Staff Publications Exhibit Opens at Birzeit University

Birzeit University has opened a faculty and staff publications exhibit at Yusuf Ahmed Alghanem Library, the Main Library. The exhibit displays research conducted by university affiliates over the past 10 years and highlights the importance of scientific research.
The exhibit’s opening ceremony, held on April 3, 2013, was attended by BZU President Khalil Hindi, Palestinian Minister of Culture Siham Barghouti, Library Director Diana Sayej, members of the University Council and researchers, faculty and staff.
Nearly 450 print publications from the past decade are on display (from 2003 until 2012), including refereed articles in scientific journals.
In her opening address, Public Relations Office Deputy Director Lubna Abdel Hadi spoke of the importance of cultural and scientific research.
President Hindi also spoke at the event. "We always argue that our university is the foremost Palestinian university in its history and academic excellence according to international standards, especially in the area of scientific research."
"Despite our great interest in scientific research,” he continued, “and in spite of our being ranked as the foremost Palestinian university in research, we remain way behind when compared to international universities and we seek to give more attention to scientific research."
Library Director Sayej said that scientific research is one of the top objectives of any educational and cultural institution, as one of the most important pillars of development. "This exhibit includes 1,800 publications, among them books, articles, theses, studies and working papers presented at scientific conferences.”
Minister Barghouti told the gathering that culture is an important factor in Palestinian resistance and in the promotion of national awareness, commending Birzeit University for being a resource in research and knowledge.
The exhibit’s organizing committee then honored the five most prolific authors at the university: Dean of the Faculty of Law and Public Administration Asem Khalil, professor of civil engineering Isam al-Khatib, former professor of philosophy and cultural studies Azmi Bishara, professor of environmental engineering Rashid Al-Sae’d and professor of civil engineering Khaled Abaza.
Finally, on behalf of the authors, Dean Khalil gave a speech emphasizing the university’s growing interest in scientific research and expressed his hopes that the university will establish its own publishing house in the near future.