Birzeit University participates in 23rd Anniversary of DAAD Third Country Scholarship Programme
“For the past twenty years, the DAAD and Birzeit University, sharing the same values, have proudly worked together by building a better future for the younger generation,” said University President Dr. Abdullatif Abuhijleh at the 23rd anniversary celebration of the DAAD Third Country Scholarship Programme for Postgraduate Studies.
The ceremony, held on the occasion of the Director of Scholarship Programs Worldwide Dr. Birgit Klusser, brought together DAAD representatives, Palestinian DAAD alumni, and representatives of Palestinian and Jordanian universities.
Dr. Abuhijleh stressed the vibrant relationship that Birzeit University and the DAAD have enjoyed over a number of projects, such as in promoting faculty and student exchange, offering scholarships, hosting teaching professors, and launching a Bachelor’s Program in Teaching German as a Foreign Language.
The President honored the long-term Guest Professor in Political Science, Dr. Helga Baumgarten, for her service to Birzeit University. “Dr. Helga Baumgarten has played a central role in our long journey in academia, and most recently in the establishment of the PhD program in Social Sciences. Your outstanding service and dedication to BZU and the DAAD in Palestine is highly valued.”
Prior to the ceremony, a meeting for the DAAD Third Country Scholarship Programme for Postgraduate Studies alumni was held to discuss and reflect on the achievements and potential of the program. The meeting was entitled “Strengthening Palestine’s Higher Education Landscape - Past, Present and Future.”
The Coordinator of the DAAD Alumni Association - West Bank, Dr. Samah Abu Assab, talked about the strong role that the DAAD has played in Palestine as a promoter of higher education, alluding to its remarkable impact on the Palestinian young generation.
For almost twenty years, Birzeit University has been the most important partner for DAAD in Palestine, laying the groundwork for German-Palestinian academic exchange. Applicants from Birzeit University have excelled in DAAD individual scholarship programs, resulting in the highest number of former scholarship holders in Palestine. Through the alumni networks, various projects with German universities funded by DAAD and other organizations have been conducted over the years, making Birzeit University the first stop for colleagues from Germany interested in new collaborations.
