Serbian Delegation Discussed Cooperation with Birzeit University

A Serbian delegation headed by Palestinian Consul in Serbia Talal al-Zaq visited Birzeit University on June 24, 2014 to explore spheres of cooperation. The delegation met with Vice-President for Advancement Ghassan Khatib.

The delegation included the head of the Aranđelovac City Parliament Nicholas Obradovich and its deputy mayor Demetria Jovanovic, accompanied by the mayor of Birzeit municipality Haseeb Kaileh and a number of municipality members.

Khatib described the university’s faculties and academic programs, as well as its role in local community service. Moreover, Khatib stressed the university’s interest in developing relations with various universities worldwide.

The delegation was also briefed on the academic realities on the ground and dilemmas facing higher education in Palestine, including the financial crises afflicting the Palestinian universities and Israeli occupation laws that obstruct the attraction of academics from abroad while preventing students from the Gaza Strip to study in West Bank universities.

As part of the twinning between the Serbian and Palestinian cities, both sides discussed ways of strengthening academic cooperation by sending Serbian students to study Arabic at Birzeit University, and offering scholarships for Birzeit students to complete their higher education at Serbian universities.