The universities – AAUP, Palestine Polytechnic, and Al-Quds celebrate the launch of Joint Ph.D. Program in Information Technology Engineering the first of its kind in Palestine, which was recently accredited by the National Commission for Accreditation and Quality at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
The ceremony which was hosted by the Arab American University campus in Ramallah, was attended by the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Sabri Sidem, President of Arab American University Prof. Ali Zidan Abu Zuhri, President of Al Quds University Prof. Imad Abu Kishk, President of Palestine Polytechnic University Prof. Imad Al Khatib, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr. Allam Mousa, The Minister of Jerusalem Dr. Adnan al-Husseini, and the Chairman of the Higher Council for Creativity Prof. Adnan Samar, And Minister of Local Government Dr. Hussein Al-Araj, Chairman of BOD of Arab American University Dr. Yousef Asfour, and Academic Advisor Prof. Waled Dieb, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Palestine Polytechnic University of Dr. Ahmed Saeed Al Tamimi, and the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Arab American University Dr. Salem Abu Khizran, and the President of the Technical University of Palestine Khadoori Prof. Nour El-Din Abu-AlRub, and a number of representatives from institutions and universities.
Prof. Abu Zuhri opened the ceremony with a speech assuring the importance of the program, in partnership between the three universities that will provide services to the students who enrolled in the program through 45 faculty members in the fields of engineering and information technology, carrying certificates from different countries of the world. As the program will provide qualified technical workshops, labs, equipment and tools indicating that these pillars will ensure the implementation of the program to the fullest.
Dr. Abu Zuhri thanked all those who contributed to the success of the program, especially the special technical professional committee, which worked on the preparation of the program since the beginning and until it was put forward in the three universities.
In his speech, Dr. Sabri Saidam said that this unique event in particular and the efforts put on raising the quality of the higher education sector and its outputs by strengthening and consolidating Palestinian experiences and energies during the past years came out the launching of this joint academic programs in higher education institutions. Assuring that this experience represents a success story worthy to become a phenomenon, and to move forward in achieving global successes and achievements by publishing research and studies in prestigious scientific journals, in addition to strengthening academic and research partnerships in this field.
The minister recommended in providing a supportive environment for Palestine to be on the knowledge and scientific map and to ensure a brighter future for Palestine. He thanked all those who contributed to the success of this event, in particular the National Commission for Accreditation and Quality and all the partner universities that enhanced this new academic program.
Prof. Imad Al Khatib assured the importance of the partnership between three Palestinian universities to implement this important program both academically and practically, since the world is depending more on engineering and technology approaches, and as it interferes and intersects with all other sciences. As it is known to be one of the lowest expensive used, as it can reach to the most geometric limits that has contributed in achieving human advancement. As he thanked the technical groups for their efforts in producing such a program.
Prof. Imad Abu Kishk expressed his pride in the ongoing scientific development of Al-Quds University and the Palestinian partner universities in achieving the accreditation of a PhD program in Information Technology Engineering which is part of the policy of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Palestinian education and universities. Which always seeks to provide its full potential in supporting Palestinian education and universities.
Prof. Abu Kishk praised all efforts to ensure the success of this program, as well as the joint work to create a supportive environment and culture, through collective action, to promote the Palestinian economic reality through these scientific developments. He pointed out that the real transformation is the knowledge production and the distinguished energies of researchers in Palestinian universities.
Prof. Abu Kishk assured the importance of the Palestinian universities role in improving the knowledge-based Palestinian economy through the strong relations between researchers in different Palestinian universities, and thus providing high quality education to Palestinian students in the main aspects of information technology in order to become distinguished researchers and academics. In this field, who need an incubator environment and a distinguished research production, the doctoral degree to complete advanced scientific research.
Prof. Nabil Arnan presented the concept of the IT engineering program in terms of academic plan and program objectives, entry and acceptance criteria, and start-up dates for the program and its teaching in the three partner universities.
The program is known to be the first of its kind in Palestine and an added value to higher education in the country holding academic quality outputs that will bring about a fundamental change in the reality of information technology linking it to engineering. In addition, it will provide the Palestinian market, especially universities, research centers and information technology companies with specialized graduates who hold a PhD degree in the related field.
The program will be taught at three partner universities using the American style, which is based on theoretical and practical courses, scientific research, comprehensive examination, thesis and defense thesis through a team of distinguished professors and academics who are recognized for their Palestinian, Arab and international competence.
Through its launch at the partner universities in Palestine, the program will provide a real and unique opportunity for those who wish to enroll in order to obtain a world-class PhD in IT Engineering without the need of traveling away from home, family and without the need to leave their jobs.
This program is a global unique program as its compared with USA program which is known to be the best country that offers Ph.D. program in Information Technology Engineering due to its content. In addition to the teaching methods of this program whereas it meets the requirements of the Palestinian labor market for those who are holding this certificate.