The President of Al-Quds University (AQU), Prof. Imad Abu Kishek, received in his office on the main campus the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the State of Palestine, Mr. Sean Benfeldt. Joined by the dean of the Faculty of Health Professions and the administrative director in Jerusalem, the parties discussed joint cooperation in the academic, research, and legal areas.

Prof. Abu Kishek welcomed Mr. Benfeldt, praising the relationship between Palestine and South Africa. He expressed the need to work together to enrich research in clinical training, which the university is working on recently by developing its relations with specialists in the field from the health and academic sectors.

The university president elaborated on the university’s campuses and centers in Jerusalem, and the services provided to the city’s residents at the various social, legal, and academic levels. He also touched on the plan to encourage innovation and invest in new ideas by supporting scientific research, which is clearly reflected in the performance of the students in research publishing, the labor market, and the board exams of the medical students.

Ambassador Benfeldt praised Al-Quds University’s vision that seeks to develop the students’ capacities by supporting scientific research and innovation. He pointed to the need for cooperation to advance the legal and human rights field and joint work in scientific research through networking with academics in medicine and clinical research.

Dr. Rania Abu Sir, for her part, stressed the need for cooperation in the field of clinical research, which the university began to work on through several meetings it held with specialists in universities and health institutions.

The South African ambassador’s visit comes within the university’s plan to develop academic and research relations with specialists from various countries around the world, and to consolidate relations with friendly countries in order to achieve its vision of serving and advancing the Palestinian society in all fields.