Advancing Inclusion in Recruitment and Education

An-Najah National University takes planned, sustained action to recruit students, staff and faculty from underrepresented groups, including women in fields where they are underrepresented, persons with disabilities, students from low-income families, refugees and displaced persons, and communities in rural and marginalised areas. These actions are not one-off projects: they are embedded in the University’s Strategic Plan, its sustainability goals and a set of formal, publicly posted policies, and they are overseen by the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, which reviews recruitment and admissions data, identifies participation gaps and recommends targeted initiatives.

Our policy framework

The University’s commitment to inclusive recruitment is set out in the following policies:

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy: commits the University to actively encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply for study and employment opportunities, and to develop strategies to recruit and retain a diverse workforce and student body. https://www.najah.edu/en/about/policies/equality-diversity-and-inclusion-policy/

• Employment Matters Policy: states that the University prioritises the recruitment and protection of outstanding students, staff and faculty from underrepresented groups. https://www.najah.edu/en/about/policies/employment-matters-policy/

• Anti-Discrimination and Fair Employment Policy: guarantees equal opportunity in recruitment, hiring, promotion and training, with a clear complaints procedure. https://www.najah.edu/en/about/policies/anti-discrimination-and-fair-employment-policy/

• Equitable and Inclusive Student Admissions Policy: explains the rationale and safeguards for positive action measures in student admissions. https://www.najah.edu/en/about/policies/equitable-and-inclusive-student-admissions-policy/

• Women’s Enrollment and Participation Policy: commits the University to outreach, scholarships, mentoring and annual monitoring to increase women’s participation, particularly in male-dominated fields. https://www.najah.edu/en/about/policies/womens-enrollment-participation-policy/

• Disability Access and Inclusion Policy: ensures dedicated funding, services and reasonable adjustments for students and staff with disabilities. https://www.najah.edu/en/about/policies/disability-access-and-inclusion-policy/

Recruiting students from underrepresented groups

Outreach to schools and communities
The University reaches out to secondary schools, particularly in rural and underserved areas, through guidance tours, orientation sessions and awareness workshops on academic programmes, scholarships and career pathways. It works with local schools, NGOs and municipalities to identify talented students from low-income and geographically isolated families and to support their transition to university. Read more

Women in STEM and technical fields
The University actively encourages women to study engineering, information technology, physics, architecture, energy and environmental sciences, agriculture and artificial intelligence. Outreach campaigns and awareness workshops target secondary school students and their families, and mentoring and academic support help women succeed in these fields. As a result, women now make up between 42.5% and 48.5% of students in engineering, information technology, veterinary medicine and agriculture. The University also takes part in international initiatives that promote women in science, such as the INSPIRE project on gender equality in science, technology and innovation. Read more

Through the GRIT Project (Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Technical Education), implemented by Hisham Hijjawi College of Technology with the Lutheran World Federation and Canadian Lutheran World Relief, the University has offered scholarships to girls, including girls with disabilities, to study technical and vocational programmes. Read more

Students with disabilities
The University’s Disability Support Office serves more than 200 students with visual, physical and hearing disabilities, providing academic support, reasonable accommodations and financial assistance through a dedicated Fund for Students with Disabilities. Between 2019 and 2024, 96% of applicants with disabilities were admitted and all of them received financial aid. The University works with national and regional partners, including the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to strengthen its services, and runs awareness activities that promote the inclusion of students with disabilities in university life. Read more | Scholarships for students with disabilities

Scholarships and financial aid
The University offers a wide range of scholarships, grants, interest-free loans and tuition instalments so that financial hardship does not prevent capable students from enrolling. Around 98% of low-income students receive financial assistance. Support is targeted at:

• Low-income undergraduate and postgraduate students.

• Low-income students in mathematics and physics.

• Low-income female students.

• Low-income students from minority communities.

• Students with disabilities.

• Students with cancer or chronic illnesses.

• Orphans.

• Refugee and displaced students.

In 2024–2025, the University’s Community Service Centre alone provided grants to 145 orphans, students with disabilities and students in need, and interest-free loans to 223 students. Scholarships are coordinated by the Deanship of Student Affairs and the Scholarships Office in partnership with donors, NGOs and international organisations, including the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and the Palestinian Student Support Fund (PSSF). Community Service Centre report | Arab Fund scholarships | PSSF scholarships 2026–2027

The University also shares external scholarship opportunities dedicated to underrepresented groups, such as the Salam Scholarships for Palestinian women offered by Ulster University. Read more

Recruiting staff and faculty from underrepresented groups

Open and transparent recruitment
All academic and administrative vacancies are advertised publicly on the University’s online recruitment portal, with clear duties, requirements and deadlines, and applications are submitted online, giving every qualified candidate equal access to employment opportunities. https://jobs.najah.edu/en

Equal opportunity and encouragement of underrepresented groups
In line with its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy and Employment Matters Policy, the University encourages women, persons with disabilities and members of other underrepresented groups to apply for employment, and prioritises the recruitment of outstanding staff and faculty from these groups. Recruitment, hiring and promotion decisions are based on merit and qualifications, free of discrimination, and the Human Resources Department is responsible for applying EDI principles throughout recruitment, training and staff development.

Accessibility for applicants and staff with disabilities
Under its Disability Access and Inclusion Policy, the University provides reasonable adjustments for applicants and staff with disabilities and funds the Disability Support Office to deliver training, support roles and specialised equipment and software.

Professional development and advancement
The University supports early-career academics, women faculty and staff from underrepresented groups through research grants, training programmes and leadership development, helping them progress into senior academic and administrative roles.

Monitoring progress

The University tracks applications, admissions and enrolment of underrepresented groups every year through its central Zajel system, and the results are reviewed by the EDI Committee to measure the impact of these actions and plan new ones. Tracking Applications and Admissions

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An-Najah National University (ANNU) actively encourages female participation in male-dominated disciplines such as Engineering, Information Technology, and Technical Studies, as well as in Physics, Architecture, Energy and Environmental Science, Agriculture, and Artificial Intelligence. The University seeks to challenge traditional gender patterns by opening new pathways for women to excel in STEM, applied sciences, and innovation-driven fields.

Through mentorship programs, targeted marketing campaigns, and academic support initiatives, ANNU provides young women with the confidence, resources, and role models they need to pursue these disciplines successfully. Over the past two years, female enrollment in STEM and technical programs has grown by 15%, and several faculties have reported a steady rise in women entering advanced research and professional training tracks.

These efforts reflect ANNU’s commitment to breaking gender barriers and cultivating a new generation of women leaders, engineers, and scientists who contribute to Palestine’s sustainable development and global knowledge economy.

Examples of inclusion-focused initiatives:

Encouraging female students to pursue university education in disciplines where women are traditionally underrepresented

Integrating girls and women with disabilities into technical disciplines

"We Are the Change" Campaign: A Medical Student Initiative to Promote Inclusion and Empower People with Disabilities

Scholarship and Financial Aid Programs

ANNU provides comprehensive scholarship and financial assistance programs to ensure that economic hardship never limits educational opportunity. Nearly 40% of financial aid recipients were students from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds, including:

• Low-income undergraduate students 

• Low-income undergraduate students in mathematics and physics

• Low-income female students

• Low-income minority students

• Students with disabilities

• Students diagnosed with cancer or chronic illnesses

• Refugee and displaced students

• Low-income postgraduate students 

Scholarships are coordinated by the Deanship of Student Affairs in partnership with donors, NGOs, and international organizations, ensuring that every capable student can access quality education regardless of financial background.

Staff and Faculty Recruitment and Support

To enhance diversity within its academic and administrative workforce, ANNU takes planned and systematic actions to recruit, retain, and empower underrepresented staff and faculty:

• Inclusive Hiring Practices: The Human Resources Department applies fairness and transparency in all recruitment and selection processes. Hiring panels undergo training in inclusive recruitment, and candidate shortlists are reviewed to promote diversity in appointments.

• Professional Development and Fellowships: The university provides grants, research incentives, and training programs for early-career academics, female faculty, and minority scholars, supporting equitable representation within the teaching and research workforce.

• Leadership Development: Specialized workshops and mentoring circles equip emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds with the skills needed for academic and administrative advancement.

These measures foster a diverse, talented, and globally competent university community that reflects ANNU’s commitment to inclusive excellence.

Collaborative Partnerships and International Programs

ANNU actively collaborates with local, regional, and international partners to extend educational opportunities and professional pathways for marginalized populations.

Key Partnerships Include:

• Clarke Education Foundation

This partnership supports higher education access for women in developing countries, providing scholarships and training opportunities that promote stability and empowerment.

• “GRIT Project” (Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Technical Education)
  Implemented through Hisham Hijjawi College of Technology / ANNU in collaboration with the Lutheran World Federation and Canadian Lutheran World Relief, this project strengthens gender responsiveness and inclusiveness in the technical and vocational education system across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, improving employability for women, including those with disabilities.

• Community and School Partnerships

The university collaborates with local schools, NGOs, and municipalities to identify gifted students from rural and low-income families, providing preparatory programs, mentoring, and admission support to ensure successful university transition.

These partnerships reinforce ANNU’s regional leadership in equitable education and gender-inclusive innovation.