Bethlehem, West Bank – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its partner, AMIDEAST, opened a conference on Wednesday at the Jacir Palace Intercontinental Hotel in Bethlehem addressing higher education teaching and management. The Minister of Education, Ms. Lamis Alami and USAID’s Acting Mission Director, David Harden launched the conference. The plenary address was given by renown scholar Dr. Gene Rice and addressed the dramatic changes currently taking place in the roles and responsibilities of faculty.  His address sparked a discussion about how to match faculty priorities with the pressing needs of society for excellence in teaching and learning, quality research, and the building of viable institutions of higher education. 

The theme of the first day of the conference is centered around teaching and learning issues, whereas, the second day of the conference will focus on tertiary education policy and practice.  Friday’s plenary speaker, Dr. Khalil Nakhleh, will discuss growing concerns about quality in Palestinian tertiary educational institutions.  He will also review the major initiatives to institutionalize quality assurance over the last thirty-five years.  The third day of the conference will also return to the challenges confronting Palestinian faculty, as well as innovative approaches to pedagogy in the undergraduate classroom.

The conference is meant to bring faculty together from all universities and colleges and be a place to discuss key issues, as well as an opportunity for faculty to network.  The event has been connected via digital video conferencing with faculty attending a parallel event in Gaza City at Al Azhar University.  The three-day conference is organized by AMIDEAST through the Palestinian Faculty Development Program (PFDP).  The PFDP seeks to revitalize and reform undergraduate teaching within Palestinian higher education institutions, as well as promote an institutional culture of teaching and learning. The conference is just one of many activities designed to achieve this goal.