Confirming its research and academic standing on both the regional and international levels, An-Najah National University has secured funding for eight pioneering new projects in the 2025 project submission cycle, through its active participation in the European Union’s Erasmus+ program. These projects span multiple fields, including higher education, professional development, engineering, agriculture, textiles, business, and the health sector, reflecting the university’s commitment to academic diversity and responsiveness to labor market needs.

In this context, Prof. Dr. Abdel Nasser Zeid, the University President, emphasized that these achievements strengthen the university’s leadership and highlight its ongoing commitment to developing its academic and research infrastructure. He noted that these projects represent a vital opportunity to modernize curricula, enhance student skills, and prepare graduates for the labor market, in line with the university’s vision and strategy for the coming years.

For her part, Dr. Khiria Rassas, Vice President for International Partnerships and Global Initiatives, stated that the partnership framework developed by the university is a strong pillar of its international academic standing. She stressed that winning Erasmus+ projects reflects ongoing dialogue with European and Euro-Mediterranean institutions and opens new horizons for creativity and innovation through the exchange of expertise and resources, both at the university and national levels.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Saed Al-Khayyat, Director of the Grants and Projects Unit, explained that 2025 marks a distinguished year in terms of the quantity and advanced quality of these projects. He remarked: “Securing eight projects under the Erasmus+ program highlights the university’s readiness to compete internationally. These projects are not merely sources of funding, but engines for institutional and professional development, and for building sustainable capacities in areas such as artificial intelligence, open research, and innovation in the textile and agricultural sectors, as well as improving healthcare and technical personnel.”

Among the most notable funded projects is HEGenAL, led by Dr. Suhail Salha, which aims to establish clear policies for the use of generative AI in higher education; ENg-Inc, headed by Dr. Muhannad Al-Hajj Hussein, to develop engineering students’ skills in line with labor market demands; and FORWARD, managed by Dr. Zahraa Zawaawi, which focuses on building the capacities of Palestinian cities to face environmental challenges through open scientific research.

The projects also include initiatives such as IntelTex to promote entrepreneurship in the textile sector, SUST-OLIVET-VET to support vocational training in the olive industry, and the DAVDP program to develop a professional diploma for dental assistants at the Faculty of Dentistry and the An-Najah National University Hospital.

Prof. Al-Khayyat further emphasized that these projects will not only contribute to the advancement of education and vocational training, but are also expected to have a tangible impact on improving the university’s global ranking, through research dissemination and the expansion of international academic partnerships, thereby reinforcing the university’s vision of excellence and quality in higher education.

This achievement highlights An-Najah National University’s distinction in leveraging European programs to strengthen its academic and research capacities and confirms its pioneering role in shaping an educational future aligned with the latest global developments.