News & Activities

The Dual Studies program at Al-Quds University held its first “Advisory Conference”, which took place over the course of two days, 19-20 February 2019 in Ramallah, with the participation of representatives of private sector partner institutions for the three Dual Studies programs, Electrical Engineering, Business Administration and Information Technology, and in the presence of the Dean of the Dual Studies program, Prof. Dr. Salaheddin Odeh, Vice President of AQU for Scientific Research Development and Innovation, Dr. Isam Ishaq, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Ibrahim Afana, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Dr. Dr. Mohammed Al-Haj, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics, Mr. Nasser Tahboub, Director of the Business Administration Program, Ms. Sand Salhout, Director of the Electrical Engineering Program, Dr. Emad Al-Zair, Director of the Information Technology Program, Dr. Raed Al-Zaghal, and Head of GIZ More Job Opportunities for Palestinian Youth(MJO), Ms. Kirsten Freimann.

Opening the conference, Prof. Dr. Salaheddin Odeh expressed his pride in the success of the program in the region, and for being the first of its kind program in the Middle East to be implemented with the support of the German Government. He pointed out that the program of Dual Studies is one of the most distinguished programs which are offered by Al-Quds University, as it presents an advanced educational system that combines theoretical study with practical application, and it aims mainly at bridging the gap between the outputs of higher education and the demands of the labour market.
Prof. Dr. Odeh gave a full explanation of the structure of the program and its current and future programs as well as its implementation mechanisms, he also highlighted the successes achieved over the past four years. Prof. Dr. Ode thanked the private sector partners for their contribution and real partnership, and pointed out that Al Quds University has signed agreements with more than 170 companies and institutions from the Palestinian private sector to train students during their studies and enable them in the practical field.

Speaking on behalf of the German side, Ms. Kirsten Freimann pointed out that the German government sees the model of Dual Studies at Al-Quds University as a pioneering and successful experience that requires attention. She stressed the continuous support of the German government for the program at Al-Quds University in order to provide better opportunities for Palestinian youth and to award them with more opportunities in the labour market.

On the other hand, Ms. Salhout , Dr. Al-Zair and Dr. Al-Zajel presented a review of the curricula that are currently being taught in the Dual Studies program, which were designed to suit the needs of the labour market and the continuous development of its requirements and structure. While Mr. Jameel Sultan, Local Advisor for the Program, gave an evaluation of the practical period in the companies. In general, all speakers stressed the importance of enhancing the role of the private sector and its greater involvement in the teaching process within the program through its effective contribution to the development of curricula and hosting private speakers within the classroom in order to transfer experiences and strengthen the partnership between the university and the private sector.

At the end of the conference, representatives of private sector companies expressed the importance of the program in matching the outputs of education system with the labour market and its requirements, expressing their high appreciation of the importance of partnership with Al Quds University within this distinguished program. They also praised the excellence of the students of the Dual Studies program, pointing out that their companies rely heavily on this type of investment in the formation of future employees and that the opportunity is very great to employ the students of the program after graduation, taking into account their experience and commitment.

Al-Quds University celebrates its first graduates from the Dual Studies Program. The success of 37 students of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering was recognized during a graduation ceremony on 13th of February 2020 on the main campus of Al-Quds University. About 50 % of the graduates have already signed an employment contract with a Palestinian company.

Professor Imad Abu Kishek, President of Al-Quds University, congratulated the graduates and emphasized the programme’s success: “The dual studies program is the first of its kind in the Arab world, several Palestinian and Arab universities have been inspired by it”.

By now, 336 students enrolled in four dual study courses on Business Administration, Information Technology, Electrical Engineering, and Industrial Engineering. The program closely coordinates academic theory and workplace-training. Students switch between both trainings every three months during their four-year studies. For the practical training, the students sign a contract with a Palestinian company which pays a small salary to them.

Over 200 companies partner with the first-of-its-kind study program in East-Jerusalem

During the ceremony Mr. Michael Herold, Acting Head of Mission at the German Representative Office in Ramallah acknowledged the Program: “Germany is proud to have contributed to establishing this successful project. The engagement of the private sector is crucial for its success and I am therefore very impressed to see the commitment of over 200 partner companies.”

Dr. Ihab Qubbaj, Palestinian Deputy-Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, appreciated the approach of Al-Quds University for Palestine: “This program contributes to providing solutions to the challenges the higher education system in Palestine is facing. The program aims to bridge the gap between education outcomes and the needs of the labour market.”

Promoting gender equality

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Ghazal Salama, a dual study graduate in electrical engineering, emphasized the experiences she and her fellow students had gained during their studies: “The program has contributed greatly to building my personality and enhancing my self-confidence as well as giving me more opportunities as a female engineer in the labour market”.

Representatives from GIZ, KFW, Ministry of Education, Palestinian and German private sector partners, the university’s vice presidents, deans, faculty, staff as well as the graduates and their families attended the ceremony. After committing to the graduates’ oath, the graduates received their certificates.

The Dual Studies Program at Al-Quds University has been supported by the joint GIZ- and KfW-project “More Job Opportunities for Palestinian Youth” (MJO) since 2015 on behalf of the BMZ. The project is part of the BMZ special initiative MENA designed to stabilise and promote development in North Africa and the Middle East. Through more than 80 projects, this special initiative is helping to open up economic and social prospects for people in the region.

Al-Quds University celebrates its first graduates from the Dual Studies Program. The success of 37 students of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering was recognized during a graduation ceremony on 13th of February 2020 on the main campus of Al-Quds University. About 50 % of the graduates have already signed an employment contract with a Palestinian company.

Professor Imad Abu Kishek, President of Al-Quds University, congratulated the graduates and emphasized the programme’s success: “The dual studies program is the first of its kind in the Arab world, several Palestinian and Arab universities have been inspired by it”.

By now, 336 students enrolled in four dual study courses on Business Administration, Information Technology, Electrical Engineering, and Industrial Engineering. The program closely coordinates academic theory and workplace-training. Students switch between both trainings every three months during their four-year studies. For the practical training, the students sign a contract with a Palestinian company which pays a small salary to them.

Over 200 companies partner with the first-of-its-kind study program in East-Jerusalem

During the ceremony Mr. Michael Herold, Acting Head of Mission at the German Representative Office in Ramallah acknowledged the Program: “Germany is proud to have contributed to establishing this successful project. The engagement of the private sector is crucial for its success and I am therefore very impressed to see the commitment of over 200 partner companies.”

Dr. Ihab Qubbaj, Palestinian Deputy-Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, appreciated the approach of Al-Quds University for Palestine: “This program contributes to providing solutions to the challenges the higher education system in Palestine is facing. The program aims to bridge the gap between education outcomes and the needs of the labour market.”

Promoting gender equality

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Ghazal Salama, a dual study graduate in electrical engineering, emphasized the experiences she and her fellow students had gained during their studies: “The program has contributed greatly to building my personality and enhancing my self-confidence as well as giving me more opportunities as a female engineer in the labour market”.

Representatives from GIZ, KFW, Ministry of Education, Palestinian and German private sector partners, the university’s vice presidents, deans, faculty, staff as well as the graduates and their families attended the ceremony. After committing to the graduates’ oath, the graduates received their certificates.

The Dual Studies Program at Al-Quds University has been supported by the joint GIZ- and KfW-project “More Job Opportunities for Palestinian Youth” (MJO) since 2015 on behalf of the BMZ. The project is part of the BMZ special initiative MENA designed to stabilise and promote development in North Africa and the Middle East. Through more than 80 projects, this special initiative is helping to open up economic and social prospects for people in the region.

In Stuttgart, the capital of southwest Germany’s Baden-Württemberg state which is famous as a manufacturing hub, representatives of Palestinian private sector companies, Al Quds University and the Ministry of Higher Education gathered to take part in a study tour organised by GIZ/GFA during the period 08 to 16 June 2019

The study tour aimed at providing the participants with the opportunity to gain deep understanding of the German experience in the Dual education system, the relation and cooperation between private sector and higher education institutions as well as to learn more about the future trends in industries (e.g. industry 4.0 ) and their impact on the future of education.

During the one-week tour, the participants had the chance to visit several renowned German companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Bosch, Kärcher, IBM and ABB, where the Dual Study system is implemented in partnership with the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University in Stuttgart. During the bilateral meetings with the visited firms and the university, the participants had the chance to exchange with German professionals, Dual Study undergraduates and training supervisors. They learnt more about the history of the dual system in Germany, its mechanisms of application, the students’ selection and evaluation process, its accomplishments, as well as the structure of the partnership and the harmonising relationship between the German private sector and university.

Rami Afaneh, who works as Human Resource Manager at National Beverage Company (NBC), expressed his admiration for the German dual system saying that “if such system was offered during my time at university, I would have certainly joined it” adding that “during the tour, we touched the perfect combination between the higher education institutions and the industries in Germany. The development and launching of new dual studies courses that commensurate with the needs of the labour market and industries are perfectly done within this system. This is exactly what we need in Palestine, we have to work together to help to reduce the unemployment rate in Palestine while securing the needed skilled workforce.”

At the end of the tour, the visiting group stated their appreciation for the German experience and the achievements of such model of labour market-oriented higher education. “I’d like to express my gratitude for such a unique opportunity that allowed me, and the group, to get to know thoroughly about one of the significant pillars of the German education system. I observed the main part played by the dual educational system in the economy on the one hand, and in building the capacity of young people and creating a future workforce on the other hand” said Imad Shamasneh, Technical Supervisor at Mada, a Palestinian company that provides internet services and one of the partners of the Dual Studies at Al Quds University.

The participants also emphasised the importance of promoting what has been identified during this visit in order to further develop the Dual system in Palestine and to strengthen the partnership between the higher education institutions and the private sector. They recommended the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education to endorse and encourage more programmes that follow such a model of interactive and labour market-oriented higher education.

Hania Salama, one of the participants in the study tour and the CSR executive at the Palestinian Arab Investment Company (APIC), where about 15 dual study students of AQU are being trained, stated that “It is essential to have such a system in Palestine thanks to Al Quds University. For me, it will be on my priority list when I return home to work on strengthening the partnership with the university, and hopefully to increase the number of students at APIC.”

Currently, around 240 Palestinian students are enrolled in the Dual Studies Programme at Al-Quds University in East Jerusalem. The faculty of the Dual Studies Programme offers four selected subject areas that respond to a high labour market demand. The four current specialisations are Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration and Information Technology. The first cohort of the Dual Studies is expected to graduate in 2019, with a high probability that students of this cohort will be employable immediately after graduation.

It is worth mentioning that the study tour is organized for the fourth year in a row by the Dual Studies Programme at Al Quds University in East Jerusalem with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ Programme “More Job Opportunities for Palestinian Youth” in cooperation with GFA-consulting group and the Steinbeis Institute in Stuttgart.

GIZ and KFW are currently implementing, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ), the programme “More Job Opportunities for Palestinian Youth” (MJO) as part of the BMZ Special Initiative to stabilise and promote development in North Africa and the Middle East with focus on employment promotion. Through the support of MJO Programme, the Dual Study Programme is implemented at Al-Quds University (AQU) in East Jerusalem.