Neighborhood Initiative: Activating BZU and Surrounding Community Relations

Under the title "Neighborhood Initiative," the BZU
Advancement Office organized a meeting for mayors and heads of village councils
in Ramallah’s eastern district on 1 February 2012. The initiative is led by BZU
President, Dr. Khalil Hindi, and aims to activate communication with the
surrounding community and explore possibilities for cooperation, as well as provide
services for neighboring communities.

In his opening address, Dr. Hindi emphasized BZU’s persistent
pursuit to enhance its academic level and provide an appropriate structure for
students’ development by maintaining a high educational standard that generates
social intelligence in an pluralistic atmosphere that values academic freedom. He added: "Despite BZU’s scope of
ambitions, it holds true to its roots and environment and we are proud of that.
This initiative seeks complementary and long-term relations between BZU and its
environs." Moreover, he pointed to communication mechanisms between the
community and BZU, in addition to BZU’s potential to further support the
surrounding community.

The mayors applauded BZU’s support in offering capacity
building training to municipality staff and the role played by BZU’s Students’ Voluntary
Work Program. They discussed with the university administration the mechanisms of
improving and strengthening relations between the University and local
government, affirming their readiness to support BZU. They stressed the need
for social responsibility towards BZU and its students, especially those
showing outstanding merit and those in financial need.

The heads of municipalities and
village councils presented their recommendations, most notably to support
voluntary social work, to invite expatriates to an annual conference at BZU, and
to organize a number of courses on local government at BZU, as well as to
activate the Needy Student Fund. The BZU deans present proposed that interaction
and cooperation be enhanced, particularly in terms of local school visits to
BZU, offering access to University scientific laboratories as well as lectures, workshops and advanced courses on local
government.