The ceremony was held under the patronage of Prof. Rami Hamdallah, Vice Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, and attended by Prof. Abdel Nasser Zaid, President of the University, along with vice presidents, assistants, deans, faculty members, administrative staff, and distinguished researchers.

In his keynote speech, Prof. Hamdallah expressed pride in the university’s research achievements, emphasizing that the awards reflect An-Najah’s vision to foster a culture of creativity and excellence. He underscored the pivotal role of scientific research in driving sustainable development and academic leadership, reaffirming the Board of Trustees’ commitment to supporting researchers and enabling the university to sustain its international reputation. Prof. Hamdallah also highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence, positioning it as a transformative force in academic and professional fields.

Prof. Zaid congratulated the honorees and emphasized that the ceremony aligns with the university’s strategic efforts to promote scientific research and innovation. He reiterated An-Najah’s dedication to providing a world-class research environment, equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure, financial resources, and facilities such as the An-Najah Innovation Park. Prof. Zaid highlighted key initiatives, including patent registration support and the establishment of the Technology Transfer Office, which has incubated more than 40 entrepreneurial projects.

Reflecting on recent accomplishments, Prof. Zaid noted, “Despite ongoing challenges, An-Najah continues to achieve remarkable progress in research and global rankings. The university leads all Palestinian institutions in international rankings and is ranked 23rd in the Arab world according to the Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings 2024. Each year, our researchers publish over 800 papers indexed in Scopus, and we are proud recipients of the Times Higher Education International Strategy Award 2024 for excellence in global partnerships and international collaborations.”

Prof. Waleed Sweileh, Dean of Scientific Research, emphasized the university’s commitment to fostering innovation and impactful research. He highlighted the deanship’s efforts to provide an enabling environment for research excellence, stating, “We take pride in our prolific research output, which strengthens our position in international rankings and affirms our role as a leading institution for Palestinian research and knowledge production.”

The ceremony concluded with the recognition of 193 researchers, who received awards in various categories, including research productivity, excellence in research incentives, publication quality, and outstanding extracted research papers.

This event underscores An-Najah National University’s dedication to promoting academic excellence, driving research innovation, and contributing to societal development. It reaffirms its position as a leader in higher education and research both locally and globally.