Al-Quds Open University, represented by Dr. Eng. Imad Hodali, Assistant to the President of QOU for Public and International Affairs and Media, concluded its active participation in the Second General Assembly Meeting of The Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean Academic Network (BSEMAN), which was held at Rostov State University of Economics in Rostov-on-Don.

The meeting discussed the executive report of the Network for the past year and its endorsement, the approval of new members, the executive plan for the next year, the preparation for the third General Assembly meeting, which is expected to take place in the University of Nicosia in Cyprus, in addition to searching for funding for the network through European Erasmus + projects.

On the sideline of the meeting, a conference was held in which Dr. Eng. Hodali presented a paper entitled: "The Role of Al-Quds Open University as a pioneer in open education in the region and its contribution to the achievement of the vision of (BSEMAN) . Dr. Eng.Hodali presented the experience of Al-Quds Open University in blended education with its expertise in the field of modern technology and investing it for educational purposes. Dr. Eng. Hodali also provided a lecture to the Economics students at Rostov State University of Economics, emphasizing the philosophy of blended education, adopted by QOU, as one of the peaceful means to resist the occupation by spreading education through modern technological tools.

It is worth mentioning that the conference discussed the technological initiatives of universities to achieve the sustainable development goals in the region, especially in social and economic fields.

The meeting was also attended by Birzeit University represented by its President DR. Abdul Latif Abu Hijleh, in addition to representatives of member countries of the network: Russia, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Armenia, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Belarus, Ukraine, Turkey, and Czech.

It is worth noting that (BSEMAN) aims to enhance academic cooperation between universities of Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean countries through the development of joint research projects in various scientific disciplines. It also aims to establish communication and databases for member institutions, issue scientific journals, organize workshops and scientific conferences, organize events that gather academics, develop academic cooperation at all levels of higher education and in vocational training, in addition to launching social, academic and vocational initiatives for youth in the region.

 QOU, officially, joined (BSEMAN) as a founding member, through its participation last year in the founding conference of the network, which was held at the Aristotle University in Greece. Dr.  Eng. Hodali was elected as a member of the Coordination Committee of (BSEMAN), representing QOU and Palestine, as a member of the Editorial Board of the Network's web page.