On Monday 16 June An-Najah National University inaugurated An-Najah’s Business Innovation and Partnership Centre (NaBIC). The Centre is sponsored by the EU Tempus-STEP Project, and aims at strengthening Palestinian universities relationships with the private sector in Palestine.

Professor Maher Natsheh, Acting President of An-Najah, gave an overview of the University, highlighting the importance of European Union Projects within An-Najah, especially the Erasmus Mundus and Tempus Programmes. He went on saying that 40 students were currently attending European universities as part of their doctorate degree programmes.

Dr. Imad Brik, An-Najah EU Projects Coordinator, spoke about the importance of the Tempus and Erasmus Projects within the University and how these programmes increase the academic and administrative staff capacity; the Tempus - STEP Project aims at enhancing the relationship between Palestinian universities and the private sector, building partnerships and strong networks between the two parties and promoting scientific research. He further highlighted that the Project has introduced five communication centres in five Palestinian universities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the NaBIC being one of those centres.

Mrs. Alba Tiberi, an Erasmus delegate, talked about the upcoming Erasmus+ Programme, the stages involved in submitting project proposals, and their timeline for accreditation.

Dr. Nidal Al-Jayousi, Erasmus Projects Coordinator in Palestine, expressed his readiness to provide support for the Erasmus+ Programme. He stated he would do this through raising awareness within the University workforce of the importance of the programme and how to present successful project proposals.

Dr. Yahya Saleh, Director of NaBIC, addressed delegates about the Centre’s role in promoting relationships between the University and industrial sector. He also gave an overview of the Centre’s activities, mission, philosophy and future plans. He also noted that the Centre is accredited by the Ministry of National Economy for patent inventions.

He also focused on the University’s experience in cooperating and working with the private sector, highlighting the obstacles and how to overcome them.

He finally concluded with stating that the Centre’s mission focuses on consolidating the University’s team work ethos, through empowering communication with the service and industrial sectors, thus enhancing scientific research, innovation and industrial development.

Notes:

-       The event was attended by Erasmus delegates Mrs. Alba Chira Tiberi and Mr. Nidal Al-Jayousi, Erasmus Project Coordinator in Palestine.

-       The delegates met with Professor Maher Natsheh, Acting President of An- Najah University; Dr. Imad Brik, ANNU EU Projects Coordinator; and a number of representatives and large local companies in Palestine.

-       Erasmus+: is the new EU programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport for 2014-2020, from January 2014.

-       STEP: Strengthening University Enterprise - Linkages in Palestine: identifies a clear need for action in Palestine to boost the process for entrepreneurship opportunities towards economic development and employability. With the goal of improving conditions for quality growth and jobs, the project will stimulate the university-enterprise cooperation culture in Palestine, by promoting good practice for setting internal-interfaces in universities, creation of capacities in human resources, promoting coherent information and communication strategies amongst the universities' communities and within the local business environment.

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