The delegation included Drs Frank Eperjesi and Shehzad Naroo, who are international experts in optometry and ophthalmology.

Prof. Natsheh welcomed the guests and briefed them on An-Najah faculties, students and academic programmes. He talked about the importance of the Erasmus+ programmes in building local competencies and promoting cooperation among the university and its international partners. He also talked about the progress made in the Optometry Department at An-Najah, the community services, and academic and student training programmes it offers.

In turn, the experts said that their visit aimed at discussing possible means of mutual cooperation to share PhD students and teachers as a two way process. They mentioned that their collaboration focuses on uniting the level of education in all of the countries they are partners with. The delegation also talked about Aston University in terms of faculties, academic programmes and students. Moreover, they expressed their readiness to share economic recourses and extend the collaboration with An-Najah beyond the Optometry Department.

Dr  Imad Dweikat, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences said that the university focuses on building international cooperation that has a great impact on improving expertise in optometry and ophthalmology.

Dr. Liana Labadi, Head of the Optometry Department mentioned that the experts visit will include lecture, lab and clinic observations to see the quality assurance and continuous improvement at the department and discuss academic and research cooperation.

Notes:

• The delegation visit will be over a week as part of the E+ exchange programme that the Optometry Department has signed with Aston’s Optometry Department recently.
• The meeting was also attended by Dr. Mohammad El-Amleh, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Ms Dalal Radwan from the International Office and Mr. Alaa Abu Dheir and Ms Shatha Jararaa from the Public Relations Department at An-Najah.
• Dr. Eperjesi has a PhD and MBA as well as other titles in the field of optometry and Dr. Naroo has a PhD in optometry and is the Global President of the International Association of Contact Lens Educators.