AirrPal – Academic Infrastructure for Recovery and Reconstruction in Palestine

Project leaders

Marius Grønning, NMBU – Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and Steffen Wellinger, NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology

About the project

The project focuses on strengthening higher education and research through spatial planning.
The working group responds to urgent Palestinian needs arising from large scale destruction, instability, and restricted mobility. It builds on the Save Gaza Initiative’s effort to establish a National University Centre for Spatial Planning in Palestine (NUCSPP). The center serves as an academic hub for research, education, data infrastructure, and professional collaboration. AirrPal supports decentralized, hybrid, and digital academic models to ensure continuity under crisis conditions. The initiative integrates education directly into recovery, reconstruction, entrepreneurship, and job creation. Key priorities include curriculum restructuring, resilient teaching models, and decision relevant research. Norwegian expertise in planning, architecture, public health, and post war reconstruction complements Palestinian leadership. The collaboration emphasizes empowerment, local agency, and reduced dependency on external frameworks. AirrPal contributes to accelerating the transition from destruction to sustainable development in Palestine.
 

MERPal: Collaboration for Resilient Media Education and Research in Palestine 

Project leader

Anne Hege Simonsen, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

About the project in Norwegian

Målsettingen er å styrke motstandsdyktig journalistikk  og medieutdanning i Palestina. Gruppen samler norske institusjoner med bred mediefaglig kompetanse. Palestinske partnere inkluderer universiteter på Vestbredden, med planlagt utvidelse til Gaza. Samarbeidet er forankret i uttalte behov for støtte til journalistikkutdanning i en krigs  og krisetid. Prosjektet bygger på langvarige relasjoner mellom norske og palestinske medieutdanninger. Målet er å utvikle robuste utdanninger tilpasset utfordringer som sikkerhet, traumer og informasjonskrig. Kjerneområder er ytringsfrihet, pressefrihet, verifisering, KI i journalistikk og kreative pedagogikker. Aktiviteter inkluderer kortere praksisnære kurs, student  og lærerutveksling samt faglige fora. Arbeidsgruppen legger også til rette for felles forskning og ekstern finansiering. Samlet bidrar MERPal til styrket kvalitet, samarbeid og akademisk kapasitet i palestinsk medieutdanning.

NorPal ECHER: Norway–Palestine: Capacity building in Early Childhood, Higher Education and Research

Project leader

Anders Davidsen, USN – University of South-Eastern Norway

About the project in Norwegian

Høyere utdanning i Palestina, særlig barnehagelærerutdanning (ECE), står i 2025–2026 overfor alvorlige utfordringer som følge av krig, ødeleggelser og tap av fagmiljøer. Sektoren preges av digital sårbarhet og begrenset tilgang til forskning, nettverk og oppdatert kunnskap. Det er et særlig behov for kapasitetsbygging innen psykososial støtte, inkluderende pedagogikk samt leke- og læringsmiljøer. Samtidig er styrking av forskning, digitale læringsformer og samarbeid med eksterne partnere avgjørende. Behovene er godt dokumentert og bekreftet gjennom palestinske myndigheter, universiteter og internasjonale rapporter. Arbeidsgruppen tar sikte på å etablere et bærekraftig samarbeid mellom norske og palestinske institusjoner. Målet er å utvikle en konkurransedyktig Erasmus+ CBHE-søknad innen 2027. Planlagte aktiviteter inkluderer workshops, nettverksmøter, felles prosjektutvikling og søknadsskriving. Gruppen vil også utvikle konkrete undervisningstilbud innen ECE. Samarbeidet skal bidra til styrking, gjenoppbygging og langsiktig utvikling av høyere utdanning i Palestina.

REBUILD – GazaEDU: Rebuilding Engineering, Architecture and Applied Technologies Education in Gaza

Project leader

Mohamad Mustafa, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway

About the project

REBUILD GazaEDU is dedicated to rebuilding engineering, architecture, and applied technology higher education in Gaza. It brings together Norwegian universities with complementary expertise. The Islamic University of Gaza is the main Palestinian partner, with Al Azhar University and UCAS as key collaborators. The initiative is grounded in verified assessments documenting severe damage to campuses, laboratories, ICT, and staff capacity. Its goal is to restore teaching, research, and institutional systems in line with international standards. The approach combines physical reconstruction with resilient digital and hybrid education solutions. Capacity building is achieved through co teaching, mentoring, laboratory safety, and accreditation support. Gaza led research clusters address reconstruction priorities in buildings, energy, water, and urban planning.
Together, these efforts enable a locally led, safe, and sustainable rebuilding of higher education in Gaza.

PACTIE: Palestinian–Norwegian Collaboration for Trauma-Sensitive and Inclusive Education: Building Capacity for Culturally Sensitive, Rights-Based and Inclusive Trauma-Sensitive Education in Palestine

Project leaders

Emad Al Rozzi, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, and Steffi Gebus, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway

About the project

PACTIE is a Palestinian - Norwegian collaboration focused on trauma sensitive, inclusive, and rights based education. The project is supported by a multidisciplinary Norwegian team. It brings together expertise in education in emergencies, early childhood education, psychology, inclusion, and social work. The initiative is anchored in expressed needs from Palestinian academics working under conditions of prolonged trauma and crisis. PACTIE acknowledges both the severe psychosocial impacts of trauma and the strong contextual knowledge held by Palestinian educators.
Its core aim is to strengthen higher education through culturally sensitive and inclusive trauma responsive pedagogy. Activities include co teaching, workshops, shared teaching resources, and Arabic language online modules. The network facilitates sustained knowledge exchange between Palestinian and Norwegian staff and students. Community based activities support children, youth, and families through safe spaces, play, and psychosocial support. Overall, PACTIE builds long term capacity, resilience, and collaborative research in Palestinian higher education. Partner universities in Palestine are Al Aqsa University, Islamic University of Gaza (IUG), Al Azhar University – Gaza (AUG), University College of Applied Sciences (UCAS) and Al Quds Open University. 

Palestine in the archive

Project leader

Olaf Knarvik, UiB – University of Bergen

About the project in Norwegian

Prosjektet har som målsetting å styrker forskning, undervisning og formidling om palestinsk historie gjennom arkivarbeid. Palestine Museum er en sentral partner, sammen med palestinske og norske forskere og kulturarbeidere. Prosjektet svarer på mangelen på et nasjonalt palestinsk arkiv og ødeleggelsen av arkiver i Gaza. Kjernen er UiBs unike Palestina samling med ca. 9000 foto og film fra 1950–60 tallet. Samlingen dokumenterer hverdagsliv, arbeid, utdanning og fellesskap, ofte oversett i historieforskningen. Målet er å tilgjengeliggjøre, videreutvikle og bruke arkivet på palestinske premisser. Aktiviteter inkluderer arkivutvikling, katalogisering, oversettelse og dybdeidentifisering. Prosjektet utvikler undervisning, forskning og kuratering, inkludert utstillinger ledet av palestinske partnere. Langsiktig bidrar arbeidet til kunnskap, identitet og gjenoppbygging av høyere utdanning.

NORPAL Teach-Flex: Universitetssamarbeid for fleksible digitale lærerutdanningstilbud 

Project leader

Marianne Hafnor Bøe, UiS – University of Stavanger

About the project in Norwegian

Prosjektet er et norsk palestinsk universitetssamarbeid som har som mål å utvikle fleksible, digitale lærerutdanningstilbud. Prosjektet ledes av Universitetet i Stavanger og involverer flere norske universiteter samt An Najah National University og Islamic University Gaza. Bakgrunnen er et stort behov i Palestina for tilgjengelige studier på grunn av strømbrudd, begrenset nettilgang og manglende mobilitet. Særlig lærerutdanning er prioritert, med vekt på fleksible, digitale og hybride løsninger. Studietilbudene skal styrke kvalitet, gjennomføring og internasjonalisering i palestinsk høyere utdanning. Felles emner for norske og palestinske studenter skal bidra til økt interkulturell og mangfoldskompetanse. Demokrati og medborgerskap er valgt som overordnet tverrfaglig tema. Prosjektet bygger videre på eksisterende samarbeid, emner og forskningsmiljøer. En sentral aktivitet er utvikling av en Erasmus+ søknad om virtuell utveksling. Gjennom tett institusjonelt samarbeid bidrar prosjektet til styrking og gjenoppbygging av høyere utdanning i Palestina.

The NorPal–Nursing Network

Project leader

Abdallah Abudayya, VID Specialized University

About the project

The project aims to strengthen the resilience and continuity of nursing education and research in the Gaza Strip through Norwegian – Palestinian academic collaboration. The initiative responds to severe disruptions caused by the ongoing crisis, which has limited access to education, clinical training, and academic supervision. At the same time, Gaza’s healthcare system faces an urgent need for nurses with emergency and conflict-related competencies. The collaboration brings together VID Specialized University, OsloMet, and eight nursing education institutions in Gaza. Short-term efforts focus on sustaining education through digital teaching, remote supervision, and adaptable clinical training models. Faculty support is provided through mentorship, co-teaching, and joint research activities. Long-term goals include rebuilding nursing education systems, strengthening research capacity, and developing shared curricula. A key ambition is to establish a Center for Crisis and Disaster Nursing. The partnership is based on mutual collaboration, with Palestinian institutions defining priorities and leading local implementation. Overall, the network contributes to the recovery, resilience, and sustainable development of nursing education and research in Gaza.

NorP@rts – Norwegian Palestinian Arts Cooperation

Project leaders

Rose Martin, NORD University, and Jon Helge Sætre, Norwegian Academy of Music

About the project

The project aims to strengthen academic collaboration between Norway and Palestine in arts higher education and research. The working group brings together universities, art academies, artists, and cultural organizations across music, visual arts, dance, and theatre. Its work responds directly to expressed Palestinian needs for continuity, recovery, and rebuilding of arts education under crisis conditions. The group views arts and culture as essential societal and educational infrastructure, not supplementary activities. It aligns with international evidence showing the role of arts in resilience, social cohesion, identity, and post-conflict recovery. Activities focus on institutional cooperation, policy development, and networking of arts educators, researchers, and practitioners. A partner-led needs assessment will ensure actions are grounded in Palestinian-defined priorities and realities. The collaboration integrates universities, cultural NGOs, and creative practitioners as equal partners. NorP@rts addresses a gap within NorPal by activating arts as a vital component of higher education reconstruction. Overall, the group supports sustainable, scalable, and long-term recovery of Palestinian arts education and research.

Call for Network Funding

Application deadline was 26 March 2026

The Board of NorPal invites Norwegian academic environments to apply for network funding to establish national working groups aimed at strengthening and contributing to the rebuilding of higher education and research in Palestine

Download Call for Network Funding and application form

Please send your application to

• nina.sindre@ntnu.no
• with a copy to hallgerd.hoff.helgetun@ntnu.no

It is a prerequisite that academic environments from several higher education institutions apply together for funding within the same thematic area. The national workshop taking place on 26 February aims to bring together Norwegian academic environments.

The maximum application amount is up to NOK 300,000 per working group per year. Funding is provided for two years. 

The funds may be used for various network activities, including pre-project funding and meetings.

NorPal workshop 26 February 2026

Invitation to national workshop

The workshop was held in OsloMet banquet hall

Strengthening of higher education and research in Palestine: What can Norwegian academic institutions and environments do? 

Programme for the workshop – NOTE: updated 26.02.26 (pdf)

NorPal cordially invites Norwegian academics to a workshop to discuss and explore ongoing and planned cooperation with Palestine in higher education and research. Participants are invited to give short introduction, and there will be ample time for discussions of initiatives and sharing of experiences. 

Representatives of Palestinian higher education institutions will tell us about the current needs of the sector, and the Norwegian government will lay out the plans for Norway’s contribution in the rebuilding phase.

We are proud to announce that Professor Sultan Baraka, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, will be giving a keynote during the conference.