Birzeit University to expand ties with Canada

Birzeit University President Abdullatif Abuhijleh received recently the Representative of Canada to the Palestinian Authority Douglas Scott Proudfoot, in the attendance of the Director of the Muwatin Institute for Democracy and Human Rights Mudar Kassis. The two parties explored areas where they might cooperate.

Proudfoot explored the possibility of developing existing partnerships such as the Windsor- Birzeit Dignity Initiative, or looking for new forms of collaborations for conducting training and exchange programs in the humanitarian, women’s economic empowerment or justice fields.  

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.”

Kassis said that Birzeit University seeks to advance mutual academic, research and innovation agendas with Canada. According to Kassis, Birzeit is not only looking for a one-way exchange programs: “We are looking for means to overcome the restrictions of movement imposed on Palestinians due to the complicated political context. We need our students to learn in Canada and vice versa.”

Proudfoot met with Birzeit University’s professors in different disciplines and assessed the needs of each academic unit, to find suitable means of cooperation.