On Sunday, May 24th, 2015 An-Najah celebrated the graduation ceremony for the 3rd cohort of students from the School of Oriental and African Studies SOAS-University of London students from the Arabic for Non-Native Speakers Programme. The ceremony was held at the Zaffer Al-Masri Auditorium in the Old Campus.

Dr. Raed Abdul Raheem, Programme Coordinator and Lecturer welcomed the attendance and spoke of the big progress the programme has made in its three years and expressed his hope for further success and participation. Professor Maher Natsheh, Acting President of An-Najah congratulated the graduates stressing the significance of the academic cooperation with London University and asked the graduates to be ambassadors to Palestine. He added that An-Najah signed agreements with other countries like Japan concerning the programme. He also gave thanks to Dr. Kherieh Rassas, Vice President of International Department and External Affairs for her consistent efforts in making the programme a success.

Graduate Josh Rathbone expressed his gratitude to An-Najah and the people of Palestine and talked about his experience in the university. He stated that the programme has developed his knowledge of the Arabic language as well as the Palestinian culture and cause. He added that the programme allowed him to discover the beauty of Palestinian landscape and the Palestinian history.

Graduate Kareem Tennis recited a poem of his writing on Palestinian suffering and the Israeli occupation. Other graduates recited two poems by Mahmoud Darwish on Palestine. They also played a video they made on their experience in Palestine and their activities outside the classroom. Finally, graduate Rathbone and his colleague performed a blended musical piece of Irish and Scottish folklore.

The ceremony was concluded by awarding the students with their certificates by Professor Natsheh and Dr. Rassas.

Notes:

-          The Arabic for Non-Native Speakers Programme was established in 2012 and aims at introducing the world to the Arabic language and Palestinian cause and culture. It also aims at abolishing the stereotyped image of the Arab and Islamic world. It offers various programmes such as the levels and the Arabic literature. It consists of 36 credit hours over one year that aim at increasing exposure to the Arabic language and Arab societies, with particular attention and emphasis on Palestine.