The event was chaired by Dr. Kherieh Rassas, President of UNIMED and Vice President for Partnerships and Global Initiatives at An-Najah National University, and was attended by several prominent figures, including H.E. Romano Prodi, former Prime Minister of Italy; Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities; and numerous presidents of Euro-Mediterranean universities.

During a panel discussion titled “Mediterranean Students’ Recommendations and How Universities Can Act on Them,” Prof. Zaid presented An-Najah’s experience in implementing the recommendations of students involved in the Mediterranean Student Summit (MSS), a pioneering initiative that brings together students from diverse cultural backgrounds to discuss shared challenges and promote intercultural understanding.

Prof. Zaid emphasized that listening to the voices of students empowers higher education leaders to craft policies that are more responsive to future needs, recognizing students as the leaders of tomorrow. He also highlighted “Ehna An-Najah” (“We Are An-Najah”), a student-led volunteer initiative that begins with outreach to school students and continues through their university years with workshops in leadership, soft skills, languages, creativity, and event planning. This initiative offers students a socially responsible and enriching educational experience while enhancing their personal and leadership capacities.

He further noted that the student-university relationship does not end at graduation. Alumni are encouraged to return and benefit from micro-credential programs and training bootcamps, and to contribute their professional experience in support of current students reinforcing a culture of lifelong learning and sustainable community engagement.

These efforts, Prof. Zaid added, align closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and An-Najah’s graduate employment strategy, which has had a tangible impact on the university’s global standing. Notably, An-Najah recently ranked 82nd globally in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

Prof. Zaid concluded his participation by reaffirming An-Najah National University’s commitment to strengthening its global partnerships and serving the broader Mediterranean community, stating:
“An-Najah will continue to invest in human capital and foster innovation to ensure the graduation of qualified professionals capable of making a sustainable impact both locally and regionally.”