Fobzu cohost Partnership guide launch at Oxford University

On March 6th, Fobzu co-hosted  the launch of its latest publication, Partnerships…with the Department of International Development at Oxford University. Featuring representatives of Gaza’s universities and UK academics who have led collaborations with colleagues in Palestines, the event introduced the Emergency Committee of Gaza Universities and explored the role of academic partnerships in providing  support to Gaza’s higher education institutions. , 

The seminar was introduced by Head of the Department of International Development at Oxford, Professor Jocelyn Alexander and opened by Fobzu Director, Omar Shweiki, who emphasised the long tradition at Oxford University of academic partnership with Palestine. Oxford’s Nick Maynard, Dr. Nazmi Masri from the Islamic University of Gaza, and Dr. Ahmed Abu Shaban from Al Azhar University, discussed their own experiences of the value of international academic cooperation and highlighted the urgent need for academic solidarity to go beyond individualised assistance in order to meet the crisis generated by the scholasticide in Gaza. The panel was also joined by Professor Dina Kiwan from Birmingham University who presented the UKRI funded Disabilities Under Siege programme, which she directed – offering an example of a successful contemporary case study of a major research collaboration between her own university, the Islamic University of Gaza and Birzeit University.