On April 26^th, An-Najah University President, Prof. Rami Hamdallah, received in his office at the Old Campus Mr. Frédéric Desagneaux, French Consul General at the French Consulate General in Jerusalem. Attendees included Prof. Maher Abu Eid, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Sam Alfoqahaa, Director of the Public Relations Department.

In the meeting Prof. Hamdallah welcomed the Consul to An-Najah and presented a summary of the University’s history and development; a short documentary was displayed which briefed the different stages of development the University has gone through, the role it performs in services of the educational process in Palestine and the contribution of the scientific centers to the well-being of the Palestinian society, in addition to the University’s concern with the development and support of scientific research in the country.

Prof. Hamdallah also praised the French Government and its continuous support of the Palestinians regarding many issues such as those related to supporting higher education in Palestine.

In return, Mr. Desagneaux thanked Prof. Hamdallah for his hospitality and assured his country’s support of the Palestinians’ rights. He also said that An-Najah University is among the largest universities in Palestine that offers the Palestinians substantial educational opportunities.

The meeting also featured signing a cooperation agreement between the University, the French Consulate General and the French E.N.S (the Higher Education Institution in France) whereby student exchange is carried out between the E.N.S and the French Department at An-Najah so as to develop the teaching of French at the University.

In addition to the agreement, the Consul and Prof. Hamdallah inaugurated the French Teaching Resource Center which is funded by the French Consulate General in Jerusalem. The Center aims to develop the students’ skills in French and is equipped with modern equipments and educational means.

Attendees to the inauguration included Dr. Maher Abu Zant, Dean of the Faculty of Art, the Head of the French Department at An-Najah, as well as a number of French majors.

Prof. Hamdallah expressed his thankfulness to the French Consulate General and emphasized the University’s commitment to serving the students.