QOU receives a delegation from the Danish Representative and from The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

 The President of Al-Quds Open University, Prof. Samir Najdi, received a delegation from the Danish Representative and from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), at the University’s headquarter in Ramallah to review the progress of work in the “Green Jobs Project” implemented by the University.  The project aims to provide opportunities for youth fostering social and economic stability for young Palestinian university students and new graduates, by facilitating access to decent and sustainable “green” jobs in the food and agricultural sector.

During the meeting, Prof. Najdi provided an overview about the university and its programs and emphasized QOU's commitment to implementing training projects the students to enhance their chances of obtaining job opportunities. Dr. Azzam Saleh, Head ‎of Program at FAO West Bank and Gaza Strip,‎ praised QOU's efforts in carrying out this project and fostering the skills of students and graduates, thereby enhancing their job opportunities.

The delegation also met, via Zoom with several students who have benefited from the project, where they discussed the challenges, these students encounter and the degree to which they have benefited from the initiative.

Significantly, this initiative focuses on training168 students and graduates, equipping them with essential skills such as professional development, making agricultural business plans, financial management, efficient resource utilization, marketing strategies with an emphasis on digital marketing, communication, team building, leadership, and gender equality. Additionally, it assists them in securing paid internships lasting up to six months. Moreover, the project offers over 60 of these individuals the chance to compete for financial aid, aimed at supporting the launch of small agri-food enterprises with promising prospects for economic and environmental sustainability.

The Danish delegation included: Mads Meyerhofer, Senior Adviser, Specialist in Private Sector Development and Employment, Dept. of Learning, Henrik Kjærsig, External Consultant, Resilience, Agriculture, Private Sector, Miral Far, Deputy Head of Cooperation DRO. and Rebekka Storm Rubin Lauritzen, Incoming Head of Cooperation. while the FAO delegation included Dr. Azzam Saleh, Head ‎of Program at FAO West Bank and Gaza Strip, Khawla Njoum, Project Manager as well as Teja Aleksandraviciute,  Programme Support Specialist at FAO West Bank and Gaza Strip Programme.

The meeting was also attended by: Dr. Khaled Hardan, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at QOU; Dr. Mahmoud Hawamdeh, Director of the Center for Continuing Education and Community Service; Dr. Iyad Ishtayyeh, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs; and Mr. Mohammad Khudair, a faculty member in the Faculty of Technology.