Bank of Palestine and Welfare Association signed an agreement to launch Zamala (Fellowship) Program for academic and professional development at Bethlehem University. The project is funded and implemented by Bank of Palestine and Welfare Association in partnership with Palestinian universities. The signing ceremony was attended by Chairman of the Board and General Manager of Bank of Palestine Mr Hashim Al-Shawa, Bethlehem University Vice Chancellor Br. Peter Bray, FSC, Welfare Association Operations Director Mr Khaled Daoudi, and senior officials from partner organizations.
For his part, Mr Al-Shawa gave a brief presentation on the Zamala Project concept and stressed its significance in making a qualitative leap in raising a generation that keeps abreast of latest changes and developments. He added that Zamala will provide the academic cadre with the opportunity to open up to the world, become acquainted with the latest developments in the areas of technology and applied financial sciences, and learn from the expertise and innovations of other countries and eventually transmit that experience to Palestinian university students.
Br. Bray, FSC, highlighted the importance of a qualified academic cadre that has deep knowledge of the latest scientific developments in order to be able to contribute to the creation of a better quality education for students. According to Br. Bray, Zamala Program will provide the educational cadre at Bethlehem University with an opportunity to enrich their sources, knowledge, academic and professional expertise by way of partnering with colleagues in other countries. He expressed gratitude to Bank of Palestine and Welfare Association for this vision and this excellent program.
Mr Daoudi expressed hope that Zamala Program will achieve its objectives and promote cultural exchange and sharing of knowledge, and skill development. He stressed the importance of training and rehabilitating university students so that they can contribute to the process of production and growth, become rapidly involved in the labor market and bridge the gap between higher education sector and its outcomes on the one hand and the labor sector and the need of local and global markets on the other.