Funded under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) program, the project seeks to strengthen urban resilience in war-affected regions by delivering specialized, practice-oriented training through open-access educational resources for students, academics, and professionals. The initiative focuses on developing urban planning and data resources that support research and education, while integrating modern technologies into teaching, learning, and data analysis.

The project is implemented through an international consortium that brings together Palestinian institutions, including An-Najah National University and the Islamic University of Gaza; Ukrainian partners, namely V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kyiv National Economic University, and Lviv Polytechnic National University; and European partners led by Oslo Metropolitan University as project coordinator, alongside the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, the Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund, and Politecnico di Milano.

An-Najah University was represented by Dr. Zahraa Zawawi, Prof. Allam Mousa, and Dr. Abdel Halim Khader, who contributed actively to discussions on conducting research in wartime conditions, project governance, quality assurance, dissemination, and capacity building. On the first day of the meeting, An-Najah delegation presented an overview of research priorities and the challenges facing Palestinian higher education, emphasizing the critical role of open science and international collaboration in strengthening academic resilience in conflict contexts.

The second day featured a supportive address by Dr. Amir Khalil, Coordinator of the Erasmus+ National Office in Palestine, who underscored the strategic importance of the FORWARD project and affirmed national-level institutional support for its goals and expected impact. Over the course of the three-day meeting, partners agreed on project objectives, work packages, and implementation timelines. The University also presented its leading role in Work Package 5, which focuses on developing training programs, digital tools, and innovative curricula tailored to crisis-affected and resource-limited environments.

The visit concluded with a bilateral meeting between An-Najah National University and Oslo Metropolitan University to explore future cooperation in joint research, academic exchange, and international funding initiatives.

An-Najah’s participation reflects its continued commitment to international collaboration, research excellence, and sustainable development, reinforcing its role as a key academic actor in addressing urban and educational challenges in conflict-affected settings.