Academics present lectures on heritage conservation at University of Malta

A delegation from Birzeit University’s newly-established Faculty of Art, Music and Design and the Faculty of Engineering and Technology visited the University of Malta from April 29 to May 4, 2019, as part of an Erasmus+ EU exchange program.

Comprising of Shadi Ghadban, the Dean of the Faculty of Art, Music and Design; Yasid El Rifai, Mohammad Jawabreh and Lana Judeh, faculty members at the Department Of Architectural Engineering, the delegation participated in a two-day seminar at the Department of Conservation and Built Heritage of the University of Malta themed “Safeguarding Urban Centers and Historic Buildings.”

The delegation gave lectures that shed light on the works being carried out to conserve and document Palestinian cultural heritage which range from the classification of historic buildings to a manual for rehabilitation work, plans for the urban regeneration of historic centers and presented the results of research conducted on 3D virtualization of Hisham Palace and the Agricultural Watchtowers in ramallah district.

During the week-long visit, meetings were held to discuss future collaboration between the University of Malta and Birzeit University with Professor Alex Torpiano, dean of the Faculty for the Built Environment at the University of Malta, and Pro-Rector for Research  at the University of Malta, Professor Saviour Zammit.

This exchange followed the visit of a Maltese delegation from the Department of Conservation and Built Heritage at the University of Malta’s to Birzeit University on March 2019. This visit was made possible through the dedicated work of the international offices at both universities under the support of Erasmus+.

The delegation collaborated with the Department of Architectural Engineering at Birzeit and held a workshop and a series of lectures focusing on preserving historical and archeological sites.

During their four-day visit the delegation went on a field trip to Batir Village and a number of institutions that work on preserving and reniovating sites in Bethlahem and other Palestinian cities, in addition to Riwaq Centre for Architectural Conservation. Visiting professors, who are part of the delegation: Shirley Cefai, JoAnn Cassar, presented lectures that focused on the methodology the classification of archeological buildings.

Local experts also contributed to the series of lectures. Nuha Dandis, a member at the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee; Issam Ijha, the director of the Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation in Bethlehem; Iham Daoud and Ahmad Rjoub from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiques, discussed in their lectures the importance of preserving archeological sites in the Palestinian context.

During their visit, the Maltese delegation met the Vice President for Academic Affairs Henry Jaqaman, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Wasel Ghanem, the Officer of the External Academic Relations Amir Khalil, and the Dean of the Faculty of Art, Music and Design Shadi Ghadban. The meeting was in the presence of The Maltese ambassador, Reuben Gauci.