Partnerships with Palestine Guide launch hosted at Bristol University

On 25 February, Fobzu hosted an event in collaboration with the Centre for Comparative and International Research in Education (CIRE) at Bristol University and the Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre at Cambridge University, launching its Partnerships Guide. The guide provides essential context for international collaboration with Palestinian institutions, highlighting past UK-Palestinian academic partnerships and offering models for future engagement. Chaired by Fobzu’s Director Omar Shweiki, the event featured Dr. Ahmed Abu Shaban, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at Al Azhar University, who outlined the Emergency Committee of Universities in Gaza’s priorities for sustaining the academic sector. Dr. Basma Hajir, Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Bristol, presented the guide’s key findings and recommendations, followed by Dr. Nazmi Al-Masri, Associate Professor of Education at the Islamic University of Gaza, who discussed the impact, feasibility, and necessity of UK-Palestinian partnerships. Professor Gene Feder, Professor of Primary Care at Bristol Medical School, and Professor Zahid Pranjol, Professor of Biomedical Science at Sussex University, shared their experiences collaborating with Palestinian universities and supporting academic colleagues in Gaza.

The discussion reinforced that institutional partnerships, not isolated initiatives, are critical for strengthening Palestinian higher education. It underscored the ethical and professional responsibility of UK academics to engage with Palestinian institutions and the need for structured, long-term support. By providing practical models and case studies, the guide serves as both a roadmap and a call to action, urging UK universities to forge sustainable academic relationships that uphold the integrity of Palestinian higher education.