WELCOME
About Gaza Virtual University
All of Gaza’s university campuses have been demolished by Israel, and many students, faculty, and administrators have been killed or maimed. While Gazan academics have persevered through decades of precarious living conditions and repression, the widespread destruction wrought in this war will likely push many to leave permanently to countries ready to accept these highly trained emigres. Given the cost and incubation period needed to produce PhDs, Gaza may become a higher education desert, depriving the Strip of a critical engine of its cultural and economic advancement.
Vision
Gaza Virtual University (GVU) supports the vitality of institutions of higher learning in Palestine through international collaboration.
Mission
Gaza Virtual University develops and operates a network of international universities and academics who support the continuity and advancement of higher learning institutions in Palestine.In particular, GVU:
- operates an information clearinghouse on the status of urgent needs identified by Gaza’s universities as they resume operation,
- solicits international academic institutions and individual academics for teaching, research, and administrative support,
- connects professors in Gaza with paid teaching, research, and consulting opportunities in the network,
- recruits and appoints international academics to serve as volunteer GVU “faculty,” mirroring a university structure with departments and schools,
- coordinates teams of GVU faculty who seek funding (e.g. project proposals, donations) on behalf of Palestinian (with special focus on Gaza initially) universities that request such assistance, and
- serves as an information clearinghouse on philanthropic or other funding opportunities for Palestinian universities.
- Serve to connect students from around the world with students in Palestine
We unite to bridge the gap between those in need and those with the capacity to assist, fostering connections and leveraging resources to empower individuals, universities and communities.
GOALS
Focusing On What Matters Most
At Gaza Virtual University, our paramount goal is to ensure access to critical courses and expertise for students and faculty in Gaza. By forging partnerships with universities abroad, we connect students with essential courses and provide faculty with opportunities for collaboration, empowering academic advancement despite challenging circumstances.
TOGETHER
Universities and Partners
Our network comprises esteemed academic institutions, associations, and philanthropic agencies dedicated to supporting higher education in Palestine Specially in Gaza. Collaborating with universities worldwide, including the American University of Beirut and others, we facilitate academic exchanges, resource-sharing, and funding initiatives to empower Palestinian universities and students.
Envisioned roles for individual academics and university network partners
Individual GVU faculty members will forge research collaborations involving faculty in Palestine, work on teams to write grant proposals to raise funds for university priorities in Gaza, participate in mentorship activities, serve on GVU department committees (e.g. to interview new GVU recruits).
University network partners will provide curricular teaching support to Gaza’s universities, will hire faculty in Gaza for online teaching roles outside Palestine, can host GVU faculty volunteers as adjunct faculty for online teaching in Gaza.
Note: Where Gaza universities seek teaching support for their programs, GVU network partners provide that support through bilateral arrangements directly between the involved universities so as to assure standards and accountability.
Capabilities required of GVU
- A virtual presence that can serve as a one-stop shop for all stakeholders
- Ability to establish credibility with international and Palestinian academic institutions
- Effective channels of communication with senior leadership in Palestinian universities
- Connect teaching needs of Palestinian universities with offerings of GVU university partners
- Means to construct and maintain database of professors in Gaza
- Ability to recruit international academics who will serve the mission
- Means to coordinate teams of GVU faculty (e.g. for funding proposal development)
- Means to fund necessary GVU staff and capabilities without compromising vision/mission
- Ability to sign agreements, receive and disburse small levels of funding in the short term, and other related functions (initially through S4P or partner universities; as situation evolves GVU may need to become a legal entity)
- Something about ability to connect students in a productive manner