• Monday, 02-04-2018

PTUK Launches Third Undergraduate Research and Innovation Conference in Engineering and Information Technology

Under the auspices of the Minister of Education and Higher Education His Excellency Dr. Sabri Saidam, Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie concluded the first day events of the “Third Undergraduate Research and Innovation Conference in Engineering and Information Technology” with active participation of the Deputy Governor of Tulkarem Mustafa Tqatqa and the Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology Samih Tbeila and the Chairman of the Environmental Quality Authority, Adalah Atira and the Chief Engineer. Majdi Al Saleh and the CEO of the Palestine Telecommunication Group Ammar Al Aker and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Munib Rasheed Al Masri Foundation, Mr. Munib AlMasri.
More than 100 innovative projects from Palestinian universities in the fields of engineering and information technology were proposed in an expo where pioneer students had their own real way of thinking creating new ideas and turning them into real small business.
Sidem Praises the Students’ Projects
At the opening of the conference, Dr. Sidem highlighted the ministry's sponsorship of the innovation, creativity, excellence and leadership in all the educational institutions, praising thereby the students' projects which were included in the conference. He pointed to the step taken by the ministry to integrate the technical colleges of the government into PTUK, thus contributing to encourage the orientation towards the vocational and technical education with the support to change the negative outlook over this sector. The minister also pointed to the success achieved by the Palestinian educational system obtaining the World Bank's confirmation that the Palestinian educational system has been marked as the best system across the Arab world.
University Education Makes History of the States
The President of Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie Prof Marwan Awartani explained that the Palestinian high educational system is witnessing serious dialogues and consultations where the status of education is being discussed to become more effective, integral and sustainable that could shape a more better and prosperous future for the state of Palestine enhancing the support of economy, knowledge and technology.
Prof Awartani stated that this review comes as a response to the fast world of knowledge that is having rapid development and unprecedented information technology and telecommunications where essential modifications in the nature, discipline, quality and methods of education are made resulting in changing the nature of the labor market and employment policies.
He advised the students to initiate their own businesses saying “the young shall not only have the choice of employment or remaining unemployed but a third option is now available to expand the economic platform and that is creating new entrepreneurial business and jobs that had not been before”.
He added that PTUK exerted the efforts to set up a university system and a fine environment for the students to create and invent their ideas; including the establishment of the necessary labs and centers as well as the launch of new academic programs that could pave all the way of thinking for the students to initiate their own projects with the support of the university.
Governance of Engineering System in Palestinian Universities
A panel discussion was held during the conference conducted by the CEO of Glow Innovation Company Dr. Hassan Omar on the governance of the engineering education system in the Palestinian universities where Dr. Sidem, Prof Marwan Awartani, Sameeh Tbelah, Adalah Atira, Ammar Al Aker and Al Saleh focused on the process of planning in the local engineering disciplines. They also discussed the future of e-learning law, the integral education, ways of collaboration of the private sector with the universities and the extent of alignment between the output of universities and the needs of the labor market.
Women Leaders in Engineering
Another discussion panel was conducted by the head of the Conference Organizing Committee Dr. Mokram Abbas under the title “women leaders in engineering” where Palestinian and international pioneering women concentrated on the topic of women experiences in engineering and means of success.
Launching the Master Plan
On the conference sideline, Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie launched PTUK’s development master plan by the hands of the Minister of Education Dr. Sabri Sidem.
Dr. Sidem announced that the Ministry of Education has finalized the arrangements to unite the lands of Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie within a short period of time commending the cooperation of the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Sofian Sultan and the Chairman of Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority Thafer Milhem over the development of the university.