An-Najah University recently organized a program of activities for delegates from French universities on a study visit to Nablus. In collaboration with Shaml Center for Palestinian Refugee Studies, a workshop on the development of refugee camps and also two lectures on architecture and urban planning were held between October 2 and 10.
Dr. Ali Abed al-Hameed, Director of the Urban and Regional Planning Center, said that the project came as a result of cooperation between the French Foreign Ministry and the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education, helped by several Palestinian universities. El-Ein refugee camp in Nablus was chosen as the focus of the visit.
Dr. Ali added that the aims of the workshop were to improve living conditions in the refugee camps, develop the services provided for the inhabitants and try to integrate the camp environment into the city without violating the rights of the refugee. He mentioned that the cooperation program will continue to include study visits for both Palestinian and French students.
The workshop was attended by postgraduate French students specializing in regional and urban planning and architecture students from An-Najah. The workshop was followed by two lectures. The first, given by Dr. Silvan Piyol from the Association of French Architects discussed the development of Palestinian architecture. In the second, architect Ja’afar Tukan gave a presentation comparing Palestinian and Jordanian architecture.
The event took place in Al-Kasem castle in Beit Wazan village which was recently reconstructed by Rewaq Architectural Institution and is now the headquarters of the Urban and Regional Planning Center of the university.