A Swedish Delegation Visits An-Najah to Discuss Possible Means of Cooperation
On Wednesday, February 1st, 2018, Professor Maher Natsheh, Acting President of An-Najah, received a delegation from Sweden at his office. The delegation included the Head of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) in the Consulate General of Sweden, the Director of the Private Sector Development Programme, the Office Manager of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and a disaster risk reduction expert.
The visit aimed at discussing possible means of cooperation between An-Najah and the Government of Sweden, the OCHA, the UNDP and the National Disaster Risk Management Centre in the field of disaster risk management.
It also aims to enhance the role of the university's scientific centres in promoting research and conducting studies about disaster risk management which can develop the Palestinian institutions' capabilities and capacities that work in this field.
At the beginning of the meeting, Professor Maher Natsheh welcomed the guests and stressed the importance of the mutual cooperation between An-Najah and Sweden. Then he talked about An-Najah's academic programmes and the cooperation projects the University has with different international institutions.
He also familiarized the visitors with An-Najah's ambitions and future plans. The plans indicated the advanced level that An-Najah aspires to attain through its academic programmes and scientific centres on the local and international levels; with respect to preparing competent Palestinian graduates in the field of disaster risk management.
In a meeting at the new campus, Professor Dabbeek introduced the delegation to the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Centre’s equipment, and devices to be used in detecting earthquakes and gave a presentation on the Centre’s achievements, activities and projects.
He also briefed the delegation on the most important topics and issues that require attention in Palestine concerning the field of disaster risk management. He answered the delegation's inquiries regarding capacity-building programmes that the centre can implement in the future in cooperation with Palestinian and international institutions.
The delegation was given a tour of An-Najah’s Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Centre at the new campus, including its various labs and sections, as well as the Palestinian Seismic Observatory.
Notes:
The meeting was also attended by Professor Jalal Dabeek, Director of the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Mitigation Center (UPDRRC) and Mrs. Noor Hashayka from the PR Department at An-Najah.
