The event aimed to discuss the challenges facing women in scientific research, highlight strategies for empowering female researchers, and promote their participation in scientific output both locally and globally.

 

The event was attended by Dr. Abdel Salam Al-Khayyat, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Prof. Valeria Costantino, Dr. Antonella Liccardo, and Ms. Chiara Bonny from the University of Naples Federico II; Dr. Amjad El-Qanni, Director of the Academic and Professional Development Center at An-Najah; Dr. Maryam Hmoudah from the Faculty of Engineering and the lead organizer of the event; and Ms. Yamama Shakaa from the Faculty of Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence. The event also welcomed numerous international experts and researchers, alongside broad participation from An-Najah’s academic and administrative staff, and a number of interested students.

 

Dr. Al-Khayyat welcomed the attendees, emphasizing the importance of such events in supporting women across research and innovation fields and expanding opportunities for them. He reaffirmed An-Najah’s commitment to women’s empowerment in all domains.

 

Dr. Hmoudah highlighted that the main objective of organizing the event was “to raise awareness in Arab and international communities about the importance of supporting women to reach the distinguished levels they deserve in research.” She noted that the event brought together participants from various academic disciplines, not limited to a single scientific field. She pointed out the "Challenges" session in particular, which featured women from diverse academic backgrounds.

 

She further explained that the program had previously been implemented in Italy, and this event marked the first time An-Najah hosted such an initiative an effort to transfer and localize the experience academically in the region. She also emphasized the ongoing collaboration between An-Najah and the University of Naples.

 

Dr. Hmoudah added that the event also aimed to showcase the ability of An-Najah’s female academics to lead, overcome significant challenges, and attain high levels of scientific achievement, thereby presenting a positive and inspiring image of Palestinian and Arab women in academic settings.

 

She also revealed that the event was designed to be environmentally friendly and expressed intentions to organize it annually, with plans to expand its scope to reach a wider circle of female academics and researchers globally.

 

The event’s activities included panel discussions, practical workshops such as “Professional Networking through LinkedIn,” World Café-style sessions, and interactive segments to foster experience sharing among participants.

 

The organizing committee affirmed that the event seeks to create a supportive environment for female researchers and to provide practical tools for developing their academic and professional skills, thereby enhancing women’s presence in academic and technical fields.

 

The event spanned two days and concluded on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, with a final session presenting the key takeaways and recommendations.