On April 27^th 2010, under the auspices of his Excellency, President Mahmoud Abbas, the Third Conference on Education and Vocational and Technical Training was held at Hisham Hijjawi College of Technology. Dr. Sabri Saidam, President's Consultant for Communications and Information Technology Affairs, attended the event on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas. University President, Prof. Rami Hamdallah, Nablus Governor, Colonel Jibrin Al-Bakri, the Palestinian Minister of Labor, Dr. Ahmed Majdalani, her Excellency Mrs. Lamis Al-Alami, Minister of Education and Higher Education, the GTZ (German Development Service), the British Council, Dr. Naser Alol, Secretary General at Hijjawi College as well as Dr. Ghassan Al-Hilo, Dean of the College also attended the conference.

With the participation of a number of experts in the field of technical education in Palestine, representatives of several local institutions and members of the Legislative Council, the conference aimed at discussing the national strategy set for the development of education and vocational training and the reinforcement of this step through awareness and orientation programs.

Prof. Hamdallah delivered his speech in which he said that Hijjawi College is continuously progressing towards the provision of qualified experts in the field of educational technology who would play a major role in developing their society. Vocational and technological education is as important as academic education since it produces specialists who contribute to the vocational and technological development of the country. Because industry is the backbone of any successful nation, there is a great demand for qualified specialists through whom industrial development can be achieved.

Dr. Saidam also stressed the importance of scientific research and technology in the development of the different sectors of the society. Dr. Majdalani said that it is necessary to provide more job opportunities for more graduates. This can be achieved through conducting an extensive strategy to support vocational education so as to bridge the gap between education and the vocational needs of the society. Vocational education and training is a basic element in human resources development in Palestine. Curricula must be designed to enhance the competence of students, thus, enabling them to perform better in the work field.

The conference came up with a number of recommendations to support vocational education and training such as conducting executive procedures to reinforce regulations that would promote vocational education in the society, updating specializations and programs, designing proper curricula for vocational education, developing vocational education through attracting donations and support, forming a special committee that would work on encouraging students to join such education, allocate enough money to support scientific research….etc.

The participants agreed on supporting vocational and technological education by developing curricula, establishing cooperation between the different educational, social, industrial and governmental institutions to achieve the primary goal, which is stronger vocational education and sustainable development.