The conference aimed at setting a joint strategic plan on education that will link universities and ‎educational institutions in Palestine such as the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education.‎

The conference shed light on a number of research papers on teaching and learning, educational ‎guidance and teachers' training and curriculum, as well as measurement and assessing systems.‎

Dr. Alia Assali, Head of the Conference's Preparatory Committee and Dean of the Faculty of ‎Education and Teachers' Training said that the faculty is working on rooting academic links with ‎educational institutions through holding extracurricular activities.‎

She also confirmed that the faculty aspires to be a forum that is based on free speech, tolerance, ‎freedom of expression and constructive criticism.‎

Dr. Mohammad El-Amleh, Vice President of Academic Affairs mentioned that An-Najah, along with ‎the academic and social (cooperation within the community) fields, focuses on the field of scientific ‎research. He added that the university holds such conferences to keep up with today's fast ‎educational changes.‎

Professor Deborah Young from Colorado University and who is a participating expert in the ‎Fulbright Specialist Programme of the International Office at An-Najah presented a paper on the ‎topic of teachers' qualifications from a global point of view where she explained the importance of ‎teachers as human beings and as role models to their students. She pointed out that teaching ‎should be based on quality and cooperative philosophy at all levels.‎

In his turn, Dr. Louis Cristillo from the AMIDEAST Institute presented on the challenges that ‎encounter teachers in Palestine where he stressed the importance of sustainable learning which ‎aims at linking learning with real life. He also mentioned that teacher's professional development ‎and sustainable teaching should be included in their rehabilitation programmes.‎

The conference resulted in a number of recommendations, namely reinforcing mutual cooperation ‎among researchers in Palestinian universities and encouraging scientific research in fields of ‎education. Participating researchers also recommended the Palestinian Ministry of Higher ‎Education hire well-qualified teachers regardless of their academic degree and hire more school ‎counselors to smoothen the teaching-learning process.‎

Notes:‎

• The conference was funded by the Charity Commission and the RAND Corporation.‎
• The conference was also attended by Professor Imad Abdelhaq, Head of the Conference's ‎Scientific Committee and a number of local and international researchers. ‎