The E-Pal Project (NORHEDII)

E-Pal is a six-year research and development project aimed at strengthening technology-enhanced learning in the Palestinian higher education sector, where staff at the LINK Centre for Learning, Innovation and Academic Development and Oslo Metropolitan University collaborate with Palestinian colleagues at Palestine Polytechnic University in the West Bank and University College of Applied Sciences in Gaza to develop new technological, pedagogical and organizational approaches to technology-enhanced teaching and learning. The project also aims at strengthening ICT and education as a research field in Palestine.

The project is funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) through the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED). 

Project period: 2021-2026

Our project focuses on six interrelated areas:

1. Conducting and publishing research on e-learning in higher education in Palestine and on the recent global trends in the field, and providing PhD and PostDoc fellowship opportunities.   
2. Organizing training and development workshops and courses for Palestinian academics in e-learning in higher education.  
3. Developing existing educational offerings in Palestinian universities to meet the new demands in higher education for more focus on e-learning and blended learning. 
4. Developing a new master programme in Palestine focusing on e-learning in higher education, and new e-learning study and training centres,
5. Contributing in developing governmental and institutional polices related to e-learning in higher education. 
6. Further develop Palestinian higher education institutions' networks in relation to e-learning in higher education.

Our team is strongly interdisciplinary, with expertise in educational research, technology-enhanced learning, informatics, engineering and international project management. 

PPU project team: Mohammed Tamimi (Palestine lead), Razan Awawdeh, Khawlah Muhtaseb, Amjad Natsha, Hani Saleh, Alaa Tamimi. 

UCAS project team: Asmaa AbuSamra (UCAS lead), Aya ElMashharawi, Mohammed al-Masri.  

PhD Candidates: Mohammed al-Masri (UCAS), Ghadeer Hamed (BirZeit), Mohammed Manasrah (PPU)

We also collaborate with researchers from a range of Palestinian universities as well as the University College of ?stfold and the University of South East Norway. Our three PhD candidates have joined PhD programs at York St John University (UK), the University College of ?stfold (Norway) and NTNU (Norway). 

Project leader: Hege Hermansen 

Co-leader: Iyad Abualrub 

Project managers in Palestine: Mohammed Tamimi, Asmaa AbuSamra