The Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) and the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom have signed a scientific cooperation and understanding agreement. The partnership aims to support Palestinian universities in Gaza by providing recorded practical educational resources from the University of Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian University, enabling students to continue their education despite the destruction of laboratories during the war.
The agreement was signed on behalf of IUG by its President, Professor Dr As’ad As’ad, and on behalf of the University of Glasgow by Professor Olwyn Byron from the School of Infection and Immunity. The signing ceremony was attended by Professor Dr Adnan Al-Hindi, coordinator of the agreement with Palestinian universities in the Gaza Strip, and Ms Amani Al-Maqadma, Head of External Relations at the Islamic University.
The agreement stems from an initiative designed to help students stay connected to their studies, maintain their skills, and pursue their academic pathways. The first phase of the initiative focuses on courses within the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine, where practical learning is essential, with ongoing discussions to extend this support to the faculties of Science and Engineering.
Terms of the Agreement
Under the terms of the agreement, each participating Palestinian higher education institution will be responsible for integrating these practical resources into its relevant academic programmes, ensuring alignment with their respective curricula and providing clear educational guidance to students.
The Palestinian universities will report any technical or operational issues to the initiative’s organizers, who will coordinate with designated technical specialists at the University of Glasgow. To ensure quality control, both parties will jointly monitor the effectiveness and suitability of the resources provided under this agreement.
Additionally, Palestinian universities will gather and share feedback from faculty members and students with the University of Glasgow to support continuous improvement. The scope of the agreement also encompasses training courses and workshops for Palestinian faculty members on utilising these practical resources, collaborative projects such as joint virtual seminars, online or blended student exchange opportunities, and the development of new or joint educational materials.
Robust Academic Partnership
Professor Dr As’ad As’ad, President of the Islamic University of Gaza, highlighted the deep relationship between IUG and the University of Glasgow, pointing to a robust academic partnership that includes student exchanges, joint research projects, and educational and training support programmes.
Professor Dr As’ad emphasized the importance of this agreement in facilitating the educational process for IUG students whose scientific and practical laboratories were destroyed during the war, by granting them access to recorded practical educational resources from the University of Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian University.
He further noted that signing such agreements is vital to serving students, facilitating their access to information, and enhancing their practical and professional capabilities by connecting them with the wider international community.