Birzeit University

Birzeit University

جامعة بيرزيت
Birzeit University campus, 2007
Motto	Building a Better Palestinian Future
Type	Public
Established	1924
Founder	Nabiha Nasir
President	Talal Shahwan[1]
Academic staff	617
Students	14,743
Undergraduates	13,523[2]
Postgraduates	1466[2]
Location	Birzeit , West Bank, Palestine
Campus	Urban 800 dunums (200 acres), 200 acres
Colors	green, black and white
Affiliations	UNIMED, AARU
Website	www.birzeit.edu

Birzeit University (BZU; Arabic: جامعة بيرزيت) is a public university in the West Bank, Palestine, registered by the Palestinian Ministry of Social Affairs as a charitable organization. It is accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and located in the outskirts of Birzeit, West Bank, near Ramallah.^[3][4] Established in 1924, as an elementary school for girls, Birzeit became a university in 1975.^[5]

Birzeit University offers graduate and undergraduate programs in information technology, engineering, sciences, social policy, arts, law, nursing, pharmacy, health sciences, economics, and management. It has 9 faculties, including a graduate faculty. These offer 76 B.A. programs for undergraduate students and 39 M.A. programs for graduate students.^[2] As of 2020, more than 15,000 students are enrolled in the university's bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs.^[2]

Since five consecutive years, Birzeit University has retained its position as the top university in Palestine and is ranked among the best fifty universities in the Arab region according to the 2019 QS Arab Region University Rankings.^[6]

History

Foundation 1924

Birzeit School for Girls was founded in 1924 by Nabiha Nasir (1891-1951) as an elementary school for girls from Birzeit and the surrounding villages. It was one of the first schools in the region. In 1930, it broadened its scope to become a co-educational secondary school, and in 1932, it was renamed Birzeit Higher School. In 1942, the name was changed to Birzeit College. In 1953, a freshman higher education class was incorporated, followed by a sophomore class in 1961.^[5] The university was closed from 1988 until 1992 by the Israeli army.^[7] The university was the last of 6 in Israeli-occupied territories to reopen.^[8]

Progress

The Faculty of Information Technology was established in 2006 (later merged with the Faculty of Engineering to create the Faculty of Engineering and Technology). In 2007, the Faculty of Arts was established. The Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health Professions (later renamed Faculty of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Professions) was established in 2008.^[5]

In 2015, Birzeit University launched the Ph.D. program in social sciences, its first doctorate program.^[9] In 2016, the university was ranked first nationally in the January edition of the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities.^[10] 2018 saw the establishment of Birzeit University's newest college, the Faculty of Art, Music and Design.^[11] The university was ranked top nationally and among the top 3 percent of universities worldwide in the 2018 edition of the QS World University Rankings,^[12] and it retained its position in the 2019 edition.^[13] Beshara Doumani assumed office as president of the university in August 2021.^[14]

Current situation

In December 2021, a series of violent incidents between students of rival Palestinian factions occurred in the campus.^[15] On 14 December 2021, Israeli soldiers and Shin Bet arrested a number of students allegedly involved with a Hamas cell, and accused them of funneling money and organizing rallies in support of the organization, as well as incitement.^[16] The same day, hundreds of students took part in a Hamas parade on campus to mark the movement's founding anniversary.^[15][16][17] Some students also attacked the university's security guards.^[15]

On 10 January 2022, an undercover Israeli military unit known as the Mista'arvim stormed the university, shooting one student in the leg and detaining four other student activists.^[18]

Architecture

Old campus

Regarding the Birzeit campus around 1980, it was centered around the historic Nasir family home constructed at the end of the Ottoman empire and adjacent buildings that originally housed the elementary school founded in 1924, before later becoming the community college and eventually the university.^[19]

New campus

Birzeit University's new campus is located atop a hill, with a view on the rolling hill and the Mediterranean Sea. The university's large building complexes and stone facades are designed in a contemporary architectural style, forming a contrast against the surrounding landscape of olive groves and small villages nestled in the valleys^[19].

Structure

Administration

The university follows a semester system, with two four-month semesters beginning in Autumn and Spring, and two shorter two-month semesters in summer. Support comes from numerous Palestinian, Arab, and international foundations, as well as from various individuals.^[20]

Board of trustees

Birzeit University is governed by an autonomous Board of Trustees composed of educators and professionals from the Palestinian community. The board appoints the president of the university. It also confirms the appointment of vice presidents and deans upon the recommendation of the president. The board approves the budget and general development plans presented to it by the university council.^[21]

Faculties

The university, through its nine faculties (Arts; Science; Business and Economics; Law and Public Administration; Engineering and Technology; Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Professions; Education; Graduate Studies and Research, and Art Music and Design), provides academic programs (76 programs) that end in bachelor's degrees, such as the major/minor programs. These faculties, in addition to the Graduate Studies and Research faculty, offer 39 postgraduate programs that lead to master's degrees. The university also offers three Ph.D. programs in Social Sciences; Computer Science and Mathematics.^[22]

Birzeit University is affiliated with the independent public opinion research firm Arab World for Research and Development (AWRAD).^[23]

The University also proposes a rich and diverse additional programs such as the Literacy and Adult Education Program in 1976, aimed at providing technical expertise to nongovernmental organizations operating literacy programs and helping them overcome the challenges they encountered (By creating Developmental programs or giving books).

The Voluntary Work Program also recquires students to fulfill 120 hours of community service to meet the graduation requirement, permitting them to explore Palestine in an educational manner. By doing so they can discover new places such as the Upper Galilee or the Naqab desert^[24].

Ecological Awareness

"Green campus"

One of the earliest academic establishments in Palestine to embrace the idea of green buildings was Birzeit University. The campus has been thoughtfully planned with eco-friendly building standards in mind, aiming to show students and staff the importance of sustainability.

The policies of Birzeit University place a strong emphasis on environmental preservation, demonstrating a serious awareness of the climate crisis. Investing in development tools, water projects and protection of the environment exemplify their strategy aiming to achieve sustainable development goals while making the most use of the resources at hand.^[25]

Art and Culture

Museums

The Birzeit University Museum is a significant location for exhibitions, workshops, and talks in the Palestinian cultural landscape.^[26] The university's Ethnographic and Art Museum is a permanent museum with two main collections: The Palestinian Costumes, and The Tawfiq Canaan Amulet Collection. The Virtual Gallery is an art gallery promoting visual art through exhibitions, training and educational workshops.^[27]

History

The museum evolved progressively as soon as Vera Tamari joined the university of Birzeit in 1986. She taught creative courses revolving around art and architecture. She significantly developed the university's artistic programs, eventually taking on major responsibility for its artistic initiatives. Moreover, as more attention was given to artistic practices, the university felt the need to devote a specific and larger space for art collections and creativity. Consequently, in 2005, the Birzeit University museum was established. Furthermore, significant donations were made to the museum, from the Palestinian American artist Sari Khoury, Kamal Boullata, Vladimir Tamari, Vera Tamari, Nasser Soumi and Samira Badran.^[28]

Political and social projects

This museum has a significant political role. Indeed, being part of an academic institution, the museum became important as it became a model of propagation and creation of cultural and artistic practices. Furthermore, this institution became a place where students can express themselves and participate in shared projects as a community.^[29]

Exhibition: "Unlike Other Springs"

The exhibition “unlike other springs” was launched at the Birzeit University Museum on the 19 March 2016. It illuminates the depth of the University's art collection's historical background and its relationship to the political goal in the creation of the Palestinian "State. This exhibition offers a glimpse into the many years of labor and devotion of a community of artists who, in the past, worked hard to create vibrant cultural experiences free from the negative effects of political realities. Many students participated, strengthening the community.^[30]

Discussion: "Unpacking the Violent Tools of Settler Colonialism: Methodology of Forensic Architecture in Palestine"

Furthermore, events and discussions take place. For instance, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the Forensic Architecture Investigation Unit at Al Haq in collaboration with Birzeit University Museum had a public discussion titled "Unpacking the Violent Tools of Settler Colonialism: Methodology of Forensic Architecture in Palestine." The FAI Unit's researchers discussed their work during the genocide against Palestine. Part of comprehending the continuing Nakba is their work over the past seven months, reporting and exposing Israeli colonial brutality in Gaza.^[30]

Poetry

Poetry holds a significant place in Birzeit University. One tradition is the Suk Okaz poetry competition, created since the founding of elementary school. It is based on the recital of classic Arabic poetry by students from the University.^[19]A notable event is also the fact that in 1995, a public poetry recital was given within the University by the famous Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish^[19].

Recent and ongoing projects

"WikiArabia Conference"

Birzeit University's Department of Biology and Biochemistry participated in WikiArabia: a three-day conference held in Jordan. The Birzeit University delegation presented the academic and educational material they have produced and uploaded to Wikipedia in Arabic in the fields of biology and biochemistry. This conference is organized annually in different countries of the region by A Wikimedia Levant, a user group in the Middle East.^[31]

"Rebuilding Hope" initiative

Furthermore, nowadays, in the context of the ongoing Israeli occupation Birzeit University plays a crucial role. The University is committed to allow students to keep studying and learning in the best conditions possible: Indeed, the initiative “Rebuilding hope” aims to allow students in the Gaza Strip to pursue their education, through the strengthening of every element that makes up the university sector.^[32] Firstly, online distance learning will begin in May 2024 in coordination with other Gaza universities. Furthermore, employees of Birzeit University will donate their time and energy to improve the institutional and infrastructural body of the University: they will help students retain more information to finish their academic careers. Moreover, resources will be supplied to Birzeit University and academic institutions in the Gaza Strip so they may improve their physical and numeric base. Lastly, relevant research will be undertaken to reconstruct Gaza's social, cultural, structural, and environmental aspects in accordance with local resources and Palestinian identity.^[26]

Activism

Student Activism

Students from the Birzeit Univesity are well engaged within the politcal context of their country. This can be shown from the creation of the "Right to Education Campaign" rooted in a long history of activism, in response to the ongoing repression of Palestinian educational institutions by Israeli occupation forces.

The campaign aims to demand the right to education for all Palestinians, including total free access to their places of study and raise awareness to their situation by using digital media. It seeks to provide the international community legal help about Israel’s continuous violations of Palestinians’ right to education, such as denying access to campuses through roadblocks and closures.

They act by operating on various levels to defend both school and university education in Palestine, such as documenting human rights abuses at Palestinian universities, producing legal reports and submitting them to UN bodies.Furthermore, the Campaign leads initiatives on specific issues, such as the denial of entry for foreign passport-holding staff into the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the restrictions imposed on university students from Gaza^[33].

The student movement's contribution to the national fight is politically conscious : Another example is that it took the political initiative to convene a national conference on campus to reject Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's visit to Israel; it is proud of this widely supported action, as well as its rejection of the Camp David agreement. This eventually settled the disagreement inside the Palestinian national leadership; the grassroots popular activities it provoked demonstrated a political consensus that influenced the leadership's position and contributed to its acceptance of the same stance^[34].

Birzeit University's Annual Heritage Week

Another form of activism by the University and the students is the Annual Heritage Week, organized by the student council.

Undoubtedly, student engagement within the conflict has played a part in transforming Birzeit into a hub of intellectual, artistic, and cultural activity that draws visitors from all over the world. By actively engaging students and the wider community in the preservation and promotion of Palestinian heritage and culture, it permits to strenghten their national identity in the face of the conflict.

The yearly Heritage Week features lectures by eminent authorities on a range of societal subjects, including political, economic, cultural, and artistic. Leading theater and folklore troupes perform, while exhibitors include book publishers, artisans, and producers of industrial and agricultural items. Renowned poets serve as judges at the poetry competition, Suq Okaz. The week culminates with a Palestinian wedding, where students assume the roles of the bride and groom and vivid aspects from a traditional rural wedding are recreated. Preserving the legacy and introducing it to the next generation are the objectives^[19].

It is important to note that this event was still organised annually despite its interdiction by Israeli and the threat of closure of the University, showing its important sign of resistance connotation.^[19]

Birzeit University in the current political context

View point of Birzeit University on the Israelo-Palestinian conflict

Birzeit University has made a strong appeal to the global academic world. They claim that Israel is waging a genocidal war on the Palestinian people and continuing to colonize them through settler colonies.

According to them, Israel's military operations—particularly its bombardments and incursions into crowded Palestinian regions like Gaza—amount to war crimes and savage aggression. By forcing Palestinians to flee their homes and taking their lands for Israeli settlements, they charge Israel with ethnic cleansing.

The conflict is framed by the institution as one involving occupation, oppression, and an uneven power dynamic. They see Israel as the main colonial power committing crimes against humanity and abuses of human rights. Birzeit also denounces what it sees as the complicity and apathy of the international community^[35].

Endangered students

A large number of Birzeit University students were killed as a result of the ongoing war. Below is a list with their names:

• Sharaf al-Tibi (November 21, 1984)
• Isa Shamasneh (November 15, 1986)
• Jawad Abu Salmieh (December 4, 1986)
• Saeb Dhahab (December 4, 1986)
• Musa al-Hanafi (April 13, 1987)
• Abdullah Alawneh (November 11, 1990)
• Ibrahim Qasim (May 25, 1991)
• Jamal Ghanim (March 22, 1992)
• Hazim Eid (July 9, 1992)
• Imad Klab (January 6, 1994)
• Abd al-Munem Abu Hamid (May 31, 1994)
• Mohammad Abu Shaqra (October 7, 1995)
• Fathi al-Shiqaqi (October 26, 1995)
• Yahya Abd al-Latif Ayyash (January 5, 1996)
• Yasir Abd al-Ghani (February 24, 1997)
• Abdullah Salah (March 29, 1997)
• Khalil al-Sharif (September 4, 1997)
• Nasir Eraikat (December 9, 1998)
• Diya al-Tawil (March 27, 2001)
• Ayman Halaweh (October 22, 2001)
• Salih Talahmeh (December 1, 2003)
• Jamal al-Faqih (December 1, 2003)
• Ihab Abd al-Qader Abu Salim (September 9, 2003)
• Omar Mohammed Mustafa Abd al-Haleem (May 29, 2007) Abd al-Latif Ali Mohammad Hroub (March 31, 2008)^[36]

Birzeit’s Prisoners Committee

Birzeit's Prisoners Commitee was created in 1980. It is an informal group from the university dedicated to assisting students and staff who faced harassment from Israeli military authorities. The aim of the the committee was to document violations, contact lawyers, and raise awareness while providing a safe support for all students.^[19]

Commemorations of the University

Several commemorations were put in place within the University as a sign of resistance and a way to mourn the deaths of Palestinians.

One example is the plantations of trees on the campus initiated by students, commemorating the 1976 fatal shooting of six Palestinian citizens of Israel by the government for demonstrating against the seizure of land in the Galilee region^[37].

Political role of the University

In the context of Israeli military occupation, the political role of Birzeit university lies in the fact that the institution is crucial to provide to the youth education, which is in turn important for liberation. Indeed, a large number of today's community and political leaders are alumni of Birzeit University. Furthermore, university academics play a significant role in the national conversation on democracy, sound governance, social justice, and social responsibility in addition to their involvement in state-building. Moreover, since the mid-1970s, Palestinian universities have been a powerful force for social mobility, reaching young people from all social backgrounds.^[19]

Notable people

By 2023, there are a number of professors who are also ministers in the Palestinian government. Thirteen members of the Palestinian negotiating team in U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace talks were faculty members of Birzeit University.^[38]

Academics and faculty

• Hanan Ashrawi taught literature there.^[8]
• The South African-born sociologist Stanley Cohen worked at Birzeit in support of Palestinian staff and students while a professor in criminology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem between 1980 and 1996.^[39]
• Lara Khaldi taught art history.^[40]
• Vera Tamari is a Palestinian artist, art activist, founder of the Birzeit University Museum and lectures Art courses at the University.^[29]
• Elia Suleiman a Palestinian filmmaker, taught courses within the University and egaged in the cultural activity.^[41]
• Emily Jacir, a visual artist taught courses within the University and developped the University's Art collection by making a donation of a variety of 100 art videos.^[19]
• Samia Halaby, a Palestinian American artist worked on an art project with Birzeit University architecture students during a month in 1996.^[19]

Alumni

• Hanan Awwad – Palestinian poet and activist
• Husam Zomlot – Head of Mission to the UK
• Hussein Barghouthi - Palestinian poet, writer, essayist, critic, lyricist, playwright and philosopher
• Yahya Ayyash – Hamas leader (also known as the Engineer
• Marwan Barghouti -- Palestinian political figure convicted of several murders of Israelis, studied in Birzeit between 1983 and 1988 and also headed the BZU Student Council.
• Mohammed Shtayyeh -- Palestinian politician, academic, and economist who has been Prime Minister of the State of Palestine and the Palestinian National Authority since March 2019.
• Khalida Jarrar -- Palestinian representative on the Council of Europe and is currently head of the Prisoners Committee of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).
• Atef Abu Saif -- Palestinian writer
• Amer Shomali - Palestinian interdisciplinary visual artist
• Muna el-Kurd - Palestinian activist
• Kholoud Nasser - PhD candidates in the Social Sciences Doctoral Program: award of the Tanya Baker- Asad Scholarship for 2024-2025^[42]
• Yasmeen Qadan - PhD candidates in the Social Sciences Doctoral Program: award of the Tanya Baker- Asad Scholarship for 2024-2025^[42]

Visit of renowned people

During another notable occasion, Mahmoud Darwish brought a delegation of prominent international writers and Nobel laureates from the International Parliament of Writers to visit Birzeit University, and to honor the resilience and bravery of Palestinian people during their repression.^[19]

This group included :

• Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka
• South African poet and memoirist Breyten Breytenbach
• Chinese poet Bei Dao
• Spanish novelist Juan Goytisolo
• Portuguese Nobel laureate José Saramago
• Italian novelist Vincenzo Consolo
• French writer Christian Salmon
• American novelist Russel Banks.

See also

• List of Islamic educational institutions
• List of Palestinian universities
• Palestinian Galleries and Museums

References

External links