Birzeit University kickstarts its 47th annual graduation ceremony
Birzeit University began its 47th annual commencement ceremonies from its nine faculties on July 1, 2022, with the graduation of students from the faculties of Law and Public Administration and Graduate Studies.
The first day of commencement ceremonies included the graduation of Palestinian prisoner and freedom fighter Zakaria Zubeidi, who completed the master’s program in Contemporary Arab Studies. His daughter received the certificate on behalf of Zubeidi.
The commencement exercises will continue for three more days, to be held between Friday and Sunday, June 1–4, 2022. The university will grant around 3,000 degrees from the Faculties of Arts, Law and Public Administration, Science, Education, Engineering and Technology, Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Professions, Art, Music and Design, Business and Economics and Graduate Studies.
Attending the ceremony were the university’s Board of Trustees chair Hanna Nasir, the university’s president Beshara Doumani, staff and academics.
In his commencement speech, President Doumani congratulated the 47th cohort of students for their accomplishments by beating the odds they have faced, which included ongoing systemic Israeli oppression against their right to education and the need to move to online teaching due to the unprecedented pandemic.
Doumani said that Birzeit University’s community has always been unique and exceptional, being a knowledge base that has welcomed all to learn and aligns with the Palestinian context under Israeli colonization.
Doumani confirmed that Birzeit University is proud to be built on a profound sense of patriotism, committed to its national role within a democratic atmosphere anchored in pluralism and diversity.
As this year marks the 50th anniversary of transforming Birzeit College into Birzeit University, Doumani assured the audience that since the 1970s, the university has focused on investing in Palestinian youth. The university, according to Doumani, has believed in the intertwined relationship between the hard road toward liberation through building a national institution and delivering education that bolsters our Palestinian identity and their resilience..
Doumani reaffirmed the university’s identity based on three pillars: academic excellence, its national role and community engagement.
Palestinian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Mahmoud Abu Mowais joined the celebration and gave a speech on behalf of the president of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas, in which he stressed the university’s academic excellence, its national and international presence and impacts in research and knowledge production. Abu Mowais praised the university’s efforts to maintain its inclusive environment built on democratic values, and respecting diversity and pluralism.
Students Azza Lahlouh and Aya Awaida delivered a speech on behalf of the graduating students in which they underscored the skills and knowledge that they gained from the university as students.
Graduates received their certificates after they professed their commitment to the graduates’ oath, read by President Doumani.
