Students, professors forge German connections, gain research and development opportunities
“In addition to scholarships, DAAD offers many opportunities for joint research with the partner German universities, from which they can learn new techniques and knowledge that can be applied in Palestinian universities,” said Christina Stahlbock, head of the Information Center of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in East Jerusalem, in an information session she gave at Birzeit University, Wednesday, April 25, 2018.
The session application procedures, requirements, partner universities, and accepted academic areas for the German Academic Exchange Service’s project funding.
“We’re targeting students and their needs,” added Stahlbock. “We’re aiming for projects that can benefit students, both here and in Germany, with practical experience that can be transferred to the university population and utilized in learning development.”
Choosing a German partner university, highlighted Stahlbock, is extremely important, as the application is submitted to DAAD by the partner university, not Birzeit.
“Let’s say, for instance, that you want to take your mechanical engineering students to see the factories in Stuttgart and Munich (home of Porsche and BMW, respectively). So you partner with a university, the Technical University of Munich for example, and arrange for a trip to see the university and its facilities, meet with its faculty members, and visit the famous automakers,” said Stahlbock, presenting Birzeit professors with examples on funding opportunities.
Dr. Amir Khalil, the external academic relations officer at Birzeit University, stressed the importance of forging relationships with international institutions and universities, specifically in research and learning development areas.
“Education is the result of combined human effort, meaning that each and every country and nation can contribute to the advancement of others, and can benefit from others. We at Birzeit University aim to shape the leaders of the future, who tackle challenges and overcome obstacles by banking on a worldwide perspective,” he noted.
