Seventy participants celebrate their graduation as “Economists in the New Digital Economy”

Birzeit University’s Center for Continuing Education (CCE) celebrated the graduation of the first group of students who successfully completed the course titled “Economists in the New Digital Economy” on February 22, 2020. The course is part of the center’s “Steps toward the Future of Businesses” project, carried out in cooperation with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD).

The course targeted seventy fresh graduates in economics or business administration as well as employees currently working in relevant fields. It builds capacities and hones skills in in economic analysis and development, business institutions, and design and management of small digital enterprises to connect youth with career opportunities and jobs in the digital economy.

Asem Khalil, the university’s vice president for community affairs, inaugurated the graduation ceremony, stressing the university’s commitment to keeping up with the ongoing changes in the global economy by integrating the required training into their curricula and programs. He pointed out the university’s state-of-the-art programs that are characterized by their structured and distinctive methodology that aims to develop the business, management, and finance skills of fresh graduates and current employees.

Marwan Tarazi, CCE’s director, explained the idea and methodology behind this program that addresses the challenges posed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution in which the digital and physical worlds are fused. He stated that the course provides required skills and helps fulfil the growing demand for professionals specialized in fields related to the digital economy.

“The center’s approach in this training,” Tarazi added, “builds on the expertise of the participants and improves their skills, helping them keep abreast of the latest developments.”

Abdelhadi Yousef, representing AFESD, expressed his institution’s pride in the long-standing partnership with Birzeit University and the CCE in particular. He presented AFESD’s vision as it supports the efforts of national institutions achieving their developmental goals.