An-Najah National University (ANNU), as a partner in the Erasmus+ PhDGOV Project, hosted a Knowledge Transfer Workshop on March 25, 2026, focusing on reforming the governance of PhD programs in Palestinian higher education institutions.

The workshop took place at the Faculty of Graduate Studies and brought together academic staff, researchers, and PhD program coordinators to exchange knowledge and best practices in doctoral education.

The event was officially opened by Prof. Abdel Naser Zaid, President of ANNU, who emphasized the importance of advancing doctoral education as a key driver of research excellence and national development. He highlighted the role of international collaboration, particularly through Erasmus+ projects, in strengthening academic systems and fostering innovation.

In his remarks, Dr. Mustafa Ghanem, Dean of Graduate Studies, underscored the need to modernize doctoral programs in alignment with international standards, while ensuring their relevance to local societal and economic needs.

The workshop featured a series of technical presentations delivered by ANNU academics involved in the PhDGOV project. Prof. Allam Mousa, Project Coordinator, provided an overview of the project’s objectives and its role in developing a modern governance framework for PhD programs.

Prof. Mohyeddin Assali presented the results of the institutional self-assessment, highlighting both strengths and key gaps in doctoral education at ANNU, including the need for structured monitoring systems, improved funding models, and enhanced student support services.

Dr. Safa Hamada introduced the concept of a PhD Portfolio System, designed to track students’ academic progress, research output, and professional development, thereby enhancing transparency and quality assurance.

The session on supervision, led by Dr. Derar Al-Smadi, focused on best practices in doctoral supervision, emphasizing the importance of structured mentoring, regular feedback, and collaborative supervision models.

Eng. Muna Tamimi addressed quality assurance and progress monitoring, presenting European models and identifying opportunities to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and performance indicators at ANNU.

In the funding session, Prof. Abdulnaser Nour and Dr. Naeem Salameh compared European funding models and highlighted the need to diversify funding sources and strengthen partnerships with industry.

The workshop also addressed research ethics and academic integrity, presented by Prof. Mohyeddin Assali, emphasizing responsible research practices and the importance of ethical standards in doctoral education.

Finally, Dr. Derar Al-Smadi discussed industry collaboration, stressing the importance of linking doctoral research with real-world challenges and enhancing university–industry partnerships.

The workshop concluded with a set of strategic recommendations aimed at strengthening doctoral governance, digitalizing PhD management systems, enhancing supervision practices, and supporting the development of a national doctoral framework.

This workshop reflects the ongoing collaboration between Palestinian and European partner universities within the PhDGOV project and marks an important step toward aligning doctoral education in Palestine with international standards while addressing national priorities.