Turkish Cultural Center discuss cultural cooperation with Birzeit

The Director of the Turkish Cultural Center in Palestine Reha Ermumcu visited Birzeit University and met with the university’s vice president for academic affairs Dr. Henry Giacaman. Ermumcu and Giacman discussed prospects of organizing joint extracurricular cultural activities for students, under the umbrella of the Deanship of Student Affairs.

The meeting was attended by the Director of the External Academic Relations Amir Khalil, the Director of the Public Relations Office Lubna Abdullhadi, and the Administrative and Financial Coordinator at the Deanship of Student Affairs Ahmad Awad.

Giacaman talked about the university’s commitment to offer opportunities for students where they can develop their knowledge and skills, and learn about new cultures and nations. He said that through cooperation and international networking, the students will be able to adapt to new knowledge within and across borders.

The vice president proposed developing a new course that teaches the Ottoman language as it is  important to Palestinian scholars who analyze and search in the old Palestinian archive during the Ottoman Era.  He also discussed with Reha the possibility of developing the Turkish language course taught at Birzeit, to a minor program.

In turn, Khalil expressed the university’s enthusiasm to build deeper ties with Turkey under the Erasmus+ program, in addition to holding joint cultural events such as lectures, festivals and symposiums.

Reha restated the strong relationship between Turkey and Palestine, and their long-standing support for the Palestinian cause. That is why, according to Reha, Turkey is committed to preserving the Palestinian culture and narrative, and contribute in the education of Palestinians through promoting the Ottoman and Turkish cultures. “Part of our mission in Palestine is to cultivate valuable, multi-faceted partnerships with Palestinian universities, bringing the younger generation to bear on today’s grand challenges.”

The Turkish Cultural Center and the Deanship of Student Affairs are currently planning to hold a training for shooting darts targeting students.