PALS 2025: Building Links with Palestinian Universities
Fobzu’s Palestine-UK Academic Links Seminar (PALS) programme continues to evolve in response to the deepening crisis facing Palestinian higher education. Following the adaptation of PALS 2024 to a UK-based model due to escalating violence and travel restrictions, this year’s programme built on that foundation by deepening engagement and focusing on practical collaboration to support Gaza’s universities.
Previously centred on in-person academic exchange, PALS shifted to a UK-based format in light of the ongoing scholasticide – the targeted destruction of Palestine’s higher education system – and the severe restrictions on access to Palestine. In close consultation with representatives of Gaza’s non-profit universities – Al-Azhar University, Al-Aqsa University, and the Islamic University of Gaza – the programme was redesigned to prioritise practical collaboration capable of responding to the urgent priorities of the higher education sector in Gaza.
Held at Oxford University, King’s College London, and University College London between 23–26 June, the 2025 programme focused on two critical disciplines: Medicine and Education. These streams addressed urgent needs in medical training, healthcare delivery, and the restoration of education under conditions of war and displacement.
The programme brought together UK-based academics and representatives from Gaza’s universities in a series of hybrid workshops co-led by Palestinian faculty. The emphasis throughout was on co-developing partnerships, including joint teaching initiatives, digital education support, and pathways for research collaboration and curriculum recovery.
Crucially, this year’s programme sought to complement the efforts of the Emergency Committee of Gaza Universities, and foster a shift towards strategic institutional commitment. UK participants from Oxford, UCL, and King’s College London have begun to lay the foundations for partnerships with their Palestinian counterparts, signalling long-term engagement in areas such as mental health, digital pedagogy, and support for early-career academics.
As faculty and students in Gaza fight for the survival of their academic communities, the commitment of UK-based institutions and scholars to stand alongside their Palestinian peers remains vital.
