Thursday, August 3, 2023

The Erasmus Plus program of the European Union has awarded funding to a new project aimed at reforming the governance of PhD programs at Palestinian higher education institutions. The project, titled "Reforming the Governance of PhD Programs at Palestinian Higher Education Institutions" (PhDGov), received a grant of 868,000 Euros. This funding will be used to implement initiatives designed to enhance the academic and research capabilities of Palestinian universities. 

The proposal for PhDGov was prepared by the Arab American University, Palestine (AAUP) and successfully passed all stages of evaluation, standing out among numerous submissions from Palestinian higher education institutions. The project brings together several leading Palestinian universities, including Al-Quds University, An-Najah National University, and Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie, alongside the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. 

In addition to Palestinian partners, the project involves collaboration with three prominent European universities: RWTH Aachen University in Germany, Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium, and Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan in Sweden. These universities will play a key role in sharing their expertise and best practices in PhD program governance and research development. 

The PhDGov project aims to strengthen the capacities of Palestinian universities by improving their ability to design, develop, and manage high-quality PhD programs. This effort is expected to significantly boost the research output of Palestinian higher education institutions and align it with the needs of industry, society, and scientific communities. Through this partnership, the project seeks to create PhD programs that are more research-oriented and aligned with international standards, fostering collaboration between academia and industry. 

The project also aims to develop a national governance framework for PhD programs, in partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. This framework will be aligned with international best practices and is expected to benefit not only the participating institutions but also other universities and higher education bodies across Palestine. 

This initiative marks a significant step forward in enhancing academic excellence in Palestine, drawing from the extensive experience of European partner universities known for their high standards in education and research. It reflects a collaborative effort between local and international academic institutions to advance higher education in Palestine, with a focus on research quality, governance, and capacity building.