The US Consul General in Jerusalem Inaugurates the American Studies Resource Center at the University
July 13th 2010. Upon his visit to the University, the United States Consul General in Jerusalem, Mr. Daniel Rubinstein, joined the University President, Prof. Rami Hamdallah, in the inauguration of the new American Studies Resource Center that was established recently at the University. The new center has been created to reinforce bonds of cooperation and academic exchange between the University and the United States. It aims to bring together both Palestinians and Americans to share their ideas, thoughts and experiences for the sake of mutual benefit and to achieve better understanding of each other's culture.
In the ceremony, Mr. Rubinstein delivered a speech in which he thanked the University and its staff for their interest in American studies and valued their efforts to establish such a center. He further said that the US Consulate General is committed to encouraging understanding and joint cooperation between Palestine and the United States. He also hoped that the field of American studies would grow to become part of the higher education in Palestine. Having more and more Palestinians involved in such field would make the people aware of the American history, policy and culture.
Prof. Hamdallah, in his speech, said that the University is proud to host the American Studies Resource Center which would be the first step towards the development of an independent academic program that deals with American studies. The President also said that contact between the University and the United States is represented through the exchange of professors and students between An-Najah and American universities. Several Palestinian professors are working at American universities and many American professors are teaching at An-Najah, not to mention the numerous scholarships and study visits that the University offers to its students who seek to pursue their education in America.
Prof. Hamdallah also added that the University has realized the importance of sending its top students to the United States; therefore, it worked hard on this issue and managed to help many of them to successfully join top American universities.
The new American Studies Center is a result of long cooperation and coordination between the University and the Consulate General. It contains more than 350 different books and publications about the American history, policy, literature, as well as English language resources. In addition to the center, the University seeks to establish an American Studies curriculum followed by an MA degree program as well as a full-scale American Studies Center that supports faculty, research and international exchange and on going partnerships with American universities.
