Sakhnin Academic College Delegation Attends International MANDELA Project Conference in Austria

A delegation from Sakhnin Academic College participated in an international in-person meeting for the MANDELA project in Linz, Austria, from September 1-3, 2026. The project, funded by the Erasmus+ program, focuses on Multilateralism through Negotiation and Cultural Diplomacy Education in the Levant and Africa. Representatives from academic and partner institutions across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa attended the conference.

The Sakhnin delegation included College President Professor Faisal Azayzeh, Vice President for Strategic Planning and International Relations Professor Yasser Awad, and lecturers Dr. Lina Boulos, Dr. Kawthar Jaber Qusum, Dr. Rawia Hayek, and Dr. Shadi Abu Khadra. The meeting served as a significant academic and professional platform for partners to exchange expertise, discuss project progress and challenges, and engage in training workshops on MANDELA's methods and integration into academic programs.

The three-day agenda also featured sessions on project coordination, management, quality assurance, parallel workshops, and a concluding session to present results and plan future steps. The MANDELA project aims to enhance higher education institutions' role in developing negotiation skills, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural dialogue, while promoting human rights, democracy, inclusivity, and conflict resolution, alongside building international academic cooperation networks.

College President Professor Faisal Azayzeh stated that international partnerships are crucial to the college's academic vision, fostering knowledge exchange and openness to diverse academic practices. He emphasized that participation in MANDELA reflects the college's commitment to strengthening its international presence and contributing to initiatives promoting dialogue, understanding, and cooperation.

Professor Yasser Awad highlighted the meeting as a key stage for developing tools and methodologies for academic integration. He noted that MANDELA translates international cooperation into tangible educational outcomes that can improve teaching and enhance students' and lecturers' abilities in dialogue, negotiation, and managing differences.

The MANDELA project involves a broad network of partners, including Gordon Academic College of Education, David Yellin Academic College of Education, and the Pathways Institute, alongside institutions from Austria, Germany, Romania, Ethiopia, and Ghana, as well as research and community partners. Sakhnin Academic College is the main coordinator for the project.