Faculty of Engineering
Overview
The Faculty of Engineering was established in 1979 offering a Bachelor degree that requires 5 years of study. It is situated in the Omar Al-Aggad Engineering Building, and enjoys the third highest enrollment on campus with over 1,188 students registered in its four departments: Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Architectural Engineering.
The five-year bachelor degree program in engineering consists of 160 credit hours including a graduation project. Its effectiveness was proven through the outstanding performance of the graduates in their respective professional fields as well as in their graduate studies at well-known universities abroad. The faculty's policy has always been to maintain the highest standards of academic achievement and to expose students to the latest technology throughout their engineering education. This stems from the Faculty's belief in the importance of engineers in building a strong economy based on innovation and technology transfer. The master program in urban planning and design consist of 36 credit hours including a 6 credit hours thesis or two research seminars. This program accepts students with bachelor degree in Civil, Architecture or Urban planning engineering.
The Faculty's members consist of 32 Ph.D. holders and 10 Instructors (M.Sc. holders). In addition there are 16 teaching and research assistants, 11 technicians and 5 secretaries.
The Faculty of Engineering is housed in a large building with three wings. The main wing contains all Faculty offices, classrooms, and lecture halls. It also contains three student computer laboratories meant for use by all engineering students. The second wing houses the laboratories, and the third wing houses the workshops. The Faculty of Engineering buildings were donated by the Palestinian Engineering Omar-El-Aggad, and were officially opened in 1985.
Mission Statement
The Faculty of Engineering at Birzeit University aims to advance the profession of engineering by striving for excellence in engineering education, academic research, and profound contribution to the development of the engineering profession. The Faculty utilizes engineering knowledge to achieve a sustainable development and progress in Palestine. The Faculty of Engineering at Birzeit University strives to prepare engineers capable to compete, take the initiative, to think freely, and to be responsible; in addition to being interactive and constructive to the issues concerning the community.
Research Interests
- Civil Engineering : structures, transportation and traffic engineering, water and environmental engineering, material testing, construction management, and urban and regional planning.
- Mechanical Engineering : renewable energy and energy conservation control and robotics, fluid mechanics and machine design.
- Electrical Engineering : Computer Science; power and control, as well as communication.
- Architectural Engineering : architectural design, interior design and urban planning.
