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===Relationship with Hamas===
===Relationship with Hamas===
The Islamic University was founded in 1978 by Sheikh [[Ahmed Yassin]]<ref name="Chronicle"/>, who would a decade later be one of the founders of [[Hamas]]. It also served as a training ground for the political and spiritual leadership of Hamas, and many Hamas leaders have taught at the university.<ref name="Chronicle">December 29, 2008, "Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Destroy 2 University Buildings," Chronicle of Higher Education [http://chronicle.com/article/Israeli-Airstrikes-in-Gaza/42164]</ref> Although students are not required to belong to Hamas, [[Steven Erlanger]] of the [[New York Times]] describes the IUG as "one of the prime means for Hamas to convert Palestinians to its Islamist cause."<ref>Gaza is hit with more Israeli airstrikes, By Steven Erlanger, International Herald Tribune, Friday, May 18, 2007 [http://www.iht.com/bin/print.php?id=5773548]</ref>
Although students are not required to belong to Hamas, [[Steven Erlanger]] of the [[New York Times]] describes the IUG as "one of the prime means for Hamas to convert Palestinians to its Islamist cause."<ref>Gaza is hit with more Israeli airstrikes, By Steven Erlanger, International Herald Tribune, Friday, May 18, 2007 [http://www.iht.com/bin/print.php?id=5773548]</ref>


Palestinian academics have denied the university being a Hamas institution. Writing for the Middle East Children's Alliance, Palestinian Academics Marcy Newman and Akram Habeeb claim that "Equally important for our American colleagues is to remove the false label that IUG is a "Hamas-controlled" institution. Just as Palestinians in Gaza belong to a variety of political parties, IUG's students, board, faculty and staff represent that reality. IUG is a university like any other in Palestine that reflects the diversity of its population." <ref name=MECA> http://www.mecaforpeace.org/article.php?id=431 'Rebuilding the Islamic University of Gaza' by Akram Habeeb and Marcy Newman, February 16th, 2009</ref>
Palestinian academics have denied the university being a Hamas institution. Writing for the Middle East Children's Alliance, Palestinian Academics Marcy Newman and Akram Habeeb claim that "Equally important for our American colleagues is to remove the false label that IUG is a "Hamas-controlled" institution. Just as Palestinians in Gaza belong to a variety of political parties, IUG's students, board, faculty and staff represent that reality. IUG is a university like any other in Palestine that reflects the diversity of its population." <ref name=MECA> http://www.mecaforpeace.org/article.php?id=431 'Rebuilding the Islamic University of Gaza' by Akram Habeeb and Marcy Newman, February 16th, 2009</ref>

Revision as of 20:23, 28 July 2010

See also: December 2008 Gaza Strip airstrikes
Islamic University of Gaza
TypeHigher Education
Established1978
PresidentDr Kamalain Shaath
Students20,021[1]
Undergraduates18,974
Postgraduates1,047
Location
Gaza
,
Palestinian territories
Colorswhite and green
Websitewww.iugaza.edu.ps

Islamic University of Gaza (Template:Lang-ar also known as IUG, IU Gaza, or The University of Gaza) is an independent Palestinian university established in 1978 in Gaza City, Palestinian territories. The university, according to its website, has 10 faculties capable of awarding either B.A., B.Sc., M.A., M.Sc., Diploma and higher diploma in their respective disciplines.[2] The Islamic University of Gaza is a member of four regional and international association of higher education which are the International Association of Universities, Community of Mediterranean Universities[3], Association of Arab Universities[4] and Association of Islamic Universities.[5]

History

Prior to the establishment of the Islamic University, students of Gaza Strip had to seek their higher education in Egypt because Gaza Strip lacked universities by then. In 1967, it deemed necessary to a group of businessmen to establish a higher education institution in Gaza Strip to serve thousands of students and to help them save their time, money and effort. On that account was the establishment of Islamic University in 1978. Starting with three faculties only, IUG developed its facilities and academic departments to have ten faculties at the moment to offer BA. B.Sc., MA, M.Sc., Diploma and higher diploma in a variety of disciplines. Through sincere and continuous efforts and because of its highly qualified graduates, IUG has won both national respect and international fame.[6]

Relationship with Hamas

Although students are not required to belong to Hamas, Steven Erlanger of the New York Times describes the IUG as "one of the prime means for Hamas to convert Palestinians to its Islamist cause."[7]

Palestinian academics have denied the university being a Hamas institution. Writing for the Middle East Children's Alliance, Palestinian Academics Marcy Newman and Akram Habeeb claim that "Equally important for our American colleagues is to remove the false label that IUG is a "Hamas-controlled" institution. Just as Palestinians in Gaza belong to a variety of political parties, IUG's students, board, faculty and staff represent that reality. IUG is a university like any other in Palestine that reflects the diversity of its population." [8]

Harvard political economist Sara Roy who has specialized on the economy and society of Gaza, has also written while criticizing a New York Times report that alleged Hamas use of educational institutions in Gaza for propaganda and recruitment purposes: "There can be no question that Hamas works within the framework of Islamic institutions in the Gaza Strip, and that there are certain direct links between Hamas and many of the social and economic institutions (in the strip)... However, it is far more questionable whether an automatic and inevitable link exists between Hamas and Islamic social and economic institutions, whether those links are inherently subversive, or whether such institutions promote radicalism and violence as is commonly assumed." Roy also writes: "... logic maintains, institutional clients become automatically linked to Hamas and constitute a base of support for political Islam. As a result, Islamic social institutions become recruiting centers for the Hamas's military wing. There is however, little hard evidence to support any of these allegations. [9]

Fatah confiscation of Hamas weapons cache in 2007

During fighting between Hamas and Fatah, the dominating party in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), in February 2007, Fatah militia stormed the university and claimed confiscating weapons and ammunition that were claimed to be stored in the University. Palestinian television aired footage showing dozens of rocket-propelled grenade launchers, rockets, and assault rifles, as well as thousands of bullets. PA President Mahmoud Abbas's officials claimed that the weaponry had been found inside the university though no evidence has been presented.[10][11][12]

2008 Israeli strike

Just after midnight December 28/29 local time, the Islamic University of Gaza was bombed in six separate air strikes as part of the December 2008 Gaza Strip air strikes by the Israeli Air Force. BBC News describes the university as a "cultural symbol of Hamas" and reports that the university had been evacuated a few days before.[13]

An Israeli army spokeswoman told The Chronicle of Higher Education that university facilities were being used by Hamas to develop and store weapons including Qassam rockets used to target Israeli civilians. Hamas denied the Israeli allegation.[10][14][11] According to claims by the Israeli based International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism, Hamas uses the University's laboratories to research and develop the Qassam rockets, in order to extend its range and lethality.[15]

The United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict examined the incident and disputed the Israeli claims, concluding that :"(The mission) also saw the destruction caused at the Islamic University and in other university buildings that were destroyed or damaged. These were civilian, educational buildings and the Mission did not find any information about their use as a military facility or their contribution to a military effort that might have made them a legitimate target in the eyes of the Israeli armed forces." [16]

More specifically, Palestinian academics claim that the attack destroyed 74 labs, including, Microbiology, Hermatology, Genetics, Medical Technology and Medical Chemistry Labs, Physics Labs, Environmental and Earth Sciences Labs, Biology Labs, Biotechnology Labs, Optics Labs, Chemistry Labs, Engineering Labs, and Engineering and IT buildings. [8]

In its response to the strike, the Islamic University of Gaza announced in a press release on January 21, 2009 that The University is an independent institution of higher education in Gaza and the largest among the Palestinian institutions that serve 20,000 students as an accredited member of several regional and international academic associations and organization. According to the press release, the attack destroyed the Science and Engineering buildings and damaged several others. The university called upon academics, local, regional and international higher educational and human rights institutions to speak out against the attacks.[17] A number of international academic institutions have proceeded to express their commitment to support IUG as well as other universities in Gaza. The [International Association of Universities] of which IUG is a member, has claimed to have written to the university to express its deep concern over the effects of the war, and to be ready to mobilize its member universities in support of the rebuilding efforts of the university. Similarly, Prof. Espen Bjertness of the University of Oslo and member of the Steering Committee of PEACE, stressed that “the sad situation for all academics caused by the bombing of our member university, Islamic University, Gaza and of the Gaza Community Mental Health Program calls for appropriate action”. [18]

About the Islamic University of Gaza

The Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) is an independent Palestinian institution located in Gaza. It is the first higher education institution to be established in Gaza. IUG began with three faculties in 1978 and currently has eight faculties introducing BA. B.Sc., MA, M.Sc., Diploma and higher diploma in a variety of disciplines.

Many IUG graduates obtained Masters and Doctorate degrees from international universities all over the world including top universities in Europe, North America and Asia.

IUG is a member of four associations: International Association of Universities, Community of Mediterranean Universities, Association of Arab Universities and Association of Islamic Universities. IUG has developed several academic links and signed several agreements of academic cooperation with American, European and Arab Universities. It has also conducted several projects in collaboration with local and international organizations and institutions situated in the Palestinian territories and abroad.

Donor institutions

Programme donor institutions include, Arab Student Aid International, United Palestinian Appeal, Islamic Relief, British Council, World Bank, Islamic Development Bank and Human Appeal International.

The university has also recently been accepting donations from the Middle East Children's Alliance for its rebuilding efforts. [8]

Academic Partners and Associations

The Islamic University of Gaza is a member of four regional and international association of higher education which are the International Association of Universities, Community of Mediterranean Universities, Association of Arab Universities and [gree in general nursing.

  • Faculty of Education: where the following majors are possible: Science Education, Psychological science, Primary Education (elementary level), Psychological Counselling & Educational Guideline, Applied Science & Education Technology, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language, English Language, Geography, Social Studies, History, Computer Education, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Biology
  • Faculty of Art: Arabic Language, English Language, Geography, Journalism & Information, Journalism / Editing, Journalism & Information./Pub. Relations & Ad, Social Services, History & Archaeology, Arabic & Journalism
  • Faulty of Shariah & Law: Islamic Shariah, Shariah & Law

Postgraduate Studies

The Islamic University of Gaza awards Master of Science and Master of Arts degree in the following areas and majors:

  • Faculty of Engineering: the faculty of engineering awards masters in the following majors: (Civil Engineering/Infra Structure, Civil Engineering/Construct. Management, Civil Engineering/Structure, Design & Rehabilitation Of Structures, Electrical Engineering/ Control Systems, Water Resources Engineering, Civil Engineering/Construction Management.
  • Faculty of Science: the faculty of science awards masters in the following majors: Mathematics, Physics, Water Resources Management. Also, the faculty of science awards masters in Biological Sciences with concentration on the following areas: Zoology, Microbiology, Medical Technology, Botany and Mycology.
  • Faculty of Commerce: The faculty of commerce awards Master of arts degree in the two main majors of Accounting and Finance, and Business Administration. The Business Administration has the following concentrations: Human Resource Management, Marketing Management, and Financial Management.
  • Faculty of Education: the faculty of education awards masters degree in the following majors: Psychology, Curricula and Methodology, Fundamentals Of Education, and Rehabilitation Sciences. The Curricula and Methodology has the following concentrations: Mathematics, Arabic Language, Sciences, English, and Instructional Technology The Fundamentals Of Education has the following concentrations: Islamic Education and Educational Administration.
  • Faculty of Art: the faculty of art awards master of arts degree in the following majors: Literature, Rhetoric and Criticism, Modern History, and Islamic History.
  • Faculty of Shariah and Law: awards master of art in three majors which are: Foundations Of Jurisprudence, Comparative Jurisprudence, and Islamic Jurisdicrion.
  • Faculty of Ussoul Eldeen: awards master of arts in three majors which are: Hadith, Aqidah, and Quran and Its Interpretaion.

IUG Facilities

The Islamic University of Gaza comprises a large number of scientific labs, containing the top scientific equipments and devices which are basic needs for the theoretical education process. The IUG has an effective mechanism to keep its labs up-to-date. IUG provides and expands the use of technological tools and methods in the learning process.

IUG pays special concerns in widening the use of computer through establishing large number of computer rooms for students, academic staff and researches rooms for students, academic staff and researchers. The internal facility was already provided in all IUG premises to connect them with the rest of the world facilities, especially libraries, research centers, data bases, etc.

  • The University attracted attention in Charlottesville, Virginia in July 2008 when local news magazine The Hook reported that the University of Virginia had taken legal action after discovering that the Islamic University of Gaza had violated copyright laws by stealing the design of the website of the University of Virginia.[19]

These photos were taken before the recent Israeli attack and before the partial destruction by Fatah militia in the 2007's internal conflict.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ About IUG
  2. ^ "About the Islamic University of Gaza". Retrieved 2007-02-14.
  3. ^ http://www.cmungo.org/index.php?page=statuto&cat=&lang=en
  4. ^ http://www.aaru.edu.jo
  5. ^ "Islamic University of Gaza". Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  6. ^ http://www.iugaza.edu.ps/en/About/HistoricalView.aspx
  7. ^ Gaza is hit with more Israeli airstrikes, By Steven Erlanger, International Herald Tribune, Friday, May 18, 2007 [1]
  8. ^ a b c http://www.mecaforpeace.org/article.php?id=431 'Rebuilding the Islamic University of Gaza' by Akram Habeeb and Marcy Newman, February 16th, 2009
  9. ^ Sara Roy, 'Failing Peace', 2007, Pluto Press: London
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Chronicle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b IRAN'S GAZA GOONS CAUGHT AT HELM OF BOMB FACTORY, By ANDY SOLTIS with Post Wire Services, New York Post, Feb. 3, 2007 [2]
  12. ^ Gaza is hit with more Israeli airstrikes, By Steven Erlanger, New York Times, Friday, May 18, 2007 [3]
  13. ^ "Israel bombs university in Gaza". BBC. 2008-12-28. Archived from the original on 2008-12-28. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  14. ^ Jerusalem Post, Dec 29, 2008, IAF bombs Islamic University's R&D labs, By YAAKOV KATZ [4]
  15. ^ Fighel, Jonathan (2009-02-01). "The Mujaheed Sheikh - Dr. Nizar Rayyan The Spiritual Mentor of Iz A-Din Al Qassam Brigades". International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  16. ^ United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict
  17. ^ http://www.iugaza.edu.ps/en/Media/News.aspx?NewsId=5381
  18. ^ http://www.peace-programme.org/latest-news/news-about-the-project/82-the-situation-in-gaza-23-january-2009.html
  19. ^ "Copycat U: UVA fends off imitators". Retrieved 2008-08-23.

31°30′47.23″N 34°26′25.64″E / 31.5131194°N 34.4404556°E / 31.5131194; 34.4404556

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