Under the auspices of the Palestinian-European-Academic Cooperation in Education (P.E.A.C.E) and An-Najah National University, a workshop entitled, the Development of Scientific Research in Palestine: future Perspective was held on January 16th, 2008 at Prince Turkey Bin Abdul Aziz Theatre. This workshop was a follow-up activity for the International Conference on the Development of Scientific Research at Palestinian Institutions which was held in Paris Nov. 4-5th, 2007, under the patronage of UNESCO and P.E.A.C.E. The workshop was attended by  more than 100 educators and research scientists from different West Bank Institutions. The workshop was presided by Professor Radwan Barakat, the current P.E.A.C.E. president and the Dean of Scientific Research at Hebron University. Preparations and management of the workshop have been undertaken by the executive committee including: Dr. Othman Hamed, Mr. Alaa Abu Dheir and Professor Hikmat Hilal (Chairman).
The workshop activities involved an opening session, two panels and a concluding session. Prof. Sulaiman Khalil, the Coordinator of the Scientific Research Centers was the chairman of the opening session and the concluding one. The second session was chaired by Prof. Sameer Khader from the Palestine Polytechnic Institute.
The opening session was started with a welcoming speech from Prof. Rami Hamdallah, An-Najah University President. Professor Hamdallah spoke about the role of P.E.A.C.E Program in supporting scientific research in Palestine. Dr. Sami Jaber, the Dean of Scientific Research at An–Najah National University, talked about the importance of scientific research in developing societies, and the contributions of international organizations to the development of scientific research in Palestine. Prof. Radwan Barakat gave a brief presentation on P.E.A.C.E Program and the preceding Paris Conference. Moreover, he suggested ways to benefit from what it offers. On her part, Ms. Frosse Dabit, the UNESCO Representative, gave an overview of what UNESCO is doing to support scientific research globally. She said that UNESCO is committed to support P.E.A.C.E. Program.
Dr. Zeid Qamhieh, the Assistant Deputy Minister for Higher Education, gave a speech stressing the importance of scientific collaboration and exchange among Palestinian universities, and having resource-sharing among the Palestinian universities` libraries.
During the workshop, five papers were presented in the following two panel sessions. Each  presentation (15 min) was followed by a 10 min open discussion. The first paper entitled, Status of Scientific Research in Palestine was presented by Dr. Samira Al-Barghouthi, the Dean of Scientific Research at Al-Quds University. The paper discussed many issues related to the status of scientific research in Palestine and the Arab world as a whole. Dr. Al-Barghouthi said that our researchers have the ability to conduct good research projects, but due to the obstacles and limitations that they encounter, they can not achieve the success that they deserve. Furthermore, she addressed the issue of how the Israeli occupation hinders the development of scientific research in Palestine. She suggested that a good way of developing scientific research is through teaching school students the basics of scientific research and equipping them with the culture of scientific research.
Dr. Aidah Abu Elsoud Alkaissi, the Dean of Nursing College, presented a paper entitled, Current and Future Research Priorities: a Future Perspective. In this paper, Dr. Alkaissi focused on a number of points pertinent to scientific research. She differentiated between basic research and applied research, and stressed the importance of setting research priorities. She drew attention to the fact that Palestine has a relatively small economy which affects its contribution to the area of scientific research.
The third paper was presented by Dr. Imad Al- Khatib, the Secretary General of Palestine Academy. Dr Al-Khatib gave a brief presentation on the academy, and its interest in developing scientific research. He talked about the importance of having cooperation between Palestinian researchers and their counterparts in other countries.
Dr. Aidah Abu Elsoud Alkaissi, the Dean of Nursing College, presented the second paper entitled: Current and Future Research Priorities: a Future Perspective. In her presentation, Dr. Alkaissi focused on a number of points pertinent to scientific research. She differentiated between basic research and applied research, and stressed the importance of setting research priorities. She drew attention to the fact that Palestine has a relatively small economy which affects its contribution to the area of scientific research.
The third paper, entitled Research Networking and The Palestinian Academy,  was presented by Dr. Imad Al- Khatib, the Secretary General of Palestine Academy. Dr Al-Khatib gave a brief presentation on the academy, and its interest in developing scientific research. He talked about the importance of having cooperation between Palestinian researchers and their counterparts in other countries.
Dr. Hilmi Salem, from Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem (ARIJ), presented the fourth paper that was entitled: A Strategy for Efficient Research Funding in Palestine. He discussed the requirements for developing scientific research in Palestine such as fund, infrastructure, facilities, field surveys, suitable environment for conducting a research, and qualified researchers. The importance of the identification of research priorities, the obligations towards societies, developing a long-term research strategy, and the transparency factor when allocating the budget, were also discussed.
Presentation no. 5, entitled Community Oriented Research, was conducted as an open discussion, in which all participants were welcome to ask, comment, recommend and critically introduce different views.
In the sixth paper entitled: University Research Management, Prof. Irene Hazu, from Bethlehem University, discussed the importance of having management structures, developing a research policy along with a code of practice, and ensuring that all research activities comply with this code. She stressed the importance of collaboration with P.E.A.C.E and other international programs.
All presentations and discussions have been reported and documented. Final recommendations and conclusions will be disseminated as soon as they are reviewed and edited, by the executive committee, in their final format.
Due to the Israeli aggressive measures conducted in the Gaza Strip, it has been impossible for academics from Palestinian universities in Gaza to participate, even by video conference or direct telephone. While the executive committee, the attendants and the participants renounce all sorts of aggression taking place on Palestinian residents in Gaza, they all wish to build future cooperation with scientists at Universities in Gaza in the near future.
Abdel Nasser Zubeidiah, the Chairman of Development Work Society, said that this workshop could be the beginning of a serious concern for scientific research in Palestine, not only at university level but also at the level of our society as a whole.
It is worth mentioning that P.E.A.C.E is a program of cooperation with the Palestinian universities that was launched on 1st November, 1991 at a ceremony held in Jerusalem. During the ceremony, the presidents of twelve European universities and their colleagues in six Palestinian universities signed an agreement to launch this program for Palestinian-European-Academic Cooperation in Education. The program offers grants to Palestinian students to pursue their studies abroad, and it organizes staff exchange between Palestinian and European universities.
Dr. Nabil Alawi, the Director of the Public Relations Department, said that P.E.A.C.E Program has offered some scholarships to An-Najah`s students. We are looking for more cooperation between the European universities and An- Najah through P.E.A.C.E program, he added.