Six days, nine ceremonies, 5998 students: Birzeit University graduates 45th, 46th cohorts

Students, faculty, and staff members have celebrated the graduation of the 45th cohort of engineering students in a ceremony held on campus on Saturday, July 4, 2021, marking the end of a series of convocations that saw over 5990 students of the 45th and 46th cohorts complete their academic journeys at Birzeit University.

The graduation ceremonies began on Monday, June 28, with the graduation of the 45th Faculty of Graduate Studies cohort, who originally had a virtual commencement along with the other students slated to graduate in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the graduate studies graduands, the ceremony on June 28 included the 45th and 46th cohorts of the faculties of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Professions and Art, Music and Design. 

On Tuesday, June 29, the ceremonies saw the graduation of the 46th cohort of the Faculty of Graduate Studies as well as the 45th and 46th cohorts of the faculties of Education and Law and Public Administration, while on June 30, the 45th and 46th cohorts of the faculties of Arts and Science graduated. 

The 45th and 46th cohorts of the Faculty of Business and Economics graduated in a ceremony held on Thursday, July 1, while the 46th cohort of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology celebrated the completion of their studies on Friday, July 2. 

In his commencement address on the final day of convocations, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Dr. Allan Tubaileh congratulated the graduating students on their achievement, noting that the fact that they’ve completed their degrees under a global pandemic and in difficult social and political circumstances serves as a testament to their abilities and determination. 

The entire university’s community, in fact, has shown unwavering dedication towards excellence in teaching, learning, and research despite the global pandemic, added Tubaileh, highlighting the university’s outstanding performance in international rankings in research, academic performance, development, and sustainability; its researchers’ contributions to scientific advancement locally and internationally; and its students and alumni’s impact on communities near and far.  

The ceremony ended with the graduates receiving their degrees after the valedictorian, Lama Abu Faris, congratulated her fellow classmates on completing their studies and thanked the university’s faculty and staff members for their efforts that paved the way for students to graduate and help advance and develop the Palestinian community.