Webinar: Supporting Education in Palestine

We invite you to join a webinar dedicated to supporting education in Palestine, following the initiative launched by the University of Gothenburg to strengthen academic collaboration and solidarity with Palestinian institutions. The ongoing scholasticide in Palestine, which is marked by the destruction of Gaza’s educational infrastructure, the loss of knowledge networks, and the militarized restrictions across the West Bank, has created an unprecedented crisis for students, teachers, and universities. Even amid the current ceasefire in Gaza, the devastation of schools, universities, and cultural institutions continues to endanger the very future of education in Palestine. In this urgent context, international academic engagement is more than a gesture of solidarity. It represents a concrete means to sustain learning, protect knowledge, uphold academic life, and help rebuild the foundations of education.

This webinar brings together four key contributors offering complementary perspectives on the current situation and possible ways forward:

Ahmed Abu Shaban, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at Al-Azhar University, Gaza, and representative of the Emergency Committee of Universities in Gaza. He will outline the current state of higher education in Gaza, identify urgent needs, and reflect on future prospects.

Amir Khalil, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office Palestine (NEO). He will discuss the opportunities and challenges facing Palestinian universities and students within the Erasmus+ programme under present conditions.

Sara Merabti Elgvin, Coordinator of the Norwegian Consortium for Higher Education in Palestine (NorPal). She will introduce the neighbouring consortium model and explore how regional collaboration can enhance the resilience of Palestinian higher education.

Omar Shweke, Director of the Friends of Palestinian Universities (FPU). He will share experiences and lessons from long-term academic partnerships, highlighting pathways for sustained international cooperation.

The session will open with four short presentations, followed by a collective discussion on how the international higher education community can contribute meaningfully to the resilience and renewal of education in Palestine.