Arab American University (AAU) organized an academic day in collaboration with Brandenburg University in Germany. This aimed to promote the national and cultural identity in the academic curriculum of the university. The academic day was held with the participation of Al-Najah National University, Al-Quds University and a group of academics and students, who were from the Arab American Universitiy of Jenin, Brandenburg University, Al-Najah National University, and Al-Quds University.
Part of the academic meeting
The academic day aims to enrich the discussion of the intellectual debate about the identity and the Palestinian contexts that it belongs to, especially the social, educational, and academic aspects. It also spots the role of the Palestinian universities in general, and the Arab American University in particular, in strengthening the belonging to the national and cultural identity. This enhancement can be achieved through the academic syllabus, and the contribution of the academics and the staff of the university.
The vice president of the Arab American University for Planning and Development, Dr. Osama Salama, was in the reception of the delegations, from Germany and Al-Najah and Al-Quds Universities. Dr. Salama, welcomed them, and conveyed the greetings of the president of the University Dr. Ali Zeidan Abu Zuhri. He also gave an overview about the university, its goals, faculties, training centers, academic programs, as well as its partnerships with international universities.
This academic day has been started with a speech recited by the Professor of Political Science at the Arab American University, Dr. Ayman Yousef, in which he stressed the importance of the academic cooperation between the Palestinian universities and the German ones, particularly in the academic and students exchanges. Parallel with enhancing the scientific research, and building professional and academic partnerships, that would be positively reflected on teaching, learning and research process.
The first meeting in the academic day was led by a lecturer in the English department at the Arab American University, Dr. Osama Jurar, and it was entitled "Identity and Education,". In this meeting, moreover, a Master student in Conflict Resolution and Development program, Ruba Ghoul, spoke about the Palestinian identity at the crossroads, and she spoke on behalf of the instructor at the Graduate Studies faculty, Dr. Nahed HabibuAllah. Additionally, Dr. Ayman Yousef, a professor of political science at the Arab American University also spoke about the role of higher education institutions in constructing the national identity, with showing Arab American University as a model. Whereas, the general secretary of the Liberty Theatre, who is a student as well in the Conflict Resolution and Development program at Arab American University, Mustafa Sheta, spoke about the national theatre and novel and their role in promoting the identity.
The second session, was also managed by a student in the English Department at the Arab American University, Anastasia Karoany, which was entitled "Women in the National Persistence". In this session Rula Shahwan, who is in charge of the Archive in TV of Palestine, discussed the woman, the media and the leadership issues. Additionally, Haneen Abbadi, a master student in cultural outreach program, spoke about the woman in the local governance and the community accountability. Meanwhile, the German solidary, Larissa, expressed her impressions about Palestine.
Moreover, the University organized a tour for the German and the Palestinian universities academic delegation in the Arab American university campus, where they visited different colleges, training centers and had a look at academic programs, as well as the developmental projects, and the sports village with its current and future plans.
On the second day, the university organized a cultural tour for the delegations in Jenin city, during which they visited the center of the city, Alsabat district, the Liberty Theatre, and Church of Burkin. Besides, they watched films about Jenin, in addition to a play-show about one of the literary works of the martyr Ghassan Kanafani, which was performed by Liberty Theatre band. A Folk dancing” Dabke” was also performed by the University band. In turn, the delegations during the tour, expressed their happiness to visit Jenin city with its archaeological features, and artistic and cultural centers.
