Organisation Outline:
The Institute
Since its inception as a primary school in 1924, the University of Birzeit has played a central role in the development of social capital at both the local and
national level. Each year, hundreds of graduate and undergraduate students of diverse specializations emerge from this institute collectively able to meet
the complexity faced in Palestine’s social, economic, and urban development. Through quality academic teaching, intensive policy-oriented research,
and training courses, the University of Birzeit is able to continually enhance and develop its efforts towards building local human capacity.
The WSI aims to alleviate much of the resulting pressures on Palestine’s water and environmental sectors. Such an undertaking requires a multidisciplinary
approach not covered by a single specialization.
Vision
The Water Studies Institute's efforts towards being a major player among the Palestinian water and environment sectors are materialized through the Institute’s
research, advisory services, post-graduate and continuing educational programs. Among other endeavors of the WSI is its mutually beneficial partnership
with the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) and the International Institute for Infrastructural, Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering (IHE). In November
of 2001 the three signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which common longterm objectives were identified. Taking center stage in the forumn was the topic
of enhansing water delivery in Palestine through the development of local human capacity by way of joint development and exchange of staff. More recent, in
November of 2002, the WSI joined 16 international institutions in establishing the Partnership for Water and Education and Research (PoWER), in turn becoming
a UNESCO-IHE Collaborative Center for Water Education.
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