Accomplishments
The efforts of the administrative, academic and technical staff of QOU channel towards shaping the University as a pillar of education in the Palestinian society, and setting a framework for sustainable human development, self-reliance and independency. Following this philosophy, the University has been able to accumulate important achievements along the years since its establishment as follows:
- Academic Accomplishments.
- Information Technology Accomplishments.
- QOU Strategic Plan Accomplishments.
- Infrastructure Accomplishments.
- All courses are available in blended learning mode; the courses are taught through textbooks and lectures, and through e-learning tools represented by the webpages of the courses and virtual lectures.
- Developing the mobile learning service (M-learning), which spreads contents through the smart phones that are widely used among students recently.
- Establishing well-developed labs for e-libraries equipped with computers, printers, smart screens and special tools for the visually impaired persons in accordance with the latest specifications at some branches of the University.
- Writing and printing a number of textbooks in addition to upgrading other outdated ones.
- Developing the Question Bank software based on the specifications table in cooperation with ICTC.
- Graduating the first batch from the Faculty of Graduate Studies in “Arabic Language and Literature” and “Psychological and Educational Counseling” majors.
- Launching a minor in Information Security.
- Building the digital warehouse to manage scientific research production through ROMOR project.
- Issuing the Palestinian Journal for Technology and Applied Sciences in English.
- Accrediting barcode for the University’s Journals.
- Participating in the students and faculty members exchange programs through Erasmus+ program.
- Opening a new major in the Faculty of Educational Sciences entitled “Learning Resources and Educational Technology” which was accredited by the National Commission for accreditation at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Palestine.
- Accrediting the French language minor in Ramallah & Al-Bireh, Nablus and Jenin branches.
- Signing an agreement with Attanal Alarabi to protect the Arabic language from the contemporary challenges and risks.
- Signing an agreement with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education on technical and vocational education.
- Winning Erasmus+ project: Teaching English as a foreign language in Palestinian an e-learning initiative that bridges educational and socio-political gaps “TEFL-ePAL”.
- Winning the American Consulate project: Applied English language-Building capacity of professional English language skills of aL-Quds Open University students and academic staff.
QOU Strategic Plan (2012-2015)
QOU Strategic Plan aims at achieving the following goals:
- To reach excellence and modernity through applying international standards of quality in all academic and administrative work at the university.
- To continue proposing new drafts, agendas, and initiatives to keep enhancing QOU leading role in the field of education, scientific research and community service.
- To improve the efficiency and competency of the staff at the University to achieve high quality outcomes.
- To strengthen the partnership with various sectors in the local community.
- To develop and promote the vision and mission of QOU.
- To identify future requirements, aims and strategies of the University, taking into account the recommendations of the external evaluation of the University.
- To form a committee that monitors and ensures commitment with QOU strategic plan regarding planning process, performance, and implementation.
- To provide technical support to all QOU departments and centers to facilitate implementation and follow up of their annual agenda.
- To prepare the following QOU strategic plan for the period of 2016-2018.
Infrastructure Accomplishments
- Construction of new campuses across country to facilitate access to education for all Palestinian communities.
- Horizontal and vertical expansion of the University to encompass the increasing rate of the enrolled students, and create supportive environment for open learning.
- Intensive fundraising efforts are carried out throughout the campuses to elevate the educational network of premises, centers, and facilities.
Technological Accomplishments
- The University owns the biggest intranet and internet network which connects all branches, departments and centers of the Universality that are distributed over 28 Palestinian cities. This network and the supportive wireless network are the main tools for e-learning and serve administrative, academic staff and students. The network aims to stay up-to-date with the emerging technologies and to establish 108 computer, internet and multimedia labs. QOU was able to develop distinguished e-learning services and present an outstanding teaching experience among its peer academic institutions in Palestine through establishing three major Centers: MPC, ICTC and OLC.
- QOU provides a comprehensive e-learning environment, which supports the educational system in the University. The University’s academic portal links all the computerized systems to organize and manage the learning process. Through the Information & Communication Technology Center, the University computerized and developed its administrative, financial and academic systems using the latest international programs and technologies administered by a specialized team from the university.
- QOU participated effectively in introducing e-learning to the education process in Palestine in general and at QOU in particular through hosting Avicenna Project. Fifteen universities from the Mediterranean region participated in the project which aims at building a Mediterranean universities information society in order to exchange experiences, best practices and enhance e-learning system in the University and in other universities by submitting an application to the UNESCO ,through the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, to disseminate this project to all Palestinian universities. This pioneering work in the field of e-learning was culminated with establishing the Open Learning Center (OLC), which was closely associated with the development of e-learning services in cooperation with ICTC and working together to create an integrated environment that combines these services with the best educational foundations.
- QOU established a specialized Multimedia Production Center, which provides the latest tools to produce televised lectures and broadcast them live using Video Streaming or On Demand ; it also provides the QOU Web TV service. The live streaming is available on qouchannel.tv. to reach the largest number of audience. In addition to the educational multimedia, the Center produces programs and documentaries serving the local and Arab community and students, part of which is dedicated to educational, cognitive and cultural aspects.
- QOU was the only Palestinian University that was able to represent Palestine in Eumedconnect project through hosting Eumedconnect line operated by QOU staff. This project is considered one of the most important infrastructure projects in the foundations of communication in Palestine as it connects a big number of European universities and centers and Arab Mediterranean universities together. The ICTC at QOU is connected directly to this network in the UK. The Center provides its services to higher education institutions and scientific research institutions in Palestine.
- QOU established computer labs for the blind and visually impaired in five QOU branches (Jenin, Ramallah & Al-Bireh, Hebron, Nablus and Gaza). The purpose of these labs is to enable blind QOU students and people of the local community to engage in the education process by using special computers and devices.
- QOU Promotes the cyber culture in the Palestinian community through establishing ICDL training centers. The University cooperated with the national operator of this program to provide training accredited by the European Computer Drive License to give the students the opportunity to sit for international exams and obtain an internationally accredited certificate. The University also cooperated with Certiport Company to train more than 800 employees of QOU and other universities to acquire (IC3) certificate. The University participated in “The world Cup of Computers and Internet” and the world championship in Microsoft word and excel in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The Palestinian team represented by QOU team won the fourth rank in World Cup of Computers and Internet in 2008 and 2009. Four QOU employees won the Microsoft word and Microsoft excel championship in Palestine in 2008 and 2009. QOU also represented Palestine in the finals held in Hawai in 2008 and in Toronto in 2009 and was ranked second in the final competition of Microsoft word program.
- QOU, through ICTC, succeeded to list Palestine in the countries accredited by Microsoft Company, Oracle Company and Certiport Company. This opened the door to other Palestinian educational institutions to join these academies and institutions under the name of Palestine rather than through other countries such as Jordan, Dubai and others. The Center also obtained international licenses for internationally accredited training through its membership in international training and examinations centers such as Oracle, Microsoft Academy, Redhat, Prometric, Pearson VUE, TOEFL, and Certiport.
- The ICTC implemented the needed techniques to operate the mobile educational center for improving education in marginalized areas in the south of Hebron and the Jordan Valley. The Mobile Educational Center included equipping two vans with computer labs to serve these marginalized areas.
- Organizing ICT annual day , which aims at enhancing the use of technology in the education process, enhancing cooperation between Palestinian and international institutions and transferring modern technology in the field of ICT to the Palestinian community.
- Since its launching in 2006, Al-Quds Satellite Educational Channel is considered one of the main educational tools of QOU in the field of e learning, in addition to its focusing on educational, social and cultural programs and scientific lectures. QOU seeks to provide modern educational media that addresses the social groups, and is consistent with the changes of digital media that takes into account the modern Media without ignoring the traditional one. Hence, QOU seeks to promote community culture in vital fields (health, education, environment, sports, energy and tourism) and promoting blended learning through the technology of satellite broadcasting and social media. It also seeks to highlight the social responsibility of the University and its graduates, focusing on the role of students and the role of women in Palestinian society. Al Quds Satellite Channel aspires to enhance partnerships with institutions in Arab countries, as well as Arab and international institutions and achieve openness to other international societies and cultures.
- Launching QOU educational satellite channel, which is considered the latest educational tool for QOU in the field of e-learning. The channel aims at changing the stereotypes about the local media and focuses at broadcasting Palestinian heritage, social and cultural programs. It also seeks to present educational modern media that addresses various segments of the community, corresponds with the changing digital media environment, and keeps on track with the traditional media. Thus, QOU channel aspires to enhance the social culture in vital fields (health, education, environment, sport, energy, tourism and hostelry), and to enhance blended learning and highlight the social responsibility of the University and its graduates through shedding light on the role of the students and the role of women in the Palestinian community. It also aspires to enhance partnerships with Arab and International institutions and promote openness to other cultures.
- QOU is the first academic institution that acquired the International ISO 27001 certificate in the field of information security. This certificate is important in cyber security field and in protecting data based on international criteria in a way that guarantees transparency, cohesion and availability of services and data.
- Keeping all academic administrative and financial data of the University’s branches and offices (West bank, Jerusalem, Gaza Strip and Jordan) in one virtual environment at ICTC using the best technological tools in this field. ICTC also provides all required precautions (security, backup, performance monitoring, fire alarm, etc.) in addition to copies of all data in case of loss or damage of original data.
- QOU has run a wireless network in all university branches. This project is considered a continuation and development of the wireless network that was created in 2007 to serve the university's academic body to keep up with the rapid technological progress. The current wireless network entirely covers the university branches and provides Internet services to all academic, administrative, and student bodies to support the educational process.
- Computing, development, and management of more than 30 services and computerized systems in all academic, technical, and administrative operations, serving over 60,000 users of these systems.
- Providing computerized services in all university operations with cutting-edge tools and technology in web development, mobile applications, and databases.
- Contributing to the implementation of the university's vision and mission in various fields, especially academic visions and aspirations.
- Providing a variety of electronic services in accordance with the university's blended education philosophy, that were vital during the Corona epidemic.
- Using cloud-computing services to ensure continuity of electronic services, especially in case of crisis.
- Software implementation and advisory services for local community institutions that are associated with the university through cooperation agreements.
- QOU developed an electronic correspondence system through cloud computing at the beginning of the year 2021, which is characterized by being advanced, modern, and keeping pace with the world of technology, It is primarily used for conducting official electronic correspondence within and outside of the university using web technologies and smart phones, and it is characterized by fast performance, ease of use, and security.
- The university won three places: the first (best responder of security threats, best attacker and best defender) at the level of Palestine in the security hunters competition, organized by the Arab Regional Center for Cyber Security of the International Telecommunication Union and the “Silinsk” company, in cooperation with the Palestine Computer Emergency Response Team "PalCERT" of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
- QOU won first place regionally in the category of "attackers” in the “Vulnerability Hunting Competition”, which was organized by the Arab Regional Center for Cyber Security of the International Telecommunication Union and "Silensec" Company, in cooperation with the Palestine Computer Emergency Response Team "Balcert” in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
- QOU developed a synchronous e-Learning environment through the virtual classroom service, which was linked with the university’s academic portal so that students attend virtual lectures and communicate with Faculty members. An asynchronous e-learning environment was also established through virtual classroom service records for students to refer to when needed linking it with e-learning management systems. The virtual classroom system operates through the university's network, managed and monitored by the Information and Communication Technology Center.