University, Palestine Capital Market Authority to increase cooperation in corporate governance, media, and financial law

Birzeit University signed three joint-cooperation agreements with the Palestine Capital Market Authority (PCMA) on March 12, 2018.

The first is an agreement to renew the trilateral cooperation agreement, which aims to incorporate the Corporate Governance course in the Faculty of Business and Economics’ academic programs plan. The agreement was signed by PCMA Board of Directors Chairman Nabeel Kassis, President of Birzeit University Abdullatif Abuhijleh, and International Finance Corporation Resident Representative in Palestine Youssef Habesch.

The second agreement is aimed at students of the Faculty of Law and Public Administration and comprises a number of awareness-raising programs, which will introduce students to the PCMA, its regulating legal frameworks, and non-banking financial sectors.

The third agreement aims to bolster joint cooperation with the university’s Media Development Center by developing media coverage on the non-banking financial sector of Palestine.

Abuhijleh reaffirmed the importance of the university’s partnership with the PCMA and financial firms, which aims to achieve the common strategic goals and bolsters cooperation between the parties. Such cooperation, Abuhijleh added, will serve students of the university and further cement its position as a vital hub for knowledge on the economy, funding, and insurance.

“The agreements will develop the legal understanding of the Faculty of Law and Public Administration’s students on securities, insurance, mortgage financing, financial leasing, and corporate governance. While through the Media Development Center, the agreements will provide an environment where Palestinians can become more knowledgeable on the non-banking financial sector in Palestine. Finally, in the Faculty of Business and Economics, the agreements will renew the previous one to incorporate the Corporate Governance course, which aims to integrate learning with practice, in the academic plan of the faculty.”

Kassis emphasized the significance of joint-cooperation with Birzeit University, “which culminated in incorporating the Corporate Governance course into the Faculty of Business and Economics’ academic programs plan. To date, 120 students successfully completed the course and benefitted immensely in their professional careers.”

Kassis also highlighted the benefits of the joint-agreements in raising law students’ awareness of the legal frameworks of the PCMA, as well as their role in developing “economic media,” one of the main goals of the National Strategy on Financial Inclusion.

Habesch commended the joint efforts between Birzeit University, the PCMA, and the International Finance Corporation to introduce students and the public to the various finance sectors in Palestine, and applauded the Corporate Governance Competition, which was held in the collaboration with Birzeit University and four other academic institutions.