The University Celebrates the 15th Batch Graduation under the Auspices of the President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas “Abu Mazen”

Friday, July 6, 2018

The Arab American University celebrated graduating the 15th batch of its students under the auspices of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “Abu Mazen”. In its glorious ceremony the students of the Graduate Studies, Dentistry, Engineering and Information Technology, Allied Medical Sciences, Nursing, Law, Arts, Sciences, and Financial and Administrative Sciences faculties were graduated.

The ceremony took place with the participation of the representative of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “Abu Mazen”, the head of the university board of directors Dr. Mohamed Shtayeh, the minister of education and higher education Dr. Sabri Mamdouh Saidam, Head of the University board of directors Dr. Yousef Asfour, the university president Prof. Dr. Ali Zeidan Abu Zuhri, the university founded President and head of the academic supervisor of its directors board Prof. Dr. Waleed Deeb, the university former presidents, some ministers, some parliament, the university VPs and assistants, members of both board of trustees and directors, members of the deans board, members of the academic and administrative staff, representatives of the official, civil, and private organizations, and a huge number of graduates parents.

The ceremony started with the graduates and the faculty members march, surrounded with the students’ parents cheering.

The University fifteenth graduation ceremony

The university president speech

The university President Prof. Ali Zeidan Abu Zahri, started by greeting President of state of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas “Abu Mazen” on behalf of the University and said “We’re pleased that this ceremony comes under the patronage of H.E. President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas, to whom we send our sincere greetings and appreciation for his efforts to preserve the Palestinian constants and humans dignity in their homeland and land, and for us to support the President Abu Mazen leadership to fulfill the Palestinian dream of a state despite the US administration and Netanyahu's extremist government blackmail and threats.”

“I also salute Dr. Mohamed Shtayeh, representative of H.E. President Mahmoud Abbas, who shares the happiness with the university and graduates. Thanks to the Chairman of Directors Board Dr. Yousef Asfour and the Board members who are working with the university administration for its development and advancement academically and administratively. And our greetings and appreciation to H.E. Dr. Sabri Saidam, Minister of Education and Higher Education, for his efforts to improve educational institutions in our precious homeland. Greetings to all those present and participants in this annual event, which marks a new season of achievements every year.”

He continued, “Welcome to the Arab-American University, which today celebrates graduating a new batch of its children, who have completed the graduation requirements of the 15th batch. You and we can be proud of this leading educational institution that become a model of Palestinian genius which is capable of refining minds and personalities capable to face the century challenges and establish independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital.”

The University President Prof. Dr. Abu Zahri, reviewed the university most important achievements in short time. He said, “The university main campus in Jenin has thirty-six Bachelor programs from eight different faculties, the latest was the Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy, the Ramallah campus is for postgraduate programs, where we offer thirteen masters and a PhD program in partnership with Indiana University in Pennsylvania, US, the first in the State of Palestine. We also established a therapeutic center for postgraduate Studies in orthodontics and gene analysis laboratory with sophisticated scientific equipment to serve the graduates’ and community.”

“The university is undergoing a major development as it become a vibrant university city, directly affecting the higher education process in Palestine, and positively influence the economic and physical movement in its surroundings in particular and Jenin in general. The university has many sports facilities, featuring its first international stadium at national level, which hosts and embraces international championships and competitions, in addition, it’s distinguished by its multi-purpose gym which includes playgrounds for various sports, and has a fitness lounge that features the latest hardware and equipment”. Stressing the university's eager to serve the community in several directions. Adding, it requires volunteering services in various community sectors and institutions. Also AAUJ implements numerous extracurricular, artistic, cultural and sporting activities promoting the authentic Palestinian values of university students and reflects a bright cultural image its role in serving community.

He added, “As the university built a free treatment center for dental and gum-related diseases, it provides therapeutic services for more than 5,000 cases yearly, treated by professors and students of the Faculty of Dentistry. The University established specialized centers for occupational and physical therapy equipped with the newest devices, tools and equipment to provide therapeutic and rehabilitative services to needy people from the local community and soon it will open for citizens”. Explaining, the university follows quality standards in its academic programs, every year seeks to develop new academy programs to suite the local market need and meets the country needs.

In the scientific research field, Prof. Dr. Abu Zahri said, “Every year the university devotes two big awards, the first to the Best Published Scientific Research in the Arab American Research University Magazine, in 2017 the winners were Dr. Jamil Al-Najjar from Al-Quds Open University in Gaza and Dr. Abdulrahim Mosa from Birzeit University in partnership with Prof. Dr. Alberto Pinto from Porto University, Portugal, and researcher Dr. Rizq Smmodi from the Arab American University”. And the Arab American University Award for Excellence in the scientific research for Palestinian universities professors. Noting, we are working to evaluate it and that the winners would be announced soon.

He concluded by congratulating the graduates, their parents and families, and called the alumni to be always responsible and work faithfully to bring back their knowledge to their homeland, contribute to the nation-building, be ambassadors to the university, and be proud to be part of this edifice whose name they carry in their degrees.

The university board of directors speech

The chairman of the university's board of directors Dr. Yousef Asfour expressed his pleasure in graduating a new batch, “I am happy to stand among the University alumni for the fifteenth time. Congratulation on your achievement, congratulation for your families and for the nation on this magnificent ceremony,” stating, “If you find a crossroad choose the least used route because this way you will leave an impact that others follow, instead of following the others traces.”

“I remembered this a few weeks ago when I was talking to a group of Arab youth about their future expectations of changes in science, one talked about a new specialization that’s not in Palestine or the Arab world and said it’ll be the base of any future scientific and technological development. This is what my son will study” and he continued, “I looked at him, a young man who was only 34 years old and asked him how old is your son now? Three years. At first I felt proud that among our youths some think and plan for the future, but my reaction was, if you are going to teach your son this specialty and it is so important then we want the Palestinians to learn it.”

“I immediately contacted the university to ask about this issue and the answer was there are no faculty members in this field. Palestine, and most importantly, this specialization requires training in large institutions, companies and advanced factories that aren’t available in Palestine, of course these obstacles couldn’t stop me from achieving a goal that serves Palestine and its people. I believe that if there is a will there must be a way, we started working on the program, contacted teaching staff from Europe and America, communicating with institutions, companies and factories in Europe to train our students,” he added.

He pointed, it was necessary to face the odds until the goal are fulfilled as long as we have faith in it “Surely it will be difficult, but our faith in it and its importance makes us able to overcome all odds. For example having the PhD program in Business Administration, the first in Palestine, wasn't easy but we made it.” Addressing the alumni where he said, “I want and expect you not to wait for opportunities but to create ones.”

Dr. Asfour concluded, “I was reading the success stories of the university graduates that the university publishes on its website and found many stories that we should be prouder of. I aspire to read yours after years to hear that your traces set to be followed by others. With love and respect I wish you all success”.

Saidam gives the University the accreditation of the Master of Ophthalmic Nursing and establish a Faculty of Sports

The Minister of Education and Higher education Dr. Sabri Saidam, announced the Ministry's Accreditation and Quality Authority approval for the Master of Ophthalmic Nursing and develop a sports faculty, calling on the university president to receive the accreditation. He congratulated the university for its determination that revolve around hope and more achievement. Expressing his pride of its academic and administrative staff, leaders, buildings, its trustees and directors boards, deans, and all those who have been the university presidents.

Siam stressed, the Ministry’s interest is developing more critical disciplines, especially in vocational and technical education, which were consistent with the labor market and contributed to push forward the national economy. Pointing to the used efforts to strengthen these disciplines through several steps led by the ministry in cooperation with partner institutions.

“I am proud that this university, in which both Palestine and it mingles, to see our people in the 1984 occupied lands and along the country having a beautiful ceremony, which is formed by your authentic presence, making it a great space for hope.”

Dr. Saidam was proud that the university offers 10 awardsfor the bedwen areas which is targeted by the occupation to strengeting their stedeniss and fortitude for the land, he said, this is determinitaion to continue the ducational process and for the Palestinian fight to continue to achieve

Congratulation for the alumni and their parents. We wishing them excellence in their career, to build their skills, serve their people, constantly striving to develop themselves and benefit from experiences, have noble values, and contribute in emancipation. Expressing his pleasure in graduating a distinguished students from this university whose educational programs are unique, stressing we always support these students for them to build their careers.

Graduates speech

In the graduates speech, student Maryam Abu Fara, told her story since she got her high school result her GPA was “97.4”, and addressed her searching for specialization then excellence in university where she got the highest grades, and encouraged by her professors to proceed her success. Stressing, the teachers good remarks and encouragement to the students important to make a big difference in their life, confidence in their abilities and education.

She added, “My feelings was confused, tears mixed with joy, happy to graduate and sad to say farewell. Our days passed quickly, today we get our rewards and say goodbye to our loved ones and the most beautiful place,” Also she thanked everyone who had to do with their success and superiority. “To my university, pens bend and colors gets fade, whatever I say won’t be enough, and no matter how I express it, it’s not enough. You made us smile for years, we will not forget and we’ll keep missing you. You will live with us as we will even if we left,” she addressed the university.

Abu Fara congratulated her fellow graduates and concluded her speech saying, “It is time to say our goodbyes, goodbye to every moment we went through to achieve our dream. Thanks to all those who supported us and shared us the joy of our success and graduation, thanks for the ceremony organizers, thanks to our beloved university which brought us everything new, sophisticated and distinct.”

The representative of the president of State of Palestine speech

In his speech, the representative of the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas “Abo Mazen”, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arab American University Dr. Muhammad Shtayeh said “I got the honor to stand today at this ceremony on behalf of President Abu Mazen, who has instructed me to speak in his name, congratulation to the graduates and their families. On this joyful day, I am proud of you and your success.”

“I will speak to you as the Head of Trustees Board and on behalf of my fellow members of the Council, we appreciate the Directors Board and the university administration efforts for the university achievements and continuous progress towards qualitative education, unique disciplines, advanced infrastructure, and a professional and advanced academic staff in science, knowledge, wise management, and scientific methods and the great partnerships with prestigious international universities.”

He address the alumni, telling them “We are proud of you and we know that life revolves around us and you. Today, you are students, and tomorrow your either employees, officials, businessmen, or academics, others will take your place here and thus life goes on. As the wisdom says: night and day, and the sky’s stars shifts in the astronomy, only to convey property of one king to another.”

“Our ceremony today comes as we grapple against the century deal, the American solution deal intentions are suspicious, output and tools, and as many have failed of the draft political solutions that wanted to detract from the Palestinian right will fail this American century deal,” he continued, “he said, “in the past President Bush tried The August to end the conflict and could not be followed by Clinton at Camp David when Abu Ammar told him of your intention to my funeral and not a waiver of Jerusalem. Bush was followed by the son in Annapolis and did not succeed. Obama and his foreign Minister John Kerry, who held a 47-minute negotiating tour with Abu Mazen, also did not succeed. Because President Abu Mazen and before him Abu Ammar are holding on to the national parameters of ending the occupation, the establishment of the State with Jerusalem as its capital and the return of the refugees, and the fact that Israel has failed them all, and we stand clear, From the Arab American University by saying: We want Jerusalem, we want the country we want to go back.”

Dr. Shtayeh pointed, Israel doesn’t want a solution, not a state nor two, and having thought it has settled geography and recognition now it wants to resolve the historical story about Jerusalem and Palestine and make it Jewish not Islamic or Christian and he said, “For the Palestinian story, we are the narrators, the heroes and we’re The people of the country, our land and our home, we will keep it generation after generation until they return to us and return to them.”

He referred to the Israeli Knesset's decision to deduct the Palestinian authority tax revenues earned by Israel where he said “Israel, this colonial entity steals from us. Yesterday, they decided to steal our money, under the law of the occupier, they will deduct 100 million shekels a month which is the value of what we pay to the captives and martyrs families. I say, rest assured my brother Marwan and my brother Kareem Younes with you and all the prisoners we won’t remembering and supporting you as you’re the Palestinian patriotic Movement conscience, the conscience of our case, rest assured brother Ahmed Moses, the first martyr of the revolution, we won’t stop mentioning you and we’ll remain loyal to your blood and brothers blood. With your blood you set our national and nationality road map”.

“This Zionist project stole and steals our land, water, sky, the souls of our martyr, our children’s joy, and steals the light from our Prisoners eyes who lives in the prisons darkness. Israel has stolen our books and placed them on its universities’ shelves. Today, they want to steal our Jerusalem and they won’t succeed,” he continued.

“We have been negotiating with Israel for many years without results. President Abu Mazen had hundreds of negotiating hours and Israel does not want to end the occupation, and the American president belief that his ideas are alternative to international law or International legitimacy is mistaken, and those who believe they can get us to change our minds regarding Jerusalem with a handful of dollars are also mistaken,” he said. Pointing, President Abu Mazen refuses to give up Jerusalem, the refugees and the right of a sovereign state, because our leadership is not seeking a formal state, partial solutions or state with temporary borders, “They want negotiations, but we want clear international law and reference, stop the actions against our people, and foremost stop settlement, end the Gaza siege, and we want an honest broker not Washington,” Shtayed said on the negotiations and the claims to return to Palestine.

Dr. Shtayeh continued, “We want an international conference with international law, international legitimacy and an international mechanisms as its reference to end the occupation. To achieve this, the Central Council will discuss the future of the entire political project and review the authority status under Israel's domination on our money, steal our land, and put our people under siege.”

Regarding the reconciliation he said, “The reconciliation must take place, and if our vision of it’s unacceptable to Hamas and theirs is not to us we got to make you the judges and appeal to the Palestinian people in a free and fair elections to restore our institutions democracy, become part of our culture and holdup to the institution and its legitimacy. We want one power, one legitimacy, one weapon, we go to war together and we go to peace together.”

He said to the graduates "Thanks to your parents for pringing you to this stage and for the university to provide you with the needed tools to face the labor market and envolve in it. Now, its your turn to do great things and make a better future".

About the Engineer Zuhair Hijawi Award

“It’s a great pleasure to stand among you today at this ceremony to talk about an award from the ones offered by the Arab American University in Support of research and development, it's Engineer Zuhair Hijawi Award. We started working at the university and our first goal was to develop research and encourage researchers both from the faculty members and students, so this has been allocated for over fifteen years for outstanding students in research. Each year, we note the remarkable improvement in the provided researches level and quality. Over the previous years, more than 2,000 students have applied for the prize and more than 150 won in different fields. All we wish is for the researchers and the university’s deanship of scientific research to follow up these researches and develop research methods both individually and collectively, for the greater good”, said the university directors board member Eng. Zuhair Hijawi.

“What makes an education institution unique is how advance its researches are and how much it supports the researchers. That is where we got the idea for Eng. Zuhair Hijawi Award for Scientific Researches. For years, we noticed the intense competition and the outstanding submitted researches, therefore we emphasize that it will continue, hoping to benefit the Palestinian people and to be the spark for researches that serves the country and its people”, he added.

Eng. Hijawi announced the award winners names. In the Medical and Biological Technology and Agricultural Sciences the first research winners were the students Safa Hayan Nasri Sultan and Bayan Mohamed Ishaq Yaghmor from the Palestine Polytechnic University. For the second research the winners were; Lamees Mazen Abdulhalim Zaro, Myriam Hussein Mustafa Hamdan, Manar Mohamed Abdallah Jrewah, and Aseel “Mohamed Raed” Khaled Fanoun from the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the Palestine Polytechnic University.

On the engineering category the winner students are Mohamed Majdi Ribhi Khatib, Al-Arqam Issam “Mohamed Ali” Edwan, and Ahmad Sami Abdulqader Al-Samneh from the Faculty of Engineering at the Islamic University - Gaza.

On the category of Information Technology, the first research award goes to the students: Wajih Mohamed Hafez Assi, Ranad Ziad Hussein Anabousi, Sewar Jamal Ahmed Daraghmeh of the Faculty of Engineering and and Information Technology at the Arab American University. The second goes to the students: Sondos Abdullah Ismail El-Sheikh Eid, Sondos Abdel-Elah Nimer Shehaber, Rania Rami Hammad Abu Hamada, and Nahil Aref Jadoua Abu Hamdeh from the Faculty of Information Technology at the Islamic University of Gaza.

For the Environmental Sciences, Water and Renewable Energy category, the students who won the award: Rana Mohamed Mustafa Abu Ghayada and Rawan Ahmed Ali Al-Aqili from the Faculty of Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Palestine.

Before the 15th commencement ceremony, members of the podium honored the faculties’ excellence students, then handed the certificates to graduates and upcoming-graduate by the end of the first and second summer semester of 2017/2018 academic year. The students’ names:

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