Al-Quds University (AQU) celebrated the graduation of the ninth cohort of undergraduate students, and the tenth cohort of Master’s students of Teaching Methods of Al-Quds-Bard College (AQB). The ceremony was attended by deans, faculty members, administrative staff, and families of the graduates.

The ceremony began with a recorded-speech by the President of Bard College in New York, Dr. Leon Botstein, in which he congratulated the graduates, expressing his great pride in this achievement amid the challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Botstein added that “Bard College is honored to be a partner of Al-Quds University, and we would like to thank all our colleagues at the university and at Al-Quds Bard College for working with us during the previous years in order to make this cooperation between a Palestinian university and an American university a success, and to provide an important program for both countries and communities.”

Dean of Al-Quds Bard Dr. Daniel Terris welcomed the attendees from the deans, faculty members, and families of the graduates, delivering the greetings of AQU’s President, Prof. Imad Abu Kishek who spares no effort to support AQB in its mission as a unique educational program. Dr. Terris also thanked the Dean of Admission and Registration, Mr. Ghassan Al Deek, and the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Abdul Raof Al-Sinawi for their dedication to serving all AQU’s students.

Dr. Terris expressed his pride in this year’s cohort of graduates for their unique quest to achieve the best in the field of scientific research, and the representation of Palestine and AQB in many conferences and forums. He cited the employment of technology in conveying the Palestinian message to the whole world as one of such achievements. He concluded: “You have shown to the world that the Palestinian youths have substantial curiosity, talent, and aspiration, and you have shown what brilliant achievements Palestinians can make when they regain freedom, justice, and dignity”.

Shaden Nassar delivered an address on behalf of the BA graduates, in which she thanked the faculty and staff at AQB for their support to the students in the face of various challenges and assisting them to develop their critical and creative thinking, though. She called on her colleagues to keep working hard and not to give up in their quest to achieve a better future for Palestine.

The graduate of the Master’s Program in Teaching Methods, Amani Hamid, for her part, expressed her gratitude to the academics and administrators for their continuous support to the students in remote learning during the Covid-19 crisis. She congratulated her fellow graduates, wishing them the best in the future.

Launched in 2009, Al-Quds Bard College for Arts and Sciences is the first in the region to offer graduates a US and a Palestinian degree, both at the Bachelor’s and at the Master’s level. The partnership between Al-Quds and Bard College seeks to help realize the two institutions’ shared educational goals in ways that are effective and sustainable, and that contribute to systemic improvement of the Palestinian education system. The college offers a host of academic programs and the students receive a certificate from AQU and another from Bard College in New York upon graduation.