New partnership with Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology to foster skills in IT, programming

Birzeit University, represented by its President Abdullatif Abuhijleh, and the Palestinian Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology, represented by Minister Ishaq Sadr, signed an agreement to conduct development projects, exchange experiences, and foster the acquisition of practical skills in the IT and telecommunication sectors.

The agreement states that Birzeit University and the ministry will share their expertise in the fields of computer engineering, networks, and IT. The university’s academics and students, jointly with the ministry’s staff, will have the opportunity to engage in research and carry out experiments at the laboratories of both institutions. University students will furthermore have the opportunity to participate in training sessions at the ministry, do internships, and organize specialized conferences and workshops.

The university, according to the agreement, will cooperate in expanding the work of the ministry’s computer and coding camps that target youth living in Palestinian refugee camps and have been held with the support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and Bank of Palestine.

Abuhileh praised the ongoing relationship with the ministry in vibrant disciplines such as IT, programming and coding. He emphasized that the university maintains a range of community partnerships as a distinctive feature of its concept of higher education. “The university,” Abuhijleh explained, “is committed to developing an inclusive knowledge environment as it prepares its students for their entry into the job market. We aim to help them become competent in their chosen fields, capable of work and production according to the Palestinian developmental goals.”

Sadr expressed his pride in the ministry’s longstanding partnership with Birzeit University. He confirmed that the ministry will offer training and internship opportunities for students in the fields of technology, communication, and programming and reiterated that it is enthusiastic about starting new joint projects with Birzeit University to hone the young generation’s skills in such vibrant disciplines.

Mirvat Bulbul, Birzeit University’s vice president for administrative and financial affairs, talked about the efforts that the university’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Unit is making in fostering and facilitating entrepreneurial activities. She highlighted the recent opening of an innovation platform for students, faculty, and staff with the aim of enticing creative work on new ideas and programs, including programming and coding.

George Yerousis, manager of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Unit, and Suhair Morar, its coordinator of relationship with the labor market, introduced the unit’s “Leadership and Active Citizenship Program–Masari.” They explained that this three-year program aims to incentivize students to plan their lives and engage with their surroundings as integral members of the Palestinian community, regardless of their chosen specialization. 

The Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology has supported the final phases of Masari in which participants are given the opportunity to reflect on the knowledge and skills they have accumulated throughout their educational journeys. In this phase, students gain new competencies by conducting community needs assessments and designing sustainable community initiatives