QOU Establishment, History, Mission, General Goals

The University went through three stages during its establishment: planning, preparation of curricula, and its actual functioning in Palestine.

First Stage: Planning:
The idea of the establishment of the University started in 1975 based on the needs of the Palestinians for higher education, and taking into consideration their demographical, social and economical situations under the Israeli occupation. Upon the request of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, UNESCO conducted a feasibility study for the University project, in 1980, approved by UNESCO General Conference. The Palestinian National Council approved the plan in 1981, but, because of unfavorable circumstances, the execution of the project was delayed until 1985.

Second Stage: Preparation of Curricula
This stage started by the end of 1985 by opening a temporary office in Amman with the consent of the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the period from 1985 to 1991, committees of specialists were preparing academic programs and specializations, study plans, and the production of educational materials such as textbooks and supportive educational media, mainly audio-visual aids.

Third Stage: Execution and Implementation
This stage started in 1991 when the University undertook its educational services with its headquarters in Jerusalem. It spread its educational regions and study centers in major Palestinian cities that included few hundred learners. The number of students has been increasing since then that it has now reached 60,000 in 2008. The first group of graduates was in 1997. This stage was especially hard and difficult because it coincided with the first Palestinian Intifada (Uprising) that started in 1987 and continued for six years. The University suffered a lot because of the destructive economic consequences of the First Gulf War on the Palestinian population and the Arab Nation. Despite the unavoidable bad circumstances and hardships, the University continues to function because of the faithfulness of its administration to the principles and mission of the University. The ideas of steadfastness and struggle have been taken from the historical leadership of the people of Palestine. Every Palestinian is now sure that the University always remains a source of knowledge to every Palestinian home.

- Mission of QOU

- The General Goals of QOU