Jerusalem | Al-Quds University (AQU) hosted a delegation of European professors and researchers within the program of mobility that is sponsored by Erasmus Plus. The academic delegation consisted of 15 professors who represented universities in Belgium, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

The meeting was intended to enhance cooperation with the European partners at all academic and research levels, and it was attended by the university president, vice presidents, deans of faculties, professors, and researchers,.

AQU president Professor Imad Abu Kishek opened the meeting by welcoming the guests and the partner European universities for their continuous cooperation with AQU. The university president briefed the European academics about the history of AQU and its various faculties, centers, and programs. He stressed the importance of such visits and meetings in enhance joint academic and research cooperation through exchanging knowledge and promoting scientific research.

Professor Abu Kishek also called for expanding the existing mobility programs to include more students and further promote cultural understanding and scientific innovation, noting that the university has created a number of centers and incubators to sponsor students’ entrepreneurial ideas.

Vice President for Academic Affairs, Prof. Mu’tasim Hamdan, presented an overview about the university’s history, faculties, programs, and centers. He explained the university’s vision that focuses on enhancing international relations and encouraging scientific research.

The coordinator of the Academic and International Relations, Miss. Asma Badr, indicated that the aim of the meeting was to enhance cooperation with partner European countries in the area of academic and student mobility. She noted that the existing mobility programs have so far benefited more than 800 students from several disciplines.

During the meeting, representatives of the European universities gave presentations in which they introduced their universities and aspirations regarding mobility and cooperation with AQU. The presentations were given by Professor Karin Van gave, from Thomas More University – Belgium, Professors Alberto Tonini and Maria Stella, from University of Florence – Italy, Professor Giorgio Giacinto, from University of Cagliari – Italy, Professor Maria Albuquerque from the Insitute of Politecnico de Castelo Branco – Portugal, and Professor Pedro Martens from the Autonomous University of Barcelona – Spain.

It is noteworthy that Al-Quds University enjoys a wide range international networks with many prestigious universities and research institutions around the world. The university employs these relations in developing its academic and research programs, and providing study and research exchange opportunities that benefit hundreds of students, academics and researchers from the university annually.