On 3-6 September, the Palestinian universities and the EU partners from Cork University, Ljubljana University, Siena University and UNIMED gathered at the University of Evora in Portugal for the 4th management meeting of the project and the third and last study visit of the UniGov project. Three previous field visits have been performed at the University of Siena, at the University of Cork and at the University of Ljubljana.
The project has indeed addressed weaknesses in the existing governance systems across HEIs in Palestine. Several topics have been discussed during the four days of activity with regards the results of the project, such as for example the Remediations Plans for each Palestinian University which has been elaborated thanks to the support of the EU partners and in particular Ljubljana University as coordinator of this set of activities foreseen by the project.
A UniGov digital badge has been released by the University of Cork responsible for the online training on university governance and quality assurance performed for three months as capacity building activity which based on a preliminary training needs assessment, thanks to the implementation and application of the diagnostic tool by the Palestinian universities, with the support of the University of Siena which has elaborated the tool.
Higher administration officers, deans of faculties, planning, development and quality assurance officers, and other leading personnel nominated by the partner Palestinian universities have attended this cycle of online and face-to face training as well as participated in the study visits at the EU institutions which have complemented the capacity building activities.
On this occasion the University of Evora has organized some visits to the PACT (Alentejo Technology Park), to IIFA – Advanced studies and research Institute/doctoral school and to University Agricultural Campus which aimed to contribute to the capacity renforcement of the university academic and administrative staff.
UniGov aims to develop governance in Palestinian higher education institutions, as it is one of the main challenges within the area.
The final conference of the project will be organised in Palestine hosted by the University of An-Najah in Nablus, coordinator of the UniGov project, on 10 October, 2019, in collaboration with UNIMED.