On April 7th, An-Najah University celebrated the inauguration of the Center of Excellence in Learning and Teaching in a signing ceremony that was held at the Korean-Palestinian IT Institute of Excellence Main Room at the University’s New Campus. The project came about as a result of a partnership between An-Najah, the AMIDEAST, the Searle Center for Teaching Excellence at the Northwestern University in the United States and the USAID.
Attendees to the ceremony included Mrs. Lamis Alami, Palestinian Minister of Education and Higher Education, Mr. Daniel Rubinstein, Consul General at the United States Consulate General in Jerusalem, Prof. Rami Hamdallah, President of An-Najah University, Brigadier Jibrin Al-Bakri, Nablus Governor, Mr. Mike Harvey, USAID Mission Director, Dr. John Shumaker, Chief of Party of the Palestinian Faculty Development Program at AMIDEAST, Steve Keller, Director of AMIDEAST, in addition to representatives of Northwestern University in the United States, faculties' deans and directors of scientific centers at An-Najah and others.
Dr. Sam Alfoqahaa, Director of the Public Relations Department at An-Najah and Master of Ceremony first welcomed the guests to the ceremony on behalf of the University and its administration. Prof. Hamdallah then delivered a speech in which he welcomed the attendants who came from the different Palestinian and international institutions and appreciated their interest to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the Center of Excellence in Learning and Teaching.
Prof. Hamdallah said: "We are gathered here today for the inauguration of An-Najah National University’s Center of Excellence in Learning and Teaching which will be implemented in partnership with AMIDEAST and the Searle Center for Teaching Excellence at Northwestern University in the United States". He added that this inspired initiative, in fact, was a result of detailed research and a desire to advance the quality of education at An-Najah University and Palestine. This initiative will seek to affect both the needs and goals of the faculty members via the assessment and development of pedagogy whilst simultaneously encouraging innovation and novel techniques in teaching.
Furthermore, Prof. Hamdallah mentioned that An-Najah will seek, though this Center, to promote the universal use of the technical and media equipment in the academic and research process. It will also work on preparing qualified staff with respect to teaching techniques, implementing new innovative educational activities, as well as reinforcing standards through increasing dialogue and participation within the international academic community.
He also said An-Najah University perceives its internationalization as a means to improve the quality of education and enhance the potentials of the different faculties through embracing international cooperation and internal transformation. And through motivating academic institutions, like An-Najah, to adapt to the process the national potentials will be positively affected by training staff and students who possess the necessary skills needed for the participation in the ever growing competitive global work market.
Prof. Hamdallah added that An-Najah's aspirations to achieve the better are considered a necessity in light of the current situation and the University's endeavors to offer positive opportunities to develop the Palestinian society. However, he said, this was not always an easy task since the development and growth of the universities in Palestine has been hindered and faced many challenges. But against all odds the Palestinian educational institutions were able to thrive in the face of adversities and achieve unique things over the years as An-Najah did when it earned outstanding ranks by the Webometrics.
Moreover, the President said the political situation in Palestine predetermines most of what the Palestinians can do; however, by looking at itself as a development-oriented institution An-Najah University does not judge success only by curriculum and accreditation, but also through improving the lives of people whom we serve. He also explained that the process of connecting academia to society through scientific research, business and welfare initiatives epitomizes the classic role of other globally established institutions with respect to the reinforcement of the exchange of experience in the field of building nations and countries. He stressed that this model is suitably applicable in Palestine.
Prof. Hamdallah said: “To this end, we have already established 21 scientific centers at the University, covering topics ranging from the practical such as the Chemical, Biological and Drugs Analysis Center along with the Community Service Center, to research oriented initiatives such as the Water and Environmental Studies Institute, the UNESCO Chair on Human Rights and Democracy plus the Energy Research Center.
As part of his speech, Prof. Hamdallah spoke about the new project that An-Najah has been working on lately which is the new Teaching Hospital: “In continuing with the community support theme, in 2008 we commenced construction of our most ambitious plan to date, the development of An-Najah National University Teaching Hospital. On completion of this project it will contribute to new areas of medical expertise in Palestine, including the standard and quantity of medical practitioners whilst increasing the amount of patient beds available.”
The President concluded by saying: “I have mentioned these projects in the same context today as they are symbolic of the desire we have to succeed….One only needs to look back to 1977 when AN-Najah first became a fully fledged university, where I often wonder if in our wildest dreams we could have expected what we have achieved today. Progress is something us Palestinians strive for and this is epitomized within the walls of our University. We hope that you, our supporting community and international colleagues will continue to join us on this exciting journey as we hold great value in our relationship with you, equally as you have placed in us”.
On her part, Mrs. Alami said: "This unique event is an example of the kind of events An-Najah University always holds and it is natural for this university to launch such innovative and important initiatives. She added that An-Najah's vision is based on achieving excellence in education and this is clear when we look at this new project through which the University seeks to achieve excellence in learning and teaching in Palestine.
She mentioned that the establishment of such a center requires a cooperative work team in order to achieve the highest standards in teaching excellence. It is an ambitious project that will help the University achieve better results in a world that develops rapidly and continuously. She also emphasized the Ministry's commitment toward supporting An-Najah and other Palestinian universities that aim to develop and achieve excellence.
Meanwhile, Consul General Mr. Rubinstein welcomed the participants and expressed his pleasure to be at An-Najah University and take part in the signing ceremony of this new project. In his speech, the Consul said that education is a profession that progresses and develops like never before referring to President Barak Obama's quote in his speech at Cairo University on June 4th: "All of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century".
Rubinstein said that innovations and the application of modern technology are considered important as they help teachers meet their students' needs in the best way possible. In order to cope with these exciting changes, said Rubinstein, workers at the different excellence centers around the world are encouraged to regularly exchange ideas and experience. It is very helpful for teachers to learn from their peers and colleagues as this approach would help them transfer their experience to their students.
Moreover, Rubinstein said over the last decade universities in the United States worked on developing learning and teaching through establishing excellence in teaching centers which became sources for academic excellence and development. He also clarified that the excellence centers that are under establishment at An-Najah and other Palestinian universities such as Bethlehem University will offer advanced teaching methods and shall promote higher academic standards among the universities in Palestine.
Additionally, Rubinstein informed that the United States Government has been a strong supporter of education in Palestine since 1994 and has been concentrating on increasing the Palestinian children's chances to receive education, improve the quality of education and accommodate higher education to the needs of the Palestinian work market. He said that US Consulate aim is to ensure that schools and universities in Palestine do provide the Palestinian youth with the skills they need to succeed in the work field. For this purpose, the US Government has contributed with 115 million dollars to support basic and higher education in Palestine.
John Shumaker on his part praised the new project which would be administered by qualified experts who will transfer their experience to the students and shall give them the chance to excel and create new things.
Meanwhile, Dr. Khitam Shraim, Director of the Center of Excellence in Learning and Teaching, gave a presentation about the Center’s message which she described as to facilitate the transformation of the traditional teaching into the student-centered one through developing the skills of the teaching staff in the fields of research and teaching. She also spoke about the Center’s objectives which included: promote innovation and excellence in university education, develop the educational environment through adopting new teaching methods, support scientific research in the field of education, improve the academic educational practices through integrating new technologies, as well as build a network of relationships between the Palestinian and the international educational institutions.
She added that the Center will work on studying the needs of the teaching staff for the excellent professional development, designing the training programs that would meet the needs of the teaching and administrative staff, encouraging effective teaching practices, and prepare an excellent model to develop the teaching staff at An-Najah. Dr. Light on his part praised the relationship between An-Najah and Northwestern University expressing his admiration by An-Najah’s ability to meet the requirements for the establishment of the new center in a short time.
After that, Prof. Hamdallah, Mrs. Alami, Mr. Rubenstein and Dr. Shumaker signed the agreement in an official ceremony.
For more photos of the signing ceremony please click here