A World Known Institution
Birzeit University (BZU) is an independent Palestinian institution located in Birzeit.
BZU became a member of the Association of Arab Universities in 1976 and a member of the International Association of Universities in 1977. It consists of four faculties: The Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Commerce and Economics, and the Faculty of Engineering. All faculties grant bachelors degrees after a normal period of study extending to four years, except for the faculty of engineering which takes five years. During the past two decades, enrollment rose from a few hundreds to a few thousands. The student body consists of both genders coming from all Palestinian regions. A new campus has been built to meet the expanding needs and functions of the university.
BZU is "guided by the principles of academic freedom and upholds independence of thought." The university encourages students to achieve academic excellence and aims to develop a sense of social awareness and cooperative spirit. It also works toward preserving and developing the national heritage.
Toward that end, BZU established the Palestinian Institute of Archeology (PIA).
The PIA has conducted excavations at Tell Tannek and Tell Jenin, as well as surveys in the areas of Jenin and Birzeit. Since its inception, PIA has succeeded in maintaining and continuing its program. Approximately half the Palestinian archaeologists currently in the field are graduates of the Institute. PIA focuses on the scientific study and research of archaeological sites in Palestine, emphasizing the analysis of artifacts and ecological data from its own excavations.
Another recently established institution at BZU is Birzeit University Law Center – an educational institution which supports the Palestinian legal community in the West Bank and Gaza. It provides legal training programs, a research facility, a Master's program in law, and a complete modern public legal library - all firsts for Palestine.
(For more information please visit Birzeit University Web Site at: http://www.birzeit.edu)