June 19^th. Based on An-Najah University’s philosophy and vision of higher education in Palestine and its concern with coping with the local society’s needs and the demands of the local market, An-Najah University was granted accreditation of a Bachelor Degree Program in Urban Planning Engineering to be integrated into its academic education. The Program is considered the first of its kind in Palestine and the Arab world and with it the number of departments at An-Najah’s Faculty of Engineering grows to 11.

The study period for this major lasts for five years with total credit hours of 173 hours that represent university requirements, faculty requirements and major requirements. The Faculty of Engineering will start accepting students to this major by the beginning of the academic year 2011/2012; students will be accepted based on their High School averages and depending on their scores in the specialization test that will be announced soon.

The University’s initiative to introduce this new major came after an extensive and thorough study of the Palestinian reality especially in light of the current situation which is characterized by the rapid growth of urban areas. It was also driven by the changes that were introduced by the Palestinian National Authority and the Ministry of Local Government regarding the adoption of strategic developmental planning and joint physical planning. More than ever, an aching need to prepare qualified technical and scientific cadres in the field of urban planning has emerged which would help in improving and organizing the process of future urban development. This would also assist in reducing random urban expansion and the poor planning that Palestine has experienced over the last years.

Dr. Nabil Dmaidi, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at An-Najah, spoke about the pioneering role that the Faculty is carrying out to contribute to the building and development process on the local and regional levels. He added this new major will help the Faculty to extensively reinforce its role since this field of engineering is the basis upon which building and urban and spatial development are founded.

Dr. Ali Abdel Hamid, Director of the Center for Urban and Regional Planning at the University and the supervisor of the Bachelor Program in Urban Engineering Planning, pointed out the importance of this new major and the great need for it in Palestine especially that most institutions in the private and public sectors lack experts in the field of planning and urban development. He also explained that there are many physical planning and strategic developmental planning projects that are under implementation by the Ministry of Local Government in cooperation with international donor institutions, in addition to other projects which will be announced soon.