Mr. Sabeeh Al-Masri, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at An-Najah University, chaired a periodic meeting for the Board of Trustees joined by Prof. Rami Hamdallah, President of An-Najah and the members of the Board. The members discussed several issues related to the University’s development and progress.

The participants in the meeting first discussed the decisions taken in the previous meeting in addition to approving a number of promotions for the members of the faculty staff at the University. A number of promotions to a Professor and an Associate Professor were approved by the Board in addition to a number of appointments in the faculty staff. Around 20 new members of the faculty staff were appointed as well as approving several administrative posts that were presented by the University President.

In the meeting also, Prof. Hamdallah submitted the University’s annual report for the academic year 2010-2011 in which he detailed the most significant achievements that the University has made especially with respect to the University’s academic status regionally and internationally. The Chairman and members of the Board thanked Prof. Hamdallah for the report and valued the efforts made by him and the University’s academic and administrative staff to help the University develop and excel further.

The annual report reflected the extent to which the University has developed which was clear through the many projects that have been implemented and the different new academic programs that were have been adopted recently which serve the needs of the Palestinian and Arab societies. The report also showed the extent of the University’s interaction with the local society and the wide range of services it offers to the society through its scientific centers. The financial report and the financial budget for the academic year 2011/2012 were also submitted and approved by the Board’s members.

The Board also discussed other achievements including the rank that the University has achieved in the recent Webometrics (Ranking Web of World Universities) evaluation of the world’s higher education institutions. According to this ranking, An-Najah was ranked first in Palestine and seventh in the Arab world, and was also placed among the first 5% of the world’s top universities.

Another achievement that was discussed by the Board was the recent IEP report which praised the high level of quality and transparency in the University’s academic process. The report also pointed out the University’s progress in serving the Palestinian society in the different fields of life. The evaluation was carried out by a team that consisted of presidents of five leading European universities as part of the Institutional Evaluation Programme (IEP).

Concerning the new Teaching Hospital, the Board was familiarized with the finished stages of this project and the remaining stages that will be completed soon. This hospital will contribute to the development of the medical sector and its performance in Palestine.

Mr. Al-Masri expressed his satisfaction of the progress that is being made in this project and thanked Prof. Hamdallah for his huge efforts to bring this unique project into life.

In return, Prof. Hamdallah valued the great efforts made by the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees to develop the University further on all levels and establish it as one of the leading higher education institutions in the region. He also thanked the Board for its continuous support of the University.

In an interview with him, Mr. Al-Masri said: “I am very proud to be part of this huge scientific edifice and we, in the Board of Trustees, seek to offer help and assistance to the University’s administration to keep the University in the lead”. He also added: “Over the last two years, I have observed that An-Najah University has achieved high levels both locally and internationally and that it competes with many of the universities in the region despite the various difficulties and challenges on the ground.”

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Al-Masri thanked the University President, his Vice Presidents, President Assistants and all the working staff for their distinguished efforts and dedication to keeping An-Najah in the lead.