PhDGov Project Launches Capacity Building Activities in Partnership with European Universities

On May 26 and 27, 2025, the first and second capacity building sessions were held within the framework of the PhDGov Project: Reforming the Governance of PhD Programs at Palestinian Higher Education Institutions. The project is funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program and is led by the Arab American University (AAUP), in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Palestine, the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission (AQAC), Al-Quds University, An-Najah National University, and Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie, and three European universities (VUB, KTH and RWTH Aachen University)

The activities were officially opened by Dr. Adli Saleh, Vice President for Planning, Development, and Quality at AAUP, who welcomed participants from Palestinian and European partner institutions. He expressed his appreciation for the launch of the project’s first capacity building engagements, emphasizing its importance in enhancing the academic and research environments of doctoral programs and aligning them with the national development goals of the higher education sector in Palestine.

His Excellency Prof. Dr. Amjad Barham, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, delivered an opening address in which he underscored the national significance of the project. He emphasized its role in improving the quality and governance of doctoral programs in Palestinian universities and affirmed the Ministry’s full support for the project at all levels to ensure its success and impact.

Dr. Sami Sader, Director of the Quality Promotion Department at AAUP and Coordinator of the PhDGov Project, presented an overview of the initiative. He outlined its vision, objectives, and the roles of local and European partners, stressing the project’s aim to develop modern doctoral governance frameworks based on leading European models, while adapting them to the specific needs and priorities of the Palestinian context.

The first capacity building day, held on May 26, was delivered by Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and facilitated by Prof. Dr. Chang Zhu. The program featured a presentation by Ms. Jolien Vissers on the doctoral education structure at VUB, followed by a presentation by Prof. Dr. Karen François, Director of the Doctoral School of Human Sciences at VUB, who addressed governance practices at the Flemish university level. The day concluded with an interactive discussion on improving doctoral education in Palestine and a brief preview of future activities.

The second day, held on May 27, was facilitated by Dr. Mohammad Saleh and Dr. Viktor Kordas from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. Prof. Dr. Kristina Edström, Associate Professor and Course Director at KTH, presented a session on capacity building of research supervisors, highlighting structured training approaches and pedagogical strategies used at KTH to strengthen supervisory competencies. Associate Professor Justin Chiu followed with a session focused on strengthening doctoral supervisory capacity, showcasing KTH’s experience in training supervisors and addressing practical aspects of PhD studies and program governance.

These two sessions marked the start of the PhDGov capacity building process, which includes a total of four core activities. The third session will be delivered by Prof. Dr. Ghaleb Natour and his team from RWTH Aachen University in Germany on June 16, 2025, and the fourth session, scheduled for June 24, 2025, will feature a Joint Panel Discussion involving all EU and Palestinian universities to exchange perspectives and develop practical recommendations for doctoral program governance reform.

Approximately 100 participants representing several Palestinian universities took part in the sessions, demonstrating the strong commitment to advancing the quality of doctoral education in Palestine.

In addition to live activities, the project offers Six Online Self-Paced Course Modules through the CANVAS e-learning platform, managed by VUB. This platform features advanced training modules developed by European partners, offering comprehensive guidance on doctoral governance models and best practices from across Europe.

These capacity building activities form a core component of the Capacity Building Plan – WP3: Strengthening PhD Governance in Palestinian Higher Education Institutions, which is a central pillar of the PhDGov Project. They are part of a broader, strategic effort to enhance institutional capacity, foster academic collaboration between Palestinian and European universities, and advance the sustainable reform of doctoral education in Palestine. This initiative aims to align governance structures and academic practices with international standards of quality and excellence, ensuring that PhD programs in Palestine are both globally competitive and locally relevant.