published in 2019.
Al-Kloub completed her bachelor degree in Architecture from the University of Jordan in 2015, she worked in architecture for a year, then completed her master's degree in journalism and new media at the Jordan Media Institute in 2017. She worked in journalism and media for several years at AlMamlaka TV and then the BBC. In 2022, she received a British government scholarship (Chevening) to study a Master's degree in Politics of the Middle East at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London. During her studies, she worked at the BBC in London, then in 2023, she returned to the BBC office in Amman to work as a digital senior journalist.
| 2. Share your fondest memory from your time at Jordan University?
Every memory at the University of Jordan is a fond memory, but the most important one was the moment I was accepted to the university, in the Faculty of Engineering. I also had many participations in poetry evenings and was honored with a Medal of Creativity, I also participated in Sawt al-Talaba newspaper until I was elected as its editor-in-chief, All of these moments were dear and shaped many things in my life later.
| 3. Explain how your experiences at UJ shaped you?
Studying engineering at the University of Jordan, specifically architecture, helped me to see the world from a different and creative perspective. Participating in various artistic and cultural activities helped me be more systematic and detail-oriented; it also motivated me to think "out of the box" which was essential in every creative project I participated in later. | 4. Discuss what fascinated you about your chosen course of study?
Studying architecture requires us to know many technical, human, historical and philosophical details. It teaches us that the architect must "know something, about everything." I believe that the knowledge that I tried to build during my studies in several things helped me chart my path clearly, even if what I chose was far from architecture.
| 5. Offer advice to graduating students preparing to enter the workforce?
A university degree is nothing but a gateway to knowledge, a basis through which a person can learn how to search for himself and his interests before anything else. Do not limit yourselves to one thing, always strive for new experiences, as one of these different experiences may be the beginning of a path to great success that you did not expect.
| 6. Reflect on what you wish you had known during your time as a student?
Not feeling completely satisfied does not mean the end of the world, your bachelor degree does not determine your future career, as life is full of different opportunities and paths.
| 7. Identify the person who has had the greatest impact on your career.?
I have always been fortunate to have a supportive community, whether from family, friends, or teachers. It is difficult for me to mention one specific person, the truth is that every person has a good impact that deserves to be mentioned, but I should point out that the professors of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Jordan were among my biggest supporters, whether during studying or even after that, and I still see their continuous and great support to this day, even ten years after graduation.
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