On Monday 2 February 2014 Professor Maher Natsheh, the Acting President of An-Najah National University, hosted a delegation of Swiss academics, to discuss areas of mutual academic cooperation between An-Najah and Swiss universities. Delegates included Dr Nidal Salim, Director of the Global Institute of Water, Environment and Health in Switzerland and Dr Alexander Dormirir, from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland.

Professor Natsheh welcomed the guests, thanking them for their visit and expressing his hope for fruitful academic cooperation between our universities in the future. In addition, Prof. Natsheh spoke about An-Najah, its growth and the academic programmes offered to undergraduate, graduate and prospective doctorate students. He also gave an overview of the extensive University facilities and the campuses in Nablus and Tulkarem.

The Swiss delegates reciprocated their thanks to Prof. Natsheh and An-Najah for hosting them. They went on to express their admiration for the work undertaken by the University and its students, particularly in the field of water and the environment. They also stated their desire to build academic relations between their two countries.

The discussion then moved on to the possibility of future cooperation in the area of academic research and opportunities for staff and student exchanges. Notes:

1. The meeting took place on Monday 2 February and as well as those stated, attendees included: Dr Munqith Ishtayeh, from the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine; and Mr Khalid Mufleh, the Acting Director of Public Relations Department in the University.
2. The Global Institute of Water, Environment and Health (GIWEH) in Switzerland was formed in March 2007 under the initiative of Swiss, European and Middle Eastern scientists who graduated from several Swiss Universities and their professors. Their specialties involve different scientific researches in water, environment and health and promoting different multidisciplinary points of view. The GIWEH is a Swiss-based, not-for-profit technical, research and training organisation.
3. Founded in 1559, the University of Geneva is now the second largest high school in Switzerland.