Category: Faculty of Arts News

Womenity Magazine Launches on Campus!

On 12 December 2024, Bethlehem University celebrated the official launch of Womenity, the first Palestinian all-female digital English magazine for empowering campus voices. Under the Faculty of Arts, this groundbreaking initiative was created, written, and designed entirely by women, for women, and about women. The event was led by Co-Editors-in-Chief, Ms. Paola Handal and Ms. Ruba Ayyad, alongside Ms. Tina Hazboun as Creative […]

Bethlehem University Students Lead Media Literacy Initiative in Battir

Four Interactive Media students from Bethlehem University—Sireen Najajreh, Areen Abu Srour, Zainab Shaqirat, and Rua Wazwaz—organized an impactful initiative titled “Verifying News and Misinformation” in the scenic village of Battir. The initiative was carried out under the supervision of Ms. Tamara Abu Laban and in collaboration with the Rural Women’s Development Society. Targeting women from […]

Global Recognition for Bethlehem University at Uniservitate’s Symposium in Rome

A delegation from Bethlehem University participated in the Fifth Global Symposium on Service-Learning, held in Rome on November 7-8, 2024. Organized by the Latin American Center for Service-Learning (CLAYSS) and LUMSA University in Italy, the symposium gathered over 200 representatives from Catholic universities worldwide to advance service learning and celebrate the winning service-learning initiatives in […]

Fourth-Year Students Host Workshop on Harassment

As part of their English for Advocacy course, fourth-year students from the English Department partnered with Program Manager Mr. Hamza Jalham from the Ibdaa Cultural Center and Gender Specialist and Focal Point Ms. Maysa Shalalda from Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association to address the pressing issue of harassment. The collaboration culminated in a two-hour […]

Bethlehem University Delegation Honored by Pope Francis for Service-Learning Excellence

Bethlehem University’s approach to service-learning has garnered international recognition, earning the prestigious Uniservitate Award with a Special Mention. The university’s innovative initiatives were celebrated on 9 November 2024, during a private audience with the Supreme Pontiff Pope Francis in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall.   The university’s six-member delegation included representatives from the English Language, Literature, […]

Bethlehem University Concludes the Second International Bethlehem Conference on Palestinian Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

Bethlehem University successfully concluded the Second International Bethlehem Conference, titled “Palestinian Archaeology and Cultural Heritage: Towards Preserving Our Heritage from Appropriation and Destruction,” held on Tuesday and Wednesday, 19-20 November 2024, on campus. The two-day conference featured ten sessions addressing critical topics, including the destruction of cultural heritage in Gaza, the challenges of appropriation, the […]

Bethlehem University Hosts Award-Winning Journalist Jessica Kelly

The Interactive Media and Communication Program at Bethlehem University hosted award-winning British journalist and documentary filmmaker Jessica Kelly, renowned for her investigative films. The event featured a screening of Kelly’s work in Iraq and Palestine, followed by a discussion with students about the challenges of producing such films and their broader impact. Kelly spoke about […]

Bethlehem University Recognized at UNISERVITATE Global Award 2024 Online Celebration

Bethlehem University is proud to announce that six of its members—three from the Department of English and Communication, Mr. Ramzi Asali, Mr. Layth Awwad, and Ms. Ruba Ayyad, and three from the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Dr. Hanan Saca-Hazboun, Ms. Amal Abu Nijmeh-Fakhouri, and Ms. Fatmeh Madani-Hammad, who won the Global UNISERVITATE Award with […]

Dr. Omar Abd Rabbo Presents at the French Institute of the Near East

Dr. Omar Abd Rabbo, Head of the Department of Humanities at Bethlehem University, gave a lecture titled “The Gates of Jerusalem in the Early Arab-Islamic periods (8th -11th century AD)” at the French Institute of the Near East (IFPO) on 18 September 2024. The public lecture drew a diverse audience, including senior researchers, specialists, archaeologists, […]

Bethlehem University’s Mr. Layth R. Awwad Returns as a Guest Lecture at Colorado State University, USA

On September 16, 2024, Mr. Layth R. Awwad, M.A., from the English Language, Literature, and Communications Department at Bethlehem University, returned as a guest lecturer to Colorado State University, Pueblo, USA. This marked his second invitation to speak in Ms. Electra Aguirre’s (MFA) creative writing class, where he shared insights into the creative writing process. […]

Bethlehem University Launches Second Edition of Media Literacy Project

Bethlehem University’s Interactive Media Program, in collaboration with the Institute for Community Engagement and Partnership (ICP) and the Finnish Lifelong Learning Foundation (KVS), has launched the second edition of its Media Literacy Project. This 15-session training program, which involves trainers from the university’s media program and Finland, aims to enhance students’ media literacy skills and […]

Bethlehem University Wins the Uniservitate Award with a Special Mention

Bethlehem University is proud to announce that it has been awarded a Special Mention in the 2024 edition of the prestigious Uniservitate Global Award for Service-Learning in Catholic Higher Education.   Bethlehem University was represented in the competition by four initiatives, two of which made it to the final round and earned the honorable Special Mention: […]

Social Work Students Receive Digital Security Training

The Department of Social Sciences at Bethlehem University concluded a three-day training program on digital security for the field training students in the Social Work program. This training, conducted in collaboration with 7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, provided 31 participating students with comprehensive information on digital security issues. The […]

Bethlehem University Writing Competition Winners’ Reading Event

The English Department at Bethlehem University held its annual reading event for its 8th Creative Writing Competition for on Thursday, 16 May 2024. Organized by Ms. Paola Handal and Mr. Layth Awwad, this competition was open to all aspiring writers accross the university who have a passion for creative writing. Like previous years, the competition […]

Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Program Excursion to Jordan

Twelve students from Bethlehem University, including ten second-year students from the ‘Archaeology and Cultural Heritage’ program and two students from the English Department, participated in an educational archaeological trip to Jordan from April 29 to May 5, 2024. Funded by the Ecoles d’Orient – the French Consulate, this trip gave students valuable archaeological and historical […]

English Department Instructors Present at TESOL 2024

4th Online Conference International TESOL Associations The English Department at Bethlehem University is proud to announce the participation of Ms. Paola Handal and Ms. Maram Daboub at the prestigious TESOL 2024 Building Bridges, Building Cooperation: Unveiling Challenges & Best Practices in ELT. Held annually, this conference serves as a global platform for educators and experts […]

Bethlehem University Students Shine in Award-Winning Film

The short film “Creating Change,” featuring two students from the English Department at Bethlehem University, Rand Fararjeh and Donia Dibi, has recently received the Silver Award at the Festival of Visual and Interactive Media. This festival was organized by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) in the USA in March 2024. […]

Bridging Cultures: Bethlehem University’s Innovative Virtual Exchange Program with the University of Montana

In an era where understanding diverse perspectives and developing intercultural competence are more crucial than ever, Bethlehem University has embarked on a remarkable initiative to foster intercultural dialogue and communication. Integrated into the “Intercultural Communication” course at Bethlehem University, taught by Mr. Ramzi Asali, and the “Interpersonal Communication” course at the University of Montana, taught […]

Bethlehem University Marks the Successful Conclusion of the Media Literacy Project

The Institute for Community Engagement & Partnership (ICP) and the Interactive Media Program proudly hosted the graduation ceremony for Interactive Media students at Bethlehem University on Thursday, 7 March 2024, marking the successful conclusion of the Media Literacy training course and their community projects.During the ceremony, students presented their community initiatives, developed in collaboration with […]

Bethlehem University Faculty Members Undertake Inspiring Visit to Bedouin Communities

On Thursday, 7 March 2024, Brother Alejandro Cerna, FSC, Dean of Education, along with Dr. Rabab Tamish, Ms. Maha Sader, Dr. Hala Rashed, Ms. Paola Handal, and Dr. Anita Bright, led a poignant visit to nearby Bedouin communities. The six faculty members were warmly welcomed into the communities and kindergartens, gaining invaluable insights into the […]

Training Course on New Media Practices

Dr. Saeed Ayad Interactive Media and Communication Center at Bethlehem University, in collaboration with the Public Relations Association of Bethlehem Institutions and the Ministry of Information, organized a training course for a group of public relations professionals from governmental and private institutions. The course spanned three sessions, totaling 24 training hours. It addressed various aspects […]

BU faculty Layth R. Awwad’s Guest Lecture at Colorado State University, Pueblo, USA

Exploring Identity, Poetry, and Multimodal Expression Bethlehem University’s Department of English is delighted to highlight the recent participation of Mr. Layth R. Awwad as a speaker at Colorado State University, Pueblo, USA on February 19, 2024. As a poet and creative writing instructor, Mr. Awwad brought a unique perspective to the dialogue in Ms. Electra […]

English Department at NILETESOL 2024 Conference in Cairo

Four faculty members from Bethlehem University’s English Department, namely Ms. Paola Handal, Mr. Layth Awwad, Ms. Maram Daboub, and Dr. Anita Bright, actively participated in the NILETESOL 2024 conference in Cairo, Egypt held on January 23-24. The conference, hosted at the American University of Cairo, brought together over 3000 English educators from 30 different countries. […]

Media Education Course Concludes at Bethlehem University

The second phase of the media education course for interactive media students concluded at Bethlehem University, held in partnership between the University’s Institute for Community Engagement & Partnership (ICP) and the Finnish Lifelong Learning Foundation (KVS). The course was part of the media education project in the field of media education, and 21 students from […]

Bridging Cultures Through Media: Department of English’s Students Excel in Training for Effective Western Media Engagement

Thirteen students from the Department of English recently took part in an intensive training focusing on Palestinian representation within Western media. This training, facilitated by America House in Jerusalem and Ramallah, in collaboration with Western Washington University in the USA, aimed to equip participants with the skills needed to effectively engage Western, particularly American, audiences […]

Leveraging Canva for Engaging English Language Teaching

Insights from ELT FIESTA 2023 At ELT FIESTA 2023, organized by De La Salle University-Dasmarinas, faculty members Ms. Paola Handal and Mr. Layth Awwad were invited to participate in the Lasallian English Educators Fellowship Training Program held at Collège des Frères Bethlehem.  Ms. Handal and Mr. Awwad delivered a presentation on integrating Canva, a versatile […]

Inclusive Media Literacy Education in Palestine

On June 21, 2023, the first training course for trainers in the field of media education, part of the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs funded project “The Inclusive Media Literacy Education in Palestine,” was successfully concluded at the Institute for Community Engagement and Partnership (ICP) – Bethlehem University. Thirteen teachers from various departments at Bethlehem […]

Renowned Palestinian-American Comic Mona Aburmishan at Bethlehem University

Mona Aburmishan, a renowned Palestinian-American stand-up comic and comedic speaker from Chicago, was invited by Ms. Paola Handal in the English Department at Bethlehem University to speak to the students on Monday, 5 June 2023. With a background in improv and comedy writing from Chicago Second City, Mona has established herself as a talented performer, […]

Faculty Member Participates in “TESOL PALESTINE” Conference

Layth Awwad, an alumnus of Bethlehem University’s class of 2017 and faculty member in the English Department, presented his ongoing study at the “TESOL PALESTINE: Meeting the Challenges of Today’s Classroom” conference held at An-Najah National University on Sunday, 28 May 2023. In a collaborative effort, Layth Awwad joined forces with Bayan Natsheh, M.A. from […]

Inspiring Session with Prominent Egyptian Journalist

The Interactive Media Program at the Faculty of Arts recently organized a session with Ahmed Nader, a renowned Egyptian journalist and voice-over artist, through Google Meet. During the session, Nader shared his expertise in voice-over and advertisements, discussing how advertisements are tailored to diverse audiences and their backgrounds. He emphasized the crucial role of sound […]

Architectural Drawing Training Held on Campus

Bethlehem University’s Archeology and Cultural Heritage Program remains committed to advancing academic activities in the field of archeology and cultural heritage. Over the past week, the program successfully carried out two significant initiatives, further enriching students’ knowledge and practical skills. The first activity was a collaborative effort with the Pro Terra Santa Museum. The Archeology […]

Bethlehem University Instructor Presents at TESOL 2023 Convention

Layth Awwad, an English Department instructor, presented his research titled “Breaking Boundaries: The Impact of Insta-Poetry on English Pedagogy in Palestine” at the TESOL 2023: International Convention and English Language Expo in Portland, Oregon, USA.  The presentation was part of the a panel titled “Palestinian Educators and Friends: Linking Hands Across Separation Walls” that was held on […]

Bethlehem University Graduate at TEDinArabic Summit

Bethlehem University graduate, Adnan Barq ’21, was a main TED speaker at the official TEDinArabic Summit that was held on 18-19 March 2023 in Doha, Qatar under the theme “The Butterfly Effect”. Barq’s TED Talk was entitled “Coping with Intergenerational Trauma”. Barq, who holds a BA in English Language and Literature, is a Palestinian storyteller […]

Bethlehem University Welcomes Delegation from Pompeu Fabra University

The Department of Social Sciences at Bethlehem University welcomed a delegation of professors from the Pompeu Fabra University, Spain, from Tuesday, 7 March until Sunday, 12 March 2023. The program included a training for the Master of Social Sciences students in qualitative research methods by using techniques as well as the various theoretical and practical research […]

Mandate Mass for Ramallah Graduates

The Department of Religious Studies at Bethlehem University held a Mandate Mass on Friday, 17 February 2023, for the graduates of Christian Religion Teacher Formation Program that took place in Ramallah area. Bishop William Shomali, Patriarchal Vicar General, presided over the Mass, with the participation of Father Iyad Twal, Executive Vice President, and Father Yacoub Rafidi, […]

Students Archaeological Excursion to Jordan

Eight sophomore students from the “Archaeology and Cultural Heritage” program at Bethlehem University completed an archaeological excursion to Jordan from Monday, 6 February 2023, to Sunday, 12 February 2023. They were accompanied by Dr. Omar Abed Rabo, the chairperson of the Humanities Department, and Dr. Jutta Häser, a visiting scholar to the program. Twenty German […]

Fourth Cohort Graduation of Theological Studies of Bethlehem University in Jordan

The Department of Religious Studies at Bethlehem University represented by the Vice President and Director of the Religious Formation Program in Amman, Father Iyad Al-Twal, had graduated a cohort of students last week. The graduation ceremony took place during a Mass that was presided over by His Eminence Bishop Jamal Daibes, the Latin Vicar in […]

Creative Writing Contest Reading Session Held

The English Department held a reading session and award distribution on Thursday, 12 May 2022, for the winning students of its Fifth Creative Writing Competition which was open to all university students this spring semester.  Vice Chancellor Brother Peter Bray congratulated the winners and then distributed the awards along with the Vice President for Academic […]

Bethlehem University Holds Memorial of Dr. Said Ayyad

Bethlehem University held a memorial ceremony to honor Dr. Said Ayyad and revive his journalistic and academic biography on Thursday, 18 November 2021, on campus in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Information, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, Palestine TV, and the Municipalities of Bethlehem Governorate. In his speech, Vice Chancellor Brother Peter […]

Social Sciences Department Launches Child Protection Curriculum

The Department of Social Sciences at Bethlehem University launched a new book titled “Social Work Curriculum including Child Protection Modules” in partnership with The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Islamic University in Gaza. Through this curriculum, the Department aims to […]

15 Bethlehem University Students Visit Germany

The Department of Social Sciences at Bethlehem University has partnered with the Department of Social Sciences at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine – Westphalia (KatHO) in Germany for an academic exchange program that will continue for the coming 15 years. The Department’s Chairperson and program coordinator, Dr. Ferdoos Abed Rabbo Al-Issa, […]

Social Sciences Department Holds Seventh Annual Conference

“Development in Palestine: Trends and Alternatives” The Social Sciences Department at Bethlehem University held its seventh annual conference entitled “Development in Palestine: Trends and Alternatives” sponsored by the United Palestinian Appeal (UPA) on Tuesday, 02 April 2019.   This year’s conference aimed at creating a thinking space to deal with and criticize development concepts. It […]

“Why I Love Bethlehem University” Photo Exhibit

As part of the Francophonie events organized by the English Department’s French program at Bethlehem University, a photography exhibition entitled “why I love Bethlehem University” was opened  Thursday, 12 April, in De La Salle Hall. The Representative of Switzerland in Palestine, Mr. Julien Thöni, and the French Consulate’s Educational Cooperation Attaché in Jerusalem, Ms. Marie-Claude […]

Social Sciences Department Holds Sixth Annual Conference

“Psychology in Palestine: Reality and Future”  The Social Sciences Department at Bethlehem University held its sixth annual conference entitled “Psychology in Palestine: Reality and Future” under the patronage of the Palestinian Ministry of Health on Tuesday, 27 March 2018.   Representatives of various universities, non-governmental organizations and ministries working in the field of psychology and […]

Award-Winning Author at Bethlehem University

On Thursday, February 15, the English Department hosted award-winning Palestinian writer Suad Amiry on campus to speak particularly to the students of the Department. Hanadi Soudah Younan, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Chairperson of the English Department, welcomed Amiry to Bethlehem University and expressed the importance of exposing students to authors who are […]

Forum Theater Week at Bethlehem University: Take Two!

From November 21st to 24th, three French classes from the English department and from the Institute of Hotel Management were fortunate to be part of the second edition of the Human Rights week through theater. Following a week of practice and awareness of human rights with the teachers Anne Debeuckelaere and Virginie Lucas, the students […]