Al Quds Open University

Al Quds Open University (QOU) is a public non-profit University established in 1991 by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and supervised by the Ministry of Higher Education. QOU is a pioneer institution in the Arab world, which adopts open & blended learning philosophy to keep up with international advances in technology and learning.
QOU had achieved many goals and success to promote academic standard in the Palestinian community. Since its establishment, over 56,000 students has joined its scientific edifice distributed in 19 branches throughout Palestine. QOU aims to deliver knowledge to all society segments.

QOU is a full member of the following educational associations and institutions: Association of Arab Universities (AARU), Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), International Council for Open Distance Education (ICDE), Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), Open Digital Space Organization for the Mediterranean (E-OMED), Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED), International Association of Universities (IAU). In addition, QOU works closely with different universities all over the world. QOU has well-equipped and staffed scientific and specialized training centers available to the staff, students and the community to improve their professional skills. QOU has the most important tools for effective course development through motivated experts including academic specialists, instructional designers, and technology specialists in online development and multimedia production. QOU is the first HEI in Palestine to establish quality assurance department, which is responsible for procedure development, process re-engineering and institutional/ program evaluation.

University Vision:
Leadership, excellence and creativity in the field of open learning, community service, and scientific research, besides imbedding its leading role in establishing the Palestinian society based on knowledge and science.

University Mission:
Preparing qualified graduates to meet the needs of the community, who have the capabilities to compete in both local and regional labour markets, and to contribute efficiently and distinctly in scientific research and capacity building of technical and human aspects. This will be achieved through providing educational and training programs in accordance with the best practices of open and blended learning; as well as, strengthening and enhancing the scientific research environment, within a framework of community interaction and co-operation and exchange of expertise with the stakeholders, based on the latest standards of quality and excellence.

Academic Programs and Curricula:
Due to the flexibility and to the quality of its educational system, the number of students enrolled in QOU counts more than 65,000. QOU has 22 branches distributed in all districts over Palestine, and about 700 academic staff members, and 7 major faculties: Educational Sciences, Administrative and Economic Sciences, Technology and Applied Sciences, Social and Family Development, Agriculture, Media, and Arts. In addition to The Faculty of Graduate Studies that grants master's degree in Arabic Language & Literature and Counselling in Educational Psychology, Hoping to offer more specializations in the future. In addition to several scientific and specialized training centres, which promote technological skills and knowledge in order to assist the Palestinian community to be educated with ability to construct national institutions, based on competence, and to realize their dream of freedom, independence and justice.

http://www.qou.edu/englishIndexPage.do