PFDP: Background

Silhouette of Palestinian Sunset

Overview

Launched in October 2005, the Palestinian Faculty Development Program (PFDP) aims to increase capacity within the higher education sector in the West Bank and Gaza and address long-term issues of reform in teaching and learning practices. The program, which is funded by USAID and the Open Society Institute (OSI) and administered by AMIDEAST and OSI, has three main objectives:

1) To promote the expansion, retention, and professional development of promising academics

2) To revitalize and reform teaching at Palestinian higher education institutions

3) To promote an institutional culture of teaching and learning

As consultants in the program, Portland State University and Northwestern University will be collaborating respectively with two West Bank institutions--An-Najah National University and Bethlehem University--to help establish a center for teaching excellence at each university. Please see the Partner Profiles page for more information on each institution.