Al-Quds University () is a

public university A public university, state university, or public college is a university or college that is State ownership, owned by the state or receives significant funding from a government. Whether a national university is considered public varies from o ...

in the Jerusalem Governorate,

Palestine Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in West Asia. Recognized by International recognition of Palestine, 147 of the UN's 193 member states, it encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and th ...

. The main campus is located in

Abu Dis Abu Dis or Abu Deis () is a Palestinian village in the West Bank, in the Jerusalem Governorate of the State of Palestine, bordering Jerusalem. Since the 1995 Oslo II Accord, Abu Dis land has been mostly part of " Area B", under Israeli military ...

town, near

Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...

, with three more campuses in Jerusalem and other campuses in

Ramallah Ramallah ( , ; ) is a Palestinians, Palestinian city in the central West Bank, that serves as the administrative capital of the State of Palestine. It is situated on the Judaean Mountains, north of Jerusalem, at an average elevation of abov ...

and

Hebron Hebron (; , or ; , ) is a Palestinian city in the southern West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Hebron is capital of the Hebron Governorate, the largest Governorates of Palestine, governorate in the West Bank. With a population of 201,063 in ...

. It was established in 1984, by merger of more local institutions in Jerusalem. It is one of the highly ranked universities in Palestine. In 2023, Al Quds University achieved 5–star rating in

Quality Standards Quality control (QC) is a process by which entities review the quality of all factors involved in production. ISO 9000 defines quality control as "a part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements". This approach place ...

. The university is locally known for its innovation programs in the field of high–tech industry and collaborations. In 2017, it was ranked as "most socially responsible university" in the

Arab world The Arab world ( '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, comprises a large group of countries, mainly located in West Asia and North Africa. While the majority of people in ...

. In 2002, Al–Quds Medical School, the medical branch of the university, received official recognition from governing bodies in the United States and Europe.

History

Foundation and establishment

The idea to establish "Al Aqsa" university in Jerusalem was proposed in 1931 but remained a concept. The occupation of

West Jerusalem West Jerusalem or Western Jerusalem (, ; , ) refers to the section of Jerusalem that was controlled by Israel at the end of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. As the city was divided by the Green Line (Israel's erstwhile border, established by ...

and the

Palestinian Diaspora The Palestinian diaspora (, ''al-shatat al-filastini''), part of the wider Arab diaspora, are Palestinian people living outside the region of Palestine and Israel. There are about 6.1 million members of the Palestinian Diaspora, most of whom live ...

hindered its realization. In the 1950s, the idea was revived, but

Jordan Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel and the occupied Palestinian ter ...

focused on establishing a university in

Amman Amman ( , ; , ) is the capital and the largest city of Jordan, and the country's economic, political, and cultural center. With a population of four million as of 2021, Amman is Jordan's primate city and is the largest city in the Levant ...

instead. The Israeli occupation of

East Jerusalem East Jerusalem (, ; , ) is the portion of Jerusalem that was Jordanian annexation of the West Bank, held by Jordan after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, as opposed to West Jerusalem, which was held by Israel. Captured and occupied in 1967, th ...

further delayed the establishment of an Arab university. In the early 1970s, discussions resumed to establish a Palestinian university, resulting in the transformation of existing institutions into universities in the West Bank. Jerusalem was overlooked once again. In the late 1970s, independent colleges were established in Jerusalem and its surroundings. The College of Daawa and Religious Principles, College of Medical Professions, and College of Science and Technology were founded in 1978 and 1979. In 1982, the College of Hind Al-Husseini for Women and the Center for Islamic Archaeology were established. In 1984, steps were taken to unify these colleges, aiming for recognition by the Union of Arab Universities. A coordinating committee was formed, allowing the colleges to maintain their separation. The Faculty of Medicine was founded in 1994. In 1995, all colleges and faculties officially amalgamated, establishing Al-Quds University. New centers and colleges were opened or merged, offering a comprehensive range of academic programs. The university emphasized engagement with society, becoming a distinct entity.

Contemporary

Over the past years, Al Quds University has experienced mounting pressure from the Israeli government, both politically and militarily. The

Israeli West Bank barrier The West Bank barrier, West Bank wall or the West Bank separation barrier, is a separation barrier built by Israel along the Green Line (Israel), Green Line and inside parts of the West Bank. Israel describes the wall as a necessary securi ...

built in 2004 have impeded university operations. Students have been injured and many of the students studying at the university have faced tear gas and some students have been shot. In 2013 alone, the Israeli army launched 26 separate attacks on the university campus in Abu Dis, resulting in 1,769 injuries to students and staff. Notably, one of these attacks even occurred during a visit by the U.S. Consul-General to the campus. In the early weeks of 2014, the Israeli army conducted three additional attacks on the Abu Dis campus. Staff and students frequently face summonses, arrests, and intimidation, both at the Abu Dis campus and the premises in the Old City, which have been raided and occasionally closed on multiple occasions. Simultaneously, the university has been engaged in legal and political battles to secure its existence. Since 17 years, it has faced the threat of closure by the Israeli authorities. Despite being fully accredited and licensed by relevant Palestinian bodies, and internationally recognized, the Israeli authorities in occupied East Jerusalem, insist that the university obtain Israeli accreditation or face closure and arrests of its administration. However, Israel has also prevented the university from functioning as a unified entity, forcing it to split into two separate institutions. Al Quds University's attempts to meet Israeli requirements have been unsuccessful thus far. In 2023, Israeli Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, planned to freeze funds for the university, which was heavily criticized by Hebrew University director, Mona Kassabri, calling it "discrimination".

Campuses

Abu Dis

Al–Quds University's main campus is located in town of

, which borders

and have close proximity to the

Temple Mount The Temple Mount (), also known as the Noble Sanctuary (Arabic: الحرم الشريف, 'Haram al-Sharif'), and sometimes as Jerusalem's holy esplanade, is a hill in the Old City of Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem that has been venerated as a ...

. The university campus is spread across an area of . On several occasion, exhibitions are organized by the university at its campus premises. There is a large botanic garden known as "Andalusian Garden", in backyard of the campus. There are three museums in the campus. These are Abu Jihad Center, Meet Math Museum and Science Museum. Abu Jihad Center and Museum was originally established in

in 1997. The facility was opened in the university campus in 2007. It consists of three floors, displaying artworks. The Said Khoury IT Center was inaugurated in 2004, by Palestinian entrepreneur Said Khoury. File:Al Quds University 2018 40.jpg, A man–made pond in campus File:Al Quds University 2018 36.jpg, Main building of the campus File:Al Quds University 2018 41.jpg, "We Love Jerusalem" at Abu Dis campus of the university File:Al Quds University 2018 26.jpg, A road towards Al–Quds University, picture taken in 2018 File:Abu jihad.jpg, Abu Jihad Museum File:Faculty of Science & Technology.jpg, Faculty of Science & Technology

Old City

The Old City campus located in the Old City of Jerusalem, consists of three floors. It is designed in an Islamic architecture. Nearby notable landmarks are the Mosque of Omar, the

Al-Aqsa Mosque The Aqsa Mosque, also known as the Qibli Mosque or Qibli Chapel is the main congregational mosque or Musalla, prayer hall in the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City (Jerusalem), Old City of Jerusalem. In some sources the building is also n ...

, Building Complex (D''ar al-Immara'') and the

(''Haram Al Sharif''). In 2015, Al Quds University inaugurated the first Palestinian public university in the Old City of Jerusalem, with funding from the Royal Charity Organization of Bahrain. The library consists of a collection of books of information and computer technology.

Sheikh Jarrah

There is a small girls' campus in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem, which is known as the Hind Al–Husseini College for Women. It was founded by Hind al-Husseini, a Palestinian activist, who rescued orphaned survivors of

Deir Yassin massacre The Deir Yassin massacre took place on April 9, 1948, when Zionist paramilitaries attacked the village of Deir Yassin near Jerusalem, then part of Mandatory Palestine, killing at least 107 Palestinian Arab villagers, including women and childr ...

, by Zionist militants. Known as one of the oldest faculty, the Sheikh Jarrah campus provides programs in arts and culture. It was a mansion of her grandfather Salim al-Husayni, which was later converted into an orphanage, named as "Children's Home in Jerusalem". Dar al-Tifl al-Arabi was established as a school, which in 1972, became a college.

Beit Hanina

The Faculty of Business & Economics is located in another campus, known as "Beit Hanina Campus". It is located on the Abdel Hamaid Shoman Street in Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina. Beit Hanina campus also serves as an administrative office of the university. Al Quds Bard College, which was opened in association with the

Bard College Bard College is a private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. The campus overlooks the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains within the Hudson River Historic District ...

is the campus of Beit Hanina. Bayt Mal Al Quds Al–Sharif Agency, a Moroccan organization have planned to construct a new campus of the university in neighborhood of Beit Hanina. The budget is estimated to US$500,000. The upcoming campus also includes stadium, green areas equipped with irrigation systems, rainwater recycling station and experimental farm. It will also include fully–equipped ecological museum and installation of solar panels. File:Al Quds University 2018 32.jpg, A staircase in the campus File:Al Quds University 2018 30.jpg, Arabic paintings on the walls of the Beit Hanina campus File:Al Quds University 2018 31.jpg, A pathway crossbridge on the campus File:Al Quds University 2018 48.jpg, Al Quds Bard College campus in Beit Hanina File:BeitHaninaMay022023 02.jpg, A residential area near the Beit Hanina campus

Academics

Partnerships

Brandeis University Brandeis University () is a Private university, private research university in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. It is located within the Greater Boston area. Founded in 1948 as a nonsectarian, non-sectarian, coeducational university, Bra ...

and Al-Quds had a partnership from 1998 to 2013. The partnership ended in 2013 following a demonstration at Al-Quds in which students in military gear performed a

Nazi salute The Nazi salute, also known as the Hitler salute, or the ''Sieg Heil'' salute, is a gesture that was used as a greeting in Nazi Germany. The salute is performed by extending the right arm from the shoulder into the air with a straightened han ...

and Brandeis deemed the response from the Al-Quds University administration to be "unacceptable and inflammatory".

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...

also terminated its partnership in 2013 following the demonstration.

has dual degree program with Al-Quds University which leads to a

bachelor of arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

from both institutions. It also grants master's degrees in teaching, European studies, and American studies. The partnership, which was first announced in February 2009, is the first dual degree program between a Palestinian university and an American institution of higher education. The college entered into a collaboration with Al-Quds University, which included founding an honors college, a masters program in teaching and a model high school.

Faculty

Al-Quds University's faculties:

Academy for Global Justice

In 2018, Al-Quds University launched the Al-Quds Academy for Global Justice, an institute that will focus on teaching, training, and research in the areas of

international criminal law International criminal law (ICL) is a body of public international law designed to prohibit certain categories of conduct commonly viewed as serious atrocities and to make perpetrators of such conduct criminally accountable for their perpetrat ...

and

human rights Human rights are universally recognized Morality, moral principles or Social norm, norms that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both Municipal law, national and international laws. These rights are considered ...

. Palestinian Justice Minister Ali Abu Diak also delivered a speech at the event.

Notable alumni

* Saeed Abu Ali * Wafa al Bass * Mohammad Barghouti * Fadwa Barghouti *

Wael Al-Dahdouh Wael Hamdan Ibrahim Al-Dahdouh (; born 30 April 1970) is a Palestinian journalist and the bureau chief of Al Jazeera in Gaza City. His career, beginning in 1998, also spanned working for Al-Quds newspaper, acting as a correspondent for Voice o ...

* Hassan Yousef * Mohiyedine Sharif * Ahmad Rabaie * Abbas Zakour * Samah Jabr *

Kholoud Faqih Kholoud Faqih (Arabic: ), also known as Khul'oud Faqih and Kholoud al-Faqih, is a Palestinian judge and the first female Sharia judge in the Middle East.Colleen WalshFinding 'a solution to closed doors' '' Harvard Gazette'', 5 March 2013 Kholoud ...

* Ameen Nayfeh * Lama Khater

References

External links

*
Official website

IT CenterE-Class
{{coord, 31, 45, 21.27, N, 35, 15, 40.97, E, type:edu, display=title Universities and colleges in Jerusalem Jerusalem Universities and colleges established in 1970 1970 establishments in Palestine Buildings and structures in Jerusalem