Doha – Information Office – 10 December
Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signed a cooperation agreement worth $12.5 million, with Birzeit University of Palestine to offer financial aids for students and complete the infrastructure of the university, over five years.
The agreement was signed by Director General of QFFD Khalifa bin Jassem Al Kuwari and President of Birzeit University Dr Abdullatif Abuhijleh. The event was attended by HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Chairman of QFFD and Chairperson of Birzeit University's Board of Trustees Dr Nasir Hanna and representatives from the fund and university.
The grant offered by QFFD aims to expand the university's capacity and offer student financial aids, giving Palestinians the opportunity to complete their university and higher studies in universities accredited by the fund, part of the Qatar scholarships program.
A portion of the grant has also been allocated to the development of the university's infrastructure, which includes the internal and external roads network, which in turn benefits the students, the university staff, teaching and administrative staff who are more than 15 thousand people.
Al Kuwari said the agreement complement the role of the State of Qatar in the development of the Palestinian education sector and provides a good and comprehensive education for all. He confirmed that the Qatari aid, whether directly or through UN cooperation reaches the Palestinian people in all their areas, whether in Gaza or the West Bank, despite the existence of many difficulties and challenges.
He added that the cooperation between the fund and the university is continuous and the focus on scholarships and education is one of Qatar's foreign aid priorities. This agreement comes in support of the leading Palestinian educational path and affirms the right of the Palestinian youth to receive quality education, provide a decent life and a promising future for them, Al Kuwari said.
For his part, Dr Abdullatif Abuhijleh said this agreement completes the role of the State of Qatar in support of Birzeit University since 1996. The State of Qatar has provided a platform to support the university in order to develop its education and establish Institute of Law, which is part of the university, he said.
He also praised the role of Qatari aid in preserving educational institutions that graduate leaders of the Palestinian struggle and qualify youth to lead the state and help young people to learn in their country.
The agreement is a renewal of the previous agreement signed between Qatar and Birzeit University in 2013, which continued for five years and provided a university endowment, scholarships and infrastructure development.