Women’s Enrollment & Participation Policy

Purpose

An-Najah National University (ANNU) affirms that women’s access to higher education is a fundamental right and a cornerstone for achieving equality, social justice, and sustainable development. The University adopts this Women’s Enrollment & Participation Policy to ensure fair, transparent, and supportive pathways for women at every stage of their academic journey – from application and acceptance to full participation and leadership in university life.

1. Guarantee Equal Access – Ensure that women applicants are treated with fairness and equity in admissions processes.

2. Promote Participation – Actively encourage women to apply for all programs, including those traditionally underrepresented by women.

3. Support Academic Success – Provide financial, academic, and psychosocial support mechanisms to enable women’s retention and graduation.

4. Foster Leadership – Empower women to take part in decision-making processes, student governance, and research leadership.

Scope

This policy applies to:

• Applications & Admissions – Undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional programs.

• Participation – Academic, research, extracurricular, and leadership activities.

• Support Structures – Scholarships, mentoring, counseling, and career guidance.

Policy Commitments

1. Equal Opportunity in Admissions

• Admission processes are gender-neutral, transparent, and systematically tracked.

• Data on women’s application, acceptance, and entry rates are monitored annually to identify gaps and take corrective action.

2. Encouragement & Outreach

• Special outreach programs and campaigns encourage women to apply to male-dominated fields such as engineering, ICT, and physical sciences.

• Awareness workshops target secondary school students and families to highlight opportunities for women at ANNU.

3. Scholarships & Financial Aid

• Dedicated scholarships and fee waivers are offered to women from underrepresented groups or financially disadvantaged backgrounds.

• Partnerships with NGOs, government bodies, and international donors strengthen women-focused funding opportunities.

4. Mentoring & Academic Support

• Women students are paired with academic mentors and female faculty role models.

• Tutoring, counseling, and peer-learning programs are available to ensure academic success.

5. Participation in University Life

• Women are actively encouraged and supported to participate in student unions, research centers, and innovation hubs.

• Gender-sensitive policies ensure that women’s voices are represented in decision-making councils.

6. Monitoring & Reporting

• Annual reporting on application, acceptance, retention, and graduation rates for women is integrated into the University’s quality assurance system.

• Public reporting through the sustainability and impact ranking webpages ensures accountability and transparency.

Implementation & Governance

• The Office of the Dean of Admissions is responsible for implementing this policy.

• Regular reviews are conducted in consultation with students, faculty, and external stakeholders.

Effective Date: October 12, 2021

Review Date: Jun 15, 2024