On February 21^st, the University President, Prof. Rami Hamdallah, received in his office at the Old Campus Mr. Maxwell Gaylard, Deputy United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process.

Attendees included: Nablus Governor, Major General Jibrin Al-Bakri, Deputy Governor Mrs. Anan Ateereh, Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham, Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Palestinian Territories, Ms. Jean Gough, UNICEF-oPt Special Representative, Ms. Barbara Piazza Georgi, Special Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Prof. Maher Abu Eid, University Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Sam Alfoqahaa, Acting Director of the Public Relations Department, as well as Mr. Steven Royle from the International Relations Office at the University.

Prof. Hamdallah welcomed the guest and gave a summary about the University, its history, the academic programs it offers, the faculties it contains, as well as the scientific centers it includes that aim to provide the local society with a wide spectrum of services.

He also spoke about the different phases of development that An-Najah has gone through ever since its establishment and familiarized Mr. Gaylard with the different campuses it has, including the New Campus, Khadouri Campus in Tulkarem and Hisham Hijjawi College of Technology. A documentary film was also featured during the meeting which summarized the University’s history, highlighted its achievements in the field of scientific research and described its recent ranking by Webometrics on February 2^nd 2011.

Furthermore, he explained the University’s mission to provide its students with education and training which would help them find jobs after graduation. He emphasized that the University is looking forward to developing the Palestinian society through offering an array of services and education. Prof. Hamdallah also expressed the University’s gratitude for the efforts that the United Nations exerts to offer different kinds of humanitarian and developmental services to the Palestinians.

Mr. Gaylard on his part thanked the University President for the hospitality and assured the United Nation’s concern with supporting the Palestinian people in all fields of life. A discussion meeting was organized at the Conferences Room at the Old Campus library between Mr. Gaylard and a number of professors about various issues related to health, education, industry, settlements and others.