Initial Meeting for Acadamic Cooperation & Collaboration at Architecture Department IUG, Gaza.

Two academicians from two countries, Malaysia and Palestine but both have common research area and interest have met on the 25^th May 2012 in the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic University Gaza (IUG). Associate Prof. Dr Mohd Zin from Department of Architecture UTM is also in the Aqsa2Gaza4 humanitarian mission together with other 100 volunteers from 18 countries known as “Shaddul Reehal Ila al-Quds” Convoy. 

Dr Mohd Zin realise the existance of the Department of Architecture in IUG through the chairman of Islamic Sociaty of Jabalis (IUG), Eng Abdul Rahem Shehab, whom he has two years cooperation on Aqsa Syarif humanitarian mission. Aqsa Syarif Malaysia is an organisation whom, Dr Mohd Zin is one of the Board of Trustee (BoT). More than RM3million has be raised from the Malaysian Public and has been donated to several humanitarian projects in Gaza. 

 

To this date, 30 projects involving foods, health, education and sosio-economic with about 10 local counter-part in Gaza has been started and in progress. A few has been successfully implemented and benefited thousands of Palestinians who are in need in Gaza particularly after the Israeli attack in 2008. 

Eng Abdul Rahem Shehab is an Architecture graduate from IUG,  who introduces Dr Mohd Zin with Associate Professor Dr Farid Sobeh Al-Qeeq, the Dean for Planning and Development at IUG and then Dr Farid introduces Dr Mohd Zin to Assistance Professor Dr Ahmed S. Muhaisen from the Architecture Department in IUG, who has the common area of interest in Sustainable Architecture and Climatic Responsive Building Design.

During one hour meeting in Dr Muhaisen office, several agenda was discussed including;

a. Exchange information on Architectural Programme offereed at both universities.

b. Teaching methodologies and supporting facilities.

c. Postgraduate programme offered by both faculties and possibilities for more students from Gaza to study in Malaysia, especially in UTM.

d. Scholarship opportunities in Malaysia, especially in UTM for Palestinian students.

e. Research interest and possibility of research collaboration and cooperation including possibilities for joint supervision for Post Graduate students.

f. Possible for exchange students and academic staff program.

g. Possiblities for UTM Global Outreach Programme (GOP) to Palestine.

h. Other related matters. 

Dr Muhaisen took Dr Mohd Zin around the Department to see some student’s studio works and studio facilities. Dr Mohd Zin was also shown the new reconstruction of lab building which was totally destroyed by Israeli bombs during 2008 attack on Gaza. The project is funded by the Gulf Cooperation.

The meeting was extremely valuable and fruitfull. May there will be follow-up steps to tightened the relationship, cooperation and collaboration to benefit both parties, both universities and ummah as a whole.