Universities of Sanctuary Annual Conference discusses how UK higher education sector can support Gaza universities

On December 17, Universities of Sanctuary hosted their annual conference at the University of York. One of the key events of the day was the plenary session titled How can Universities of Sanctuary support universities facing disruption due to humanitarian and geopolitical issues? The session focused on Gaza, examining how UK universities can support Gazan students, academics, and institutions in the short, medium, and long term.

Speaking on the panel alongside Aleks Palanac, Head of Sanctuary at the University of Leicester; Amani Mqadma, an academic at The Islamic University of Gaza and a CARA Fellow at the University of Edinburgh Business School; and Mahmoud Mushtaha, Journalist & Analyst for MENA Activism at Leicester University, Fobzu Director Omar Shweiki emphasised the urgent need for UK higher education to stand with Gaza’s universities and to build partnerships that can strengthen the integrity of Gaza’s educational institutions.