In a news conference Professor Maher Natsheh, Acting President of An-Najah, said that “On Saturday 7 June An-Najah will begin graduation ceremonies of the thirty-fourth class of University students and will also celebrate the inauguration of the An-Najah National University Hospital.”

Prof. Natsheh added that the University has fianlised the arrangements to hold these festive events; highlighting that the University had successfully concluded the academic year 2013/2014 and has started the summer semester, that will continue till 22 July 2014.

Prof. Natsheh expressed his thanks to the University staff who is working diligently and faithfully within Palestine’s largest organisation, An-Najah National University. This dedication is what has made the University achieve locally, regionally and internationally. He also expressed his thanks to the journalists who constantly support the achievements of the University and spread the University mission through documenting the events and activities held every semester.

Prof. Natsheh stated that the University offers 75 Bachelor’s programme and 45 Master’s programme, including the programmes of Doctorates’ in Physics and Chemistry. He went on adding that next year the University will offer 6 new academic programmes which are: Master’s in Advanced Computing, Master’s in Electrical Power Engineering, Bachelor’s in Medical Imaging, Bachelor’s in Networks and Information Security, Bachelor’s in Athletic Training, and American Minor Studies Programme.

Mr. Majid Kittaneh, Director of the Ministry of Information, Nablus Office, thanked Prof. Natsheh for holding this important news conference.  

Prof. Natsheh went on talking about the University mission, strategic plans, and constant pursuit of competition with international universities, and encouragement of creativeness and scientific research. He further said that the University currently hosts 22,000 students.

On the new establishments, Prof. Natsheh commented that the University had founded the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching CELT; e-Learning Centre; The Centre of Innovation and Partnership; and the Child Institute (CI). Prof. Natsheh went on to describe the other under construction buildings, which are: the Scientific Centres and faculties of Law and Media. Then, he explained how the new restructuring procedures reduce the number of faculties, and students will directly enroll in their preferable majors; without having to study a whole year without specialisation. 

With regards to the Hospital, Prof. Natsheh stressed that the inauguration will be on Saturday 7 June. He also gave an overview on the Hospital, its departments and offered medical services.

Prof. Natsheh pointed out that An-Najah ranks first in Palestine, eighth in the Arab world, and is in the top 5% of the international universities and higher education institutions, according to Webometrics*.

He also addressed the Institutional Evaluation Programme (IEP) of the European University Association; commending the high-quality academic processes at An-Najah University and its advancement in serving the Palestinians in various walks of life.

Prof. Natsheh highlighted that the University has hosted during the past few months an evaluation team from the USA, in order to obtain the ABET Accreditation; under which An-Najah Engineering students will be able to better compete with USA students in the international labour market.

Furthermore, he referred to the University policy in building the second generation, through dispatching hundreds of its staff to international universities to pursue their higher studies. Highlighting to the winning of many grants through the Erasmus Mundus scholarship exchange programme for this purpose.

He also talked about the financial crisis and how the administration is seeking different possible ways to resolve it.  

Finally, Prof. Natsheh invited the various media to attend the University graduation ceremonies this Saturday and the coming Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Notes:

-       The news conference was held by the Public Relations Department at An-Najah National University, in coordination with the Ministry of Information, Office of Nablus, and within the TV show “A Dialogue with an Official”.

-       The news conference was attended by a number of journalists and representatives of various mass media in Nablus and the Northern areas.

-        *Webometrics: Ranking Web of Universities, Spain.

-       ABET Accreditation: ABET is recognised as the worldwide leader in assuring quality and stimulating innovation in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology education.

-       The Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) was established with the support of AMIDEAST and USAID. The Centre aims at holding training workshops for faculty staff on the modern teaching techniques. The e-Learning Centre which aims at improving e-learning in the University; developing the students’ and academics skills in e-learning, raising awareness on this new technology, and producing high-quality compact courses. The Centre of Innovation and Partnership aims at communicating with the private industrial sector, adopting students’ innovations and graduation projects and promoting them to the companies and factories. Also, the University founded the Child Institute, to provide treatment for children suffering autism. This Institute is the first of its kind, along with another private school for these children.