Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) celebrated the graduation of the first class of deaf students majoring in two diplomas in graphic design and Mobile maintenance. The diplomas are part of a project aiming at improving access of deaf students to higher education.
The project is funded by the Gulf Council Cooperation programme for the Reconstruction of Gaza and Al-Fakhoora (A Programme of Education Above All Foundation in Qatar) and administered by Islamic Development Bank and implemented by Qatar Red Crescent and the Palestinian Red Crescent.
The graduating class were 114 students including 81 females and 33 male students and the ceremony was attended by a Qatari delegation headed by his excellency Qatari ambassador Mohammed Al-Amadi – Head of Qatari Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, and IUG Chairman of Board of Trustees Prof. Nasr Id-Deen Al-Muzeini, Prof. Adel Awadallah, IUG President, IUG senior staff, teachers , graduates and their families.
Qatari Ambassador, Had of Qatari Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, praised IUG for its diligent efforts in hosting humanitarian and scientific projects, while praising the graduates for their hardworking despite challenges. Al-Amadi reaffirmed Qatar’s continued support for the people of Gaza in all aspects of life and that’s Qatar’s contribution to this specific project aiming at improving access to education to deaf students is part of its humanitarian and Arab duty.
IUG Chairman of Board of Trustees Prof. Nasr Id-Deen Al-Muzeini expressed his delight at the graduation of the 1st class of deaf students, a first event in Palestine, commending IUG for providing these students with higher education, “this is a national day of excellence… IUG is the first Palestinian university to offer such service.” Al-Muzeini added.
IUG President Prof. Adel Awadallah welcomed Ambassador Al-Amadi thanking his great efforts and the support the sister state of Qatar provides to the Palestinian people. He thanked all good people who generously funded the project until it reached this important stage.
Awadallah added that ambition and hope guided these graduates were part of the greater ambition and hope IUG is embracing, noting that “IUG is pioneer in providing services to students with special needs and offers special programs to support dead students, making the university the first among Palestinian and Arab universities.”
Speaking using sign language on behalf of her colleagues, graduate Eman Irqaiq said “These are dear moments that I stand before you with a heart beating with joy and thanks to you all … I am very happy today.” Irqaiq noted that she and her colleagues were proud of their achievement after long years of hard-work and diligence and to be the first class of students with hearing disabilities to graduate from IUG.
Irqaiq extended her special thanks to the state of Qatar that was the first to support projects for caring for deaf students and commended all associations that played a role in the success of this project.
