Delegations from Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and Norwegian Institute of Public Health visit Birzeit University

Birzeit University academics and researchers held a meeting with delegations from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. The parties discussed collaboration prospects and the projects funded by NORAD at Birzeit University.

Dr. Abdullatif Husseini, vice president for community affairs, and Dr. Rana Khatib, vice president for planning and development, stressed the importance of the research conducted at Birzeit University as well as the collaboration between the parties, noting that the collaboration between Birzeit and the NORAD dates back to 2014.

During the meeting, Birzeit University researchers presented an overview of previous and current research projects and discussed their impact on the university community. Dr. Sahar Hassan, director of the women’s health master’s program, presented the Midwifery Research and Education Development project as its manager. The project aims to promote the quality and relevance of midwifery education and research and is conducted in partnership with Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway; the University of Ghana; and the University of Dundee, United Kingdom.

Joyce Kashou, programs officer at the Muwatin Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, presented the project “Partnership for Peace: Better Higher Education for Resilient Societies” that seeks to enhance the quality and inclusiveness of higher education. Over the course of six years, the project will be conducted in partnership with Oslo University, Norway; the Peace Research Institute Oslo, Norway; Mekelle University, Ethiopia; the University of the Andes, Colombia; the African School of Economics, Benin; and Makerere University, Uganda.

Dr. Ahmad Abu Hammad, professor at the Department of Geography, presented the project “Urban Transformation in the Southern Levant” that seeks to explore the causes of urbanization and its mechanisms, patterns and consequences in the southern Levant as well as strengthen institutional capacity in higher education at Birzeit University.

The meeting was concluded with a speech by Dr. Amir Khalil, director of the Office of Grants and Contracts, who stressed the importance of future collaboration between the parties, particularly in health studies.

The event was attended by dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Professions Dr. Rania Abu Hamdeh and students who received scholarships from NORAD.