Students practice their German with visiting delegation from the state of Saxony

Thirteen members from the Parliament of Saxony, Germany, visited Birzeit University’s campus on April 18, 2018. The group, who form the parliament’s Sports and Education Committee, met with President of Birzeit University Dr. Abdullatif Abuhijleh and External Academic Relations Officer Dr. Amir Khalil. 

Abdullatif briefed the visiting delegation on the university’s history, from its humble beginnings as an elementary school for girls in 1924, to one of the top-ranked universities in Palestine and the Arab world, and its multitude of academic programs that grant bachelor’s and master’s degrees. 

Abdullatif also informed the delegation of the Israeli Occupation’s violations of the Palestinians’ right to education, from denial of entry for students from Gaza to campus closures. 

“There have been fifteen closures of Birzeit University’s campus by Israeli military orders since its transformation into a university in 1972, the longest of which lasted 51 months, from 1988 to 1992,” remarked the president. 

The group also met with Christina Stahlbock, head of the Information Center of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in East Jerusalem, Dr. Ulrike Mitter, director of the German Language Program, and a number of students from the program.

The students, together with the group, discussed education projects and pedagogical approaches to apply both at Birzeit University and in Germany. The students also explained why they chose the German program and talked about their future employment expectations.

Finally, the representatives visited the DAAD offices on the university’s campus and met faculty and staff members.