Bulletin: Palestinian University Leaders Discuss Rescue of Gaza’s Education System; Birzeit U. Accuses Israel of Educational Genocide
A Well-Earned Salute to Arab Students
When I inquire about someone’s recent well-being, I often discover symptoms of depression, decreased enthusiasm, potential changes in appetite, low energy levels, and a profound sense of boredom.
Arab youth are coping with an unusual array of stressing situations these days. The issue might be linked to the turbulent weather shifts across different areas in Arab nations, or it could be related to news reports on the escalating death toll in Gaza. These coincide with distressing scenes of violence, destruction, missile launches, protests, ship targeting incidents, rising inflation, refugee deportations, and time changes.
Undoubtedly, these circumstances exert immense pressure on Arab countries, governments, institutions, families, and students across different educational stages. Whether gearing up for exams or already undergoing assessments amidst a tense backdrop of floods, dust storms, airspace shutdowns, and military activities, there’s a perpetual sense of the importance of backing the Palestinian cause or grappling with perceived inadequacies in supporting it. This is further complicated by student demonstrations, protests, arrests, conflicting statements, disgraceful stances, and a recurring query: Where is justice?
Greetings to all Arab students across various educational levels. The pressures you are facing are truly substantial. I doubt that at your age, we could have coped with them as you do now. Moreover, I don’t believe we encountered the same multitude of simultaneous pressures that you are currently navigating.
Remember to prioritise your health and psychological well-being. Take breaks from following the news and social media regularly. Consider volunteering generously to aid those in need and engage in community activities. These actions may provide some relief and support to help you cope better.
Mohammad El-Hawary
Al-Fanar Media editor-in-chief
News from the Region:
Palestinian University Leaders Discuss Rescue of Gaza’s Education System
The Council of Palestinian University Presidents gathered this week to discuss the challenges facing education in Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli aggression and explore avenues for supporting the educational process in the besieged strip. Amjad Barham, Palestine’s minister of higher education, chaired the meeting at the ministry’s headquarters in Ramallah, which presidents joined both in person and through video communication with Gaza.
In a statement, the ministry said the leaders discussed implementing the ministry’s emergency plan to support higher education in Gaza, including an initiative for Gaza students to continue their studies online through West Bank institutions, as well as opportunities for them to study in other countries. They also emp;hasised the importance of maintaining communication between students and their universities in Gaza.
Birzeit U. Accuses Israel of Educational and Cognitive Genocide
Palestine’s Birzeit University has released a video that documents the effects of Israel’s aggression in the Gaza Strip on the educational process. It says the occupation force has systematically targeted educational institutions, resulting in educational and cognitive genocide.
The university also notes that some 700,000 students in Gaza are being denied access to education in schools and universities and face an uncertain future as the conflict enters its seventh month. Furthermore, the university says the occupation has killed thousands of students, university professors, and teachers, including three university presidents, in addition to injuring thousands and causing permanent disabilities among many students and educators.
EAA Foundation Hosts Conference on Youth’s Role in Times of War
Qatar’s Education Above All (EAA) Foundation is holding its annual Empower Youth Conference this weekend. With a focus on “The Role of Youth in Times of War and Conflict”, Empower 2024 will take place over three days in Doha, featuring 250 young participants from Qatar. The schedule encompasses speeches, panel discussions involving global youth leaders, workshops, interactive sessions, networking opportunities, and an art exhibition. EAA emphasises the conference’s aim to channel youth solidarity and creative vigour towards understanding humanitarian crises and devising effective responses.
Event at U. of Jordan Medical School Stresses Smoking’s Harm and Ways to Quit
The University of Jordan’s School of Medicine recently held a health awareness anti-smoking event that stressed the dangers of tobacco use to both smokers and those around them who are exposed to passive smoking. People especially at risk to the health dangers from secondhand smoke include children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
In a statement, the university said the three-day event, held at the School of Medicine, was organised by students of the Safety and Environment Committee in cooperation with the Institute of Public Health and the Anti-Smoking Committee. The event also provided advice on ways to quit smoking, including through smoking cessation clinics run by doctors at the Ministry of Health and the University of Jordan Hospital. Visitors could also get a lung function test performed by volunteers.
More than 40 students participated in the awareness services provided during the event to more than 300 beneficiaries, including University of Jordan students from various colleges, visitors, and employees at the University of Jordan Hospital.
German U. in Cairo and Henkel Egypt Collaborate on Student Opportunities
The German University in Cairo has deepened its partnership with Henkel, a Germany-based multinational consumer goods company, by signing a new agreement with Henkel Egypt that will provide students with opportunities for experiential learning, research collaboration, and professional development.
According to a news release, the agreement will facilitate students’ acquisition of extensive practical experience through internships and industry-focused projects. It will also foster cooperation in research areas, leveraging the expertise of both parties to tackle challenges and enhance research endeavours. And it will benefit university students through workshops, seminars, and career guidance programmes tailored to meet industry demands.
Graduates of the German University in Cairo constitute a significant proportion, approximately 20 percent, of Henkel Egypt’s current workforce, the release noted. This statistic, it said, underscores the partnership’s effectiveness in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in industry roles.
Beirut’s Closed Colisée Cinema to Be Transformed into a Theatre
The Tiro Association for Arts and the Istanbouli Theatre have been rehabilitating Le Colisée Cinema in Beirut, with the aim of transforming it into an independent free cultural space for people. In a statement, the association said the Lebanese National Theater would use the space for training workshops, festivals, and artistic performances, as well as a public library and an artistic cafeteria.
Kassem Istanbouli, actor, director, and founder of the Lebanese National Theater, said the project aimed to establish a link between the country’s south, north, and Beirut. “It is a complement to our dream, which began with the establishment of the Lebanese National Theater in Tyre seven years ago, which is the first free theatre and cinema in Lebanon.”
He added: “Thanks to the efforts of young volunteers, we will achieve our dream that art is a right for all, break the virtual wall between the Lebanese regions through the arts, and link them together through cultural spaces.”
From Al-Fanar Media:
Scholar Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian Navigates Academic Freedom Challenges in Israel
Near the areas of devastation and loss in the Gaza Strip, the Arab Israeli scholar Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian has been embroiled in a separate conflict that concerns Palestinian rights and academic freedom in Israel. Shalhoub-Kevorkian has faced consequences from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she holds appointments in law and social welfare, and from the Israeli police for her outspoken criticism of Zionism and for questioning accounts of atrocities attributed to Hamas during its attacks inside Israel on 7 October 2023. Her struggles have drawn support internationally from academic freedom advocacy groups and other institutions. Read more in this article.
In Conflict:
Sinan Antoon Briefly Detained at Pro-Palestine Rally in New York
Sinan Antoon, an internationally renowned Iraqi American novelist and an associate professor at New York University, was among more than 100 protesters briefly detained during a pro-Palestine rally on the Manhattan campus on Monday, 22 April. After his release, he tweeted on X (formerly Twitter): “Thanks for all the messages of support and solidarity. Out with a summons. Let’s focus on Palestine and Gaza.” Jadaliyya, an online magazine from the Arab Studies Institute, which Antoon co-edits, said the scholar was arrested while trying to protect students from the police. Read more in this article.
Tips and Resources:
Advice from Universities on Making the Most of the Student Experience
Going to university changes young people’s lives in more ways than preparing them for a job. Al-Fanar Media gathered tips from universities and career firms in several countries about how to make the most of the university experience. Australia’s Charles Sturt University believes the university experience helps students get ready to “make their mark on the world” while discovering their passion, becoming more independent, and making friends for life. The Camden Centre of Rutgers University, in New Jersey, offers tips for maintaining health and wellness. Canada’s University of Toronto at Scarborough has suggestions on how to manage time and energy while excelling academically. Read more about these institutions’ and others’ advice in this article.
Opinion:
Western Universities’ Double Standards on Liberal Values, Academic Freedom
In recent days, the world has witnessed a display of double standards when it comes to liberal ideas and freedom of speech being practiced in Western academic institutions. Multiple universities in Europe and the United States have shut down individuals, faculty members, students, and entire departments for speaking up about topics that go against the political interests of the people or governments in power. In this essay, two scholars at Qatar University’s Gulf Studies Center argue that these events demonstrate the deterioration of freedom of speech in Western universities in line with global events.
Scholarships
Al-Fanar Media maintains a database of quality scholarships available to Arab students, which we continuously update. To stay up to date on the latest scholarships available in international universities, check the Scholarships section here, and watch for updated feedback on free learning opportunities in our News and Reports section, here.
