New Students Gear Up for Fresh Start at Birzeit University

Hundreds of incoming students flocked to Birzeit University campus on August 22, 2016 from across Palestine to be introduced to university life in a four-day series of events, programs and interactive meetings.

Welcome Days, sponsored by Jawwal, mark the beginning of the freshman collegiate experience at Birzeit University. The Welcome Days program includes informative sessions on university services, interactive booths that allow first-year to engage with fellow students and learn about student initiatives and activities and to meet their professors, and numerous opportunities to learn more about Birzeit’s rich history and campus resources.

Vice President for Planning and Development Mirvat Bulbul welcomed the new students on behalf of university president Abdullatif Abuhijleh. “We look forward to the excitement and energy this week will bring,” she said.

“During this week, we expect students to gain a better understanding of Birzeit’s academic life and culture. Each student is handed a passport that is stamped to signify the journey the student experiences throughout the day,” Bulbul remarked.

Director of Public Relations at Jawwal reaffirmed the company’s commitment to actively support and train university students to fill job slots in top-notch companies in Palestine. “Education is the key engine in developing civilizations and communities. That is why we offer a wide number of programs tailored for university students’ needs and job market requirements, such as Go Professional and Ana Jawwal.”

University graduate of Class 1997 and president of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Ola Awad, gave the entering class her reflections on attending Birzeit and how her time at Birzeit went on to shape her future and successes.

“Always know that the experience you’ll get from the university here, and the memories you will make will stay with you forever,” Awad pointed. “The sky is your limit. Follow your dreams and chase after your ambitious.”

During the Welcome Days opening ceremony, Dean of Student Affairs Mohammad Al Ahmad  talked about the university’s distinguished liberal and democratic life, while the Head of Languages and Translation Department Majdi Abu Zahra introduced the new English Language Teaching curricula. Head of the Records and Documents Section Rima Batarseh talked about admissions procedures, Web Applications Specialist at the Computer Center Abed Othman, gave a presentation on how to access the academic and administrative portal “Ritaj,” and Director of the Alumni and Career Services Office talked about the university’s training programs and services. Finally, the head of the Student Council Ahmad Al Ayesh gave a warm welcome to the new students, describing the services provided by the council.

Students then went on a campus tour led by a number of former university students trained to assist their colleagues through the voluntary work program.