Bethlehem University welcomed His Excellency Domenico Bellato, the Consul General of Italy in Jerusalem, and Mr. Alessandro Tutino, the Deputy Consul General, on Wednesday, 11 December 2024.
The delegation was received by Brother Hernan Santos, Vice Chancellor; Brother Jack Curran, Vice President for Advancement; and Dr. Fadi Kattan, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration.
Brother Hernan provided an overview of the current challenges facing higher education in Palestine. He also expressed gratitude to the Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem for their collaboration on the Italian Language Center. This initiative, he noted, serves as a stepping stone for the university to consider expanding its language offerings and creating a comprehensive center dedicated to teaching multiple languages.
Mr. Bellato expressed his interest in strengthening ties with Bethlehem University, particularly regarding the official certification center for the Italian language, a partnership between the university and the Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem. He also commended the university’s ongoing projects. Moreover, he will continue supporting Bethlehem University, assigning, hopefully for the next Academic Year, a new Italian Language Lecturer.
Dr. Fadi Kattan spoke about the longstanding partnership between Bethlehem University and Italian institutions, particularly the collaboration with the University of Pavia in offering the Master’s in International Cooperation and Development (MICAD) program. This partnership has significantly enriched academic exchanges and capacity-building efforts.
Brother Jack Curran addressed the financial challenges of maintaining affordable education. He discussed how Bethlehem University relies on donations to bridge tuition gaps and shared details about an upcoming initiative to meet with ambassadors in Rome in January, aiming to promote the university’s mission on an international platform.
The visit underscored Bethlehem University’s commitment to fostering international partnerships and enhancing academic opportunities for its students.
