Birzeit.edu Birzeit University in Palestine's Downtown
Title
Birzeit University
Description
The Mission of Birzeit University
"Birzeit University is a Palestinian Arab institution supervised by an autonomous Board of Trustees that is responsible for it and decides its policies.
The University is committed to excellence and encourages creativity, experimentation, innovation, perfection as well as team work and democratic practices anchored in pluralism, freedom of expression and respect for others.
The University endeavors to excel in higher education, scientific research, and service to the community. Since its establishment, the University has remained committed to providing equal learning opportunities to qualified individuals and to prepare students to become good citizens active in their society and committed to its well-being/advancement/welfare.
The University provides the appropriate environment for students to develop their personalities and realize their potentials in an atmosphere that stresses the Arab-Islamic heritage open to the world."
University Profile
The University Profile provides a brief overview of the University history, governance, academic programs, student body distribution, community Institutes and Centers, academic facilities, campus buildings and the financial administration.
Address
- Birzeit
- Ramallah West Bank, Palestine Via ISRAEL
Birzeit University Campus
Birzeit University's campus is located on the outskirts of the West Bank town of Birzeit, about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) north of Jerusalem and 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) north of Ramallah. The campus is approximately 200 acres situated upon a hilltop that provides a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. The stone buildings blend naturally with the terrain giving the campus its own special character. Built entirely from donations and sponsorship from Palestine , the Arab world and abroad, the campus is itself a story of success and a reflection of the confidence of the donor community in the University. Following is a brief description of each building:
Facility
Description
Faculty of Science Building
Construction was completed in 1981. It has a built up area of 10,260 sq. m and houses the science departments, laboratories and several lecture halls. The construction costs were donated by several contributors.
Omar Aggad Engineering Faculty Building
Construction was completed in 1984. It has a built up area of 12,500 sq. m and houses the various engineering departments, workshops, laboratories as well as some other faculties. The construction costs were contributed by Mr. Omar Aggad.
University Library
Construction was completed in 1985, an annex was completed in 2004. It has a built up area of 6128 sq. m and houses the main library on campus. The building was designed to accommodate more than 700 persons, and houses around 141,000 volumes. The four-story building (A+B) has facilities for students and researchers, with large study halls and a number of private rooms for individual study. The construction costs were contributed by Alghanim Industries in Kuwait . The annex to the library was funded by the Kuwaiti government.
Administration Building
Construction was completed in 1985. It has a built up area of 2,025 sq. m and houses all the central administration offices as well as the main computer center. The construction costs were contributed by Mr. Zein Mayassi and Mr. Walid Kattan. the administration builing houses the Helen Kattan Computer Center.
Kamal Nasir Assembly Hall
Construction was completed in 1985. It has a built up area of 1,000 sq. m and. The hall accommodates 288 people and is available to the University community as well as local and international institutions for the use of a range of activities including lectures, conferences and artistic and theatrical performances. The construction costs were contributed by Mr. Abdul Mohsen Qattan and named in memory of his friend Kamal Nasir (1925 – 1973) who was killed in Beirut in an Israeli military raid.
Faculty of Commerce and Economics Building
Construction was completed in 1993. It has a built up area of 4,500 sq. m and houses the various departments of the Faculty as well as several departments of the Faculty of Arts. The construction costs were contributed by Mr. Abdel Rahman Al-Juraysi from Saudi Arabia .
Azeez Shaheen Clinic
Construction was completed in 1998. It has a built up area of 633 sq. m. and has two offices for doctors, an emergency room and a sickbay area as well as a dental unit. The Clinic provides day services to the University community. The construction costs were contributed by the late Mr. Azeez Shaheen and other members of his family.
Institute of Law Building
Construction was completed in 1998. It has a built up area of 1,630 sq. m. and houses the Institute's specialized library as well as various offices, teaching rooms and a well equipped lecture hall with simultaneous translation facilities that can accommodate about 70 people. The construction costs were donated by the French Government and by the Government of Qatar.
Sheikh Rashid Bin Said Al Maktoum Building
Construction was completed in 1999. It has a built up area of 3,035 sq. m and houses the University's student and faculty main cafeterias as well as student offices and other University related services. The construction costs were donated by Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashed Al Maktoum
Naseeb Azeez Shaheen Building
Construction was completed in June 2001. It has an area of 1480 sq. m. and houses various graduate studies programs. The construction costs were donated by Dr. Naseeb Shaheen from Ramallah and presently living in USA .
Physical Education Building
Construction was completed late 2006, with an area of 2,794 sq. m and includes an indoor gymnasium with a seating capacity for 700 spectators as well as training rooms and offices for the physical education Program. The construction costs were donated by Mr. Mohamed Imran Bamieh and Mr. Walid Kayyali.
Institute of Women Studies Building
It houses the Institute 's administrative offices, classrooms, training hall and was was supported by The Palestinian People's Support Committtee - under the auspices of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce.
The Diana Tamari Sabbagh Center
Construction was completed in 1999, housing around 1855 squared meters and houses the Media Department and the Media Developement Center. it was supported by a donation from the Diana Tamari Sabbagh Foundation.
The Munir Atallah Field
80m x 50m with racing tracks; completed in October 2004 and donated by Mr. Munir Atallah
Faculty and Female Students Housing
A total of 5250 square meter built through a “soft” loan by the Islamic Development Bank and completed in December 2004.
Engineering Workshops Building
Construction was completed in 1984 for the ground floor and in 1995 for the first floor. It has a total built up area of 1790 sq.m and houses the faculty of engineering workshops on the ground floor and the department of Languages and Translation on the first floor. The Construction costs were contributed by Omar Al-Aggad
Engineering Electric Substation
Construction was completed in 1982 . In has a built up area of 185 sq.m and houses a diesel generator of 720 KVA capacity that works as emergency power supply to certain buildings
Water Reservoir
Construction was completed in 199 7 . It has a total capacity of 3000 cubic meter. It supplies the campus buildings and fire fighting water networks. it is part of a water project to utilize rain water and is supported by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development.
Sewage Treatment Plant
Construction was completed in 1982 . It receives and treats wastewater from all buildings in the University. It has a maximum capacity of 600 m3 / day.
Maintenance Shop
Construction was completed in 2002 . It has a built up area of 340 sq.m and houses the civil, electrical and mechanical workshops of the University
Guardhouse & Generator
Construction was completed in 1984. It has a built up area of 100 sq.m and houses the guards of the University and two stand by diesel generators of 850 KVA capacity that work as emergency source of power supply to the rest of campus buildings.
Contact
- Birzeit University
-
- +972 2 2982012
Additional Information
Birzeit University History - Narrative
Birzeit University's Institutional Development
The history of the University dates back to 1924, when Nabiha Nasir (1891-1951), an educational visionary, started a school in Birzeit at a time when schools were almost non-existent in the area. Her main objective was to provide elementary schooling for the girls of Birzeit and neighboring villages. By 1930, the school developed into a secondary school for both boys and girls. As secondary schools were often called "colleges" during that period, the name Birzeit College was adopted in 1942. Under the leadership of Musa Nasir (1895-1971), Birzeit embarked on further development of the institution where first-year post secondary classes in Arts and Sciences were added in 1953, and followed in 1961 by second-year classes. With the addition of the second year, the institution became a junior college while still maintaining its high school programs. Graduates of the junior college were able to transfer at advanced standing to a number of universities in the Arab world and abroad.
Because the College was then the only institution providing higher educational opportunities in the area, it decided to focus its efforts on making this service available to the largest possible number of qualified students. As a result, its elementary, preparatory and secondary classes were gradually phased out. By 1967, Birzeit was offering first and second year college programs.
After the June 1967 war, when the West Bank and Gaza fell under Israeli military occupation, the College saw the pressing need for developing into a full fledged university, essentially to provide higher educational opportunities to students who were often barred from continuing their education abroad due to imposed military travel restrictions. Therefore, the College announced in 1972 its plans for the development of a four-year program leading to a Bachelor degree in Arts and Sciences. It also announced its intention to build a new campus on the outskirts of the town of Birzeit.
With the expected growth of the College, the founders decided to form an autonomous Board of Trustees to ensure the continuity of the institution. The Board was formed in 1973 and since that time, assumed its full institutional responsibility although it took several years before the Israel military authorities approved its official registration. The first Chairman of the Board after its registration was Tawfik Abu Saud (1902-1981).
The development of the College continued as planned. The third year level was added in 1974 and the fourth in 1975. With the addition of the fourth year, the name of the College was changed officially to "Birzeit University."
The University became a member of the Association of Arab Universities in April 1976 and on July 11, 1976, the University celebrated the graduation of its first graduates with the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. In 1977, it became a member of the International Association of Universities History- Chronological
Year Event 1924 Birzeit established as an elementary school by Nabiha Nasir (1891-1951) 1930 Birzeit established as a coeducational secondary school 1932 Birzeit is known as Birzeit High School 1942 Birzeit High School became Birzeit College 1953 Birzeit offers first-year university-level courses in Arts and Science 1961 Birzeit College offers second-year university level courses in Arts and Science 1962 Birzeit grants associate degrees upon completion of the two-year courses, enabling students to transfer to other universities in the Arab world and elsewhere. 1961-1967 Birzeit gradually eliminates its elementary, preparatory and high school program and by 1967 limits its scope to first and second year college level programs. 1972 Birzeit College launches a four-year program leading to Bachelors' degrees in Arts and Sciences. 1973 An autonomous Board of Trustees is formed to assume full responsibility for the Institution 1973 Israel closed the campus by military order for two weeks. This was the first of many repressive measures against the University community. 1975 Birzeit College changes its name and becomes " Birzeit University " 1976 Birzeit University is accepted in April as a member of the Association of Arab Universities 1976 Birzeit University holds its first graduation ceremony with a bachelor's degree on July 11, 1976. 1977 Birzeit University is accepted as a member of the International Association of Universities 1977 The first graduate programs are developed at Birzeit University 1978 Faculty of Commerce and Economics is established 1979 The Faculty of Engineering is established 1988 The University is closed for the 15th and what would prove to be the last time on January 8th. The closure lasts for 51 months till April 29th 1992. During this prolonged period of closure, the University continued to operate underground with small study groups in makeshift arrangements outside the campus. Under such conditions, many students needed as long as 10 years to complete their four-year degree courses. 1996 Faculty of Graduate Studies is established 2004 Faculty of Law and Public Administration is established 2006 Faculty of Information Technology is established
Related Domains
External Links
- Alexa: Birzeit.edu
