A delegation from the Islamic University of Gaza visited Edinburgh, Scotland on a scientific trip, including Dr. Nazmi Al-Masri, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Arts, who manages a group of projects in partnership with universities in Britain; Eng. Amani Almaqadma, Head of External Relations Office; and Ms. Sahar Al-Shobaki, PhD researcher in English Literature. The delegation met with members of the Scottish Parliament: Ms. Kawkab Stewart, Mr. Brian Whittle, Mr. Bill Kidd, and Ms. Audrey Nicholl in the presence of Profession Alison Phipps and Dr. Giovanna Vista, from the University of Glasgow.
During the meeting, Dr. Al-Masri introduced the university and its academic partnerships with various universities in European countries, especially in Britain. He referred to the latest projects that brought the Islamic University together with British universities in linguistic research disciplines and their role in promoting peace culture and supporting people with disabilities. Dr. Al-Masri also pointed out the importance of academic mobility to open a window of cooperation and opportunities to advance the education sector in Palestine. In this respect, he highlighted that most of the scholarship students were able to complete their studies in British universities, which paves the way for greater development in the educational system in Palestine.
Eng. Al-Maqadma spoke about the importance of the role of the Scottish Parliament in promoting and developing academic partnerships between Palestinian universities and British universities as they assist in enhancing equality between peoples, leaving no one behind, breaking the siege, and supporting women’s position in Palestinian society. She also indicated the importance of these academic partnerships in the Gazan Palestinian context, which suffers from high unemployment rates among youth, especially women, referring to the university’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its various programs.
Ms. Al-Shobaki demonstrated the project that brings the Islamic University together with the University of Glasgow, entitled “Welcoming Languages: Including Refugee Languages in Scottish Education,” which aims to include Arabic as a refugee language in Scottish education as a way to activate integration as a dual method.
Professor Phipps and Dr. Vista stressed IUG’s credibility and response speed during the preparation and initiation of partnerships and the implementation of projects, pointing out that the Islamic University is a reliable partner in academic partnerships, as it functions systematically to internationalize the university and its various programs.
The parliamentarians expressed their admiration and interest in the academic efforts made by the Islamic University in light of the limited resources and capabilities.
