Official Visit by Palestine Ahliya University to the University of Stavanger (UiS)
As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering international academic cooperation and advancing innovative educational and research initiatives, Palestine Ahliya University representatives Dr. Ahmad Abdo, President Assistant for Planning and Development, and Dr. Mohammad Kouali, Coordinator of the Electrical Engineering Program, carried out an official visit to the University of Stavanger (UiS) in Norway under the framework of the strategic projects AIESI and SPEED.
🔹 The AIESI Project (2022–2026), funded by the Norwegian NORPART program, brings together the following partner institutions:
University of Stavanger – Norway
Palestine Ahliya University – Palestine
Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport – Egypt
The project aims to enhance the quality of higher education and foster academic partnerships in Applied Energy Engineering. It further seeks to develop joint, accredited master’s programs among the partner universities, promote student and faculty mobility, and support gender equality in the energy sector with particular emphasis on empowering female students. In addition, the project focuses on raising community awareness of the importance of energy and clean technologies, as well as advancing internationalization and collaborative research.
🔹 The SPEED Project focuses on curriculum development and the establishment of international centers for hybrid electric vehicle technologies, involving nine academic and research institutions:
University of Stavanger – Norway
Ruhr University Bochum – Germany
Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport – Egypt
Tanta University – Egypt
Palestine Ahliya University – Palestine
An-Najah National University – Palestine
University of Gafsa – Tunisia
University of Sfax – Tunisia
Al-Khwarizmi Computing Center – Tunisia
The project aims to train both undergraduate and graduate students in the latest methodologies and technologies for hybrid electric vehicles, develop effective practices for energy efficiency, transfer European expertise to support innovative technical education, and contribute to achieving the 2050 Energy Roadmap targets by reducing emissions by 80–85%. Additionally, it seeks to strengthen engagement with the industrial sector to meet labor market needs.
As part of the visit activities, the delegation also conducted a field tour of several factories and technical labs, including the Beyonder Battery Manufacturing Plant, to observe the latest battery production technologies and explore industrial innovations in the renewable energy sector. This experience further strengthens the university’s expertise and partnerships in the fields of energy and technology.
In this context, Dr. Mohammad Kouali emphasized that through its participation in these projects, Palestine Ahliya University seeks to strengthen its research presence in contemporary global issues, particularly in the fields of clean energy and hybrid electric vehicles, and to provide advanced educational opportunities for its students, contributing to prepare a generation capable of competing both regionally and internationally.
Dr. Ahmad Abdo also emphasized that this visit aligns with the university’s strategy to strengthen its academic and research standing and expand international partnerships, thereby enhancing the quality of education, research, and community service.
