The Faculty of Agriculture represented by Dr. Khaled Hardan, Dean of the Faculty; Dr. Aziz Salameh, Project Coordinator; and faculty members Dr. Jihad Ighbariyah and Mr. Wajdi Bsharat. and the Center for Continuing Education and Community Service at QOU, participated in a training workshop held at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Italy, as part of the activities of the “BREEDTECH” project, funded by the Erasmus+ Programme.

The workshop, titled “Challenges of Crop Improvement and the Contribution of Advanced Genetics and Genomic Tools,” explored recent scientific developments in the fields of plant breeding and biotechnology. It covered topics such as gene-editing technologies (CRISPR-Cas9), genomic selection, and bio-statistical analysis, all aimed at enhancing crop productivity and improving resilience to climate change.

The workshop also included hands-on training sessions and field visits to plant breeding laboratories at the host university, providing participants with the opportunity to observe cutting-edge tools and equipment in the field. Researchers and experts from several Italian and European universities took part, offering valuable opportunities for exchanging expertise and strengthening academic and research collaboration.

Dr. Aziz Salameh also participated in the project’s administrative meeting held, where partners reviewed the implementation progress, achievements, and challenges faced during previous stages, and discussed action plans for the upcoming period. Dr. Salameh presented a detailed overview of the Dissemination and Impact Package, which is managed by Al-Quds Open University within the project. He highlighted QOU's contributions, including the establishment of the project’s official website, promotion of activities through social media, and documentation of events and outcomes.

It is worth noting that the BREEDTECH Project aims to build the capacities of higher education institutions in Palestine, Ethiopia, and Kenya, with the participation of eleven universities from Europe, Africa, and Asia, including Al-Quds Open University.