The recent war on Gaza caused the destruction of cultural, historical, and academic institutions, including universities, schools, libraries, and archival organizations. This created an environment lacking even the minimum necessary services and basic living essentials. The education sector was particularly affected, with 70% of schools and universities destroyed or damaged, resulting in massive losses exceeding $720 million in the education sector, according to the International Monetary Fund. Additionally, 90,000 university students lost access to education, and university databases were destroyed, along with the disruption of their websites.

To address this urgent crisis, immediate and swift action was required to ensure the right of Gaza’s students to continue their education. In response, An-Najah National University and the Network of Mediterranean Universities (NIMED) launched the TESI Initiative in February 2024. This initiative aims to enable Gaza’s students to complete their university education remotely as visiting students, without imposing any financial burden on the students or their universities.

A team of experts, including academics, administrative staff, and scientists—all volunteering for this just cause—was formed to assist Gaza’s students in pursuing higher education. Since its launch, the TESI Initiative has achieved remarkable success, with numerous international universities joining forces to tackle this escalating crisis.

With the support of digital technologies and local and international partnerships, this initiative seeks to adopt innovative virtual education solutions that empower Gaza’s students to continue their educational journeys while strengthening the resilience of the educational system in Gaza.

Conference Title

"Effective Application of Distance Learning Standards in Higher Education during the Israeli War on Gaza"

Conference Country

Libya

Conference Date

Dec. 12, 2024 - Dec. 13, 2024

Conference Sponsor

جامعة درنا