Birzeit explores potential cooperation with Canadian Universities in Public Health, Online Training

Birzeit University President Abdullatif Abuhijleh received on July 25, 2016 the Acting Head of Mission at the Representative Office of Canada Sidney Fisher. The two parties explored areas where they might cooperate.

The meeting was attended by the President’s Assistant Aziz Shawbkeh, Vice President for Academic Affairs Henry Giacaman and the Director of Samih Darwzah Institute for Pharmaceutical Industries Hani Shtaya.

Fisher expressed Canada’s interest in conducting virtual training programs in the field of health. Sidney explored the possibility of an association with Palestinian universities to develop joint online training programs to build education capacity in primary health care and public health.

Professor Abuhijleh emphasized the university’s goal of building long-term bridges in education and training with its international friends and supporters. “Such activities fit in perfectly with our new strategy to strengthen international cooperation in education. In the era of globalization, it is extremely important to give our students the opportunity to acquire knowledge and expertise from the most developed countries.”

Shtaya  gave Fisher a brief assessment of the need to build capacities at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Professions. Shtaya said that education in the health and medical fields must be university-career oriented with a strong foundation of theoretical and practical skills.