A delegation from the World Bank and the Quality Development Fund from the Ministry of Higher Education, consisting of Mrs. Marina Weis, the Director of the World Bank in Palestine, and Engineer Suha Khalili, the Director of the World Bank Project Units in the Ministry of Higher Education made a visit to the PPU. They were welcomed by Prof. Imad al-Khatib, President of the University, Dr. Mohammad Ghazi al-Qawasmi, the Vice-President of the Community Services Affairs, Dr. Sameer Khader, the Director of the Triple Helix Partnership Project, Dr. Fawzi Razem, the Project Manager of the Industrial Incubation in addition to Dr. Abdel Kareem Daoud, Representative of the Power Engineering program, Dr. Hasan Sawalah, Representative of the Environmental Engineering program, and Dr. Amjad al-Natsheh, who is in charge of follow-up and evaluation of the Industrial Incubation projects. The aim of this visit has been to find about the progress of the project currently undertaken by the university (The Industrial Incubation and the Triple Helix Partnership),funded by the Quality Development Fund of the World Bank.
The President of the University Prof. Imad al-Khatib opened the meeting by welcoming the visiting delegation and praising their role and great efforts in the advancement of the education sector and creating jobs for the young people in Palestine. He also stressed the role of the university and its pursuit continued around the world in the areas of applied scientific research, innovation, entrepreneurship, community service, and the advancement of the Palestinian economy by enhancing the concepts of community partnership, developing human researches and providing the community with qualified engineering and technical cadres to enter the labor market and also provide training and employment opportunities to students and graduates alike.
Then Dr. Samir and Dr. Fawzi gave a presentation on the two projects of the Triple Helix Partnership and Industrial Incubation, and he demonstrated the important role of these projects in narrowing the gap between the university education and the labor market as well as the creation of a complementary revolution between the education programs and the technical vocational training offered at the University at all levels and is compatible with the labor market needs. Such projects will provide opportunities for the students to enhance their skills and abilities to engage directly in the labor market after graduation.
At the end of the meeting, the visiting delegation were taken on a tour around the university, targeting the laboratories which have been equipped with the latest technical equipment and machines, procured from the budget of the projects funded by the World Bank. It should be taken into consideration that the University has received a generous funding for six different projects within the grant provided by the World Bank and under the direct supervision of the Quality Development Fund which is, in essence, aimed at activating the partnership among the local community institutions and providing work opportunities for graduates.
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