This collaboration was supervised by the Academic and Professional Development Center at An Najah in partnership with the International Institute of Education (IIE) in Cairo, the competition featured over 50 institutional virtual exchange collaborations between U.S. and MENA universities. This marks the second consecutive year that a virtual exchange project from An-Najah has won the competition. Last year, all three of An-Najah's virtual exchange teams advanced to the semi-finals, with two making it to the finals before securing the win. This success is a testament to the hard work and remarkable talent of An-Najah’s students, as well as the high quality of the University’s virtual exchange framework and best practices.

Dr. Amjad El-Qanni, Director of the Academic and Professional Development Center, which oversees the University's virtual exchange programming, remarked, "I am incredibly proud of our students for their resilience and exceptional representation of An-Najah and Palestine on the global stage, especially in these challenging times. Their success gives me great optimism for the future of our virtual exchange programs and the impactful collaborations yet to come in the Academic and Professional Development Center (APDC).

The students participated in a virtual exchange course focused on architectural building systems, in collaboration with the University of Memphis. The project was led and designed by Ms. Alia Gilbrecht, who provided primary guidance and oversight throughout the 10-week program, in collaboration with Dr. Marika Snider from the University of Memphis and Dr. Waseem Salameh from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.

The team’s winning project, titled ‘Community-Centered Resilience: Collaborative Design of Nablus Natatorium,’ stood out for its creative architectural solutions as well as its demonstration of intercultural collaboration. Their success reflects not only their hard work but also the unique opportunities provided by An-Najah's virtual exchange program, which fosters strong intercultural collaboration and technical excellence.

Ghissane Sholi reflected on the experience, ‘Participating in this competition was more than just an academic opportunity; it was a chance to raise awareness about the genocide and the harsh realities faced by the Palestinian people. I felt a deep responsibility to share our story with my international teammates, ensuring they understood the impact of the ongoing Occupation and assaults in the West Bank."  

Aseel Abdel Hafeez noted, "Beyond our teammates, I also felt it was important to reach the organizers and attendees of the competition. In light of the genocide and the daily struggles we face, we saw this platform as a way to make sure our voices are heard and our fight for justice and freedom for Palestine is recognized. These global opportunities are essential for advocacy." 

The An-Najah team’s win in Washington, DC, highlights the university’s ongoing commitment to excellence in global education and interdisciplinary learning.

This victory builds on last year’s success, when An-Najah's virtual exchange teams reached the semi-finals and finals. The virtual exchange program, run through the Academic and Professional Development Center, has become a cornerstone of An-Najah’s global education strategy, integrating Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) across multiple faculties. Since its launch in 2017, the program has engaged over 2,000 students from An Najah, with 455 participants in the 2022-2023 academic year alone.

To learn about An Najah’s 2023 participation and victory, follow this https://www.najah.edu/ar/about/achiever/fy-brz-msbqt-m-hd-lt-lym-l-ly-iie-jm-lnjh-lwtny-thqq-lmrkz-lwl-fy-msbq-lbrnmj-lt-wny-lltbdl-lftrdy/