Birzeit University Awarded Fund to Establish Center of Excellence in Water Studies

Birzeit University has gained financial backing from the Council for Scientific Research at the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education to create a center of excellence in water studies, as part of the ministry's plan to support scientific research in Palestinian universities.

The ministry invited Palestinian universities to apply for a grant supporting a water research center, and after evaluation by the council, Birzeit University’s Institute of Water and Environmental Studies won support for its proposal.

For two decades, the institute has provided many services to the community, and conducted scientific research and specialized consultancies, in addition to offering the master’s programs in Water and Environmental Engineering and in Water and Environmental Sciences. Moreover, the institute has highly qualified staff, is equipped with modern laboratories and has established partnerships and relations with highly respected international, regional and national institutions.

Institute director Maher Abu Madi said that Birzeit University is relying on this achievement to increase its ability to provide Palestinian society with qualified graduates that can contribute to finding creative and sustainable solutions to Palestine’s problems of sanitation and drinking water, treatment of liquid and solid waste, as well as the use of treated water in agriculture.

The Institute of Environmental and Water Studies will begin implementing the procedures for establishing the center upon receiving the funds from the Council for Scientific Research.