Conflict is one of the most important development challenges facing the world today . Reports have clearly demonstrated that conflict is a key barrier to human development and prosperity. In Palestine, a generation has passed since the signing of Oslo agreement between Palestine and Israel. However, the conflict still exists in a frustrating and vicious cycle that must be broken, or otherwise the development potential of future generations will continue to be restrained. The higher education system plays a vital role in societies that experience conflict situations . Indeed, through academic research, the higher education system can bridge the gap between civil society and decision makers. In addition, it can provide opportunities to analyze and adjust policies that have impact on society reconciliation. As more initiatives are undertaken to analyze conflict and reconciliation interventions in the Middle East, Palestine provides a fertile ground for research and development activities. Therefore, academic research in conflict-resolution & reconciliation shall be strengthened and multidisciplinary research should be promoted (e.g. conflict resolution, political science, law). Indeed, multidisciplinary academic research will definitely support decision and policy makers in Palestine in finding more constructive ways of addressing difficult, long-term, and intractable conflicts. However, this can only be achieved by bringing together researchers and political strategists from Palestine and Europe, including international conflict resolution institutes. Greater collaboration between different parties is called for because sharing of experience and bringing people together will lead to an improved understanding of the conflict dynamics, along with better methods for confronting and managing the conflict.

The main idea of the project is to increase the conformance of Palestinian academia outcomes and the Palestinian rehabilitation service providers’ capabilities towards localising rehab technology. There is a gap between academia and the professional rehab sector needs. Despite that, there is an increasing number of researchers and students interested in rehab technology applications opposed by an increasing numbers of physically disabled Palestinian people due to wars. Given the lack of expertise, and proper course materials and curricula; researchers’ and students’ attempts to join the rehab technology field remain individual and unorganised. Lack of equipment to deliver rehab technology courses is a main obstacle to localise it. Project addressed problems; - Little professional rehab technology knowledge available amongst academics, therefore little guidance to students - Absence of advanced courses related to rehab technology from academic curricula - Absence of modern lab facilities to deliver related rehab technology skills - Little interest in investment in the rehab technology solutions and projects.The project’s impacts; - Development of rehab technology courses and improve academic programs at partner universities according to EU standards - Training of academics, rehab professionals and students in the field of rehab technology - Curricula development of three academic programs at the Palestinian partner universities - Establishment of one rehab engineering lab at one of the partner universities and make it accessible to students from other partner universities - Establishment of one rehab treatment and training lab at partner rehab service provider and make it accessible to partner universities - Enhanced practical performance of academics, professionals and students in the rehab technology and sciences field and applications - Enhanced networking between higher education sector and the rehab technology sector on the nationally and internationally

REACH aims to enhance cross border working opportunities for undergraduates in Palestine, starting by studying EU partner experience in creating jobs and then adapting these to local needs, as assessed by experts from EU in cooperation with PS partners. At the end of the first year, during the 2nd year, and in light of the specified benchmarks and needs identified in the first year, 16 field training materials will be developed (in print and using e-training and multimedia) to build prioritized capacities of human resources (26 selected managers and trainer specialists) and the infrastructure of Palestinian university careers centres. Upon completing training, the Palestinian trainees will offer cascade training to transfer the skills and competences gained to 300 selected graduates (highly motivated, and with good language skills). Infrastructures (5 cross-border Palestinian units: 4 in the West Bank and 1 in Gaza) will be established and developed, permitting a regional and international network able to support future cross border job opportunities for generations of Palestinian graduates. Feedback will be obtained from the graduates. REACH results and success stories in getting cross border jobs will be documented and distributed to other PHEIs and published internationally in two scholarly papers.

The MERID project (Middle East Research and Innovation Dialogue) proposes a comprehensive action to intensify and encourage research and innovation cooperation between the EU and the Middle East region, directly involving partners from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine, directly involving partners from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. The project intends to build upon the experience carried out in countries of the region that have already participated in the previous framework programmes, and therefore are at a relatively advanced stage of research cooperation with Europe, like Egypt and Jordan. Attention is paid to calibrating in the most appropriate way the intervention logic of the project, adapting actions to the specific needs of the target countries and their research constituencies. The needs of Iran and Iraq will for sure prove different from those of countries where cooperation with the EU has a proven track record behind. The project is the first attempt to systematise support to the policy dialogue and involvement of research communities of Iran and Iraq in the H2020 programme, as well as an initiative that seeks to give continuity to collaboration frameworks already established between the EU and Middle East countries. The project has high potential to deliver long-lasting impact and structuring effects on cooperation between the EU and the Middle East region. It focuses on enhancing direct cooperation among researchers and on laying or consolidating preconditions, in the region, fostering joint research projects and initiatives with the EU, establishing optimal framework conditions for international cooperation and increasing coordination between policies and programmes. These objectives will be achieved through series of different on-line and in-person activities, among which are meetings of researchers, brokerage events, info-days, training and coaching, webinars and other tools, relevant for this project proposals.

Develop Business and Economic Research Centers Capacity (BERC) aims to develop the quality of business and economic research environment in West Bank and Gaza strip. The literature shows that production of research is not according to the quality standards and suffering from many challenges. Researchers as well as teaching staff have inconvenient experience in contribution in the knowledge paradigm. BERC suggests significant areas to be addressed: the networking, standards and guidelines, research management, publication procedures, and research design and methodologies. To this end the partnership between EU and Palestinian HE will boost the quality of research. (Prep) WP1: Identify needs analysis and benchmarking for research center and research methodology curriculums including: Conduct self- assessment; Needs analysis and benchmarking; Present gathered data at kick-off conference.(Prep) WP2: Prepare training courses including: Select specific qualifications; Prepare courses modules; Select trainees .(DEV) WP3: Conduct BERC staff capacity building including: Deliver training courses in Publications Procedures; Research Management; Networking; Research Design and survey methods; Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods.(DEV) WP4: Developing research center at PHEI including: Establish research groups; Equip research centers; Develop strategic plan for BERCs; Implement research methodology curriculums standards; Conduct research hub protocols. generate a web site for each BERC(QPLN) WP5: Quality assessment including: Develop quality assessment plan; Project quality assessment; Annual quality assessment meetings.(EXP) WP6: Exploitation and dissemination of project deliverables including: Develop exploitation strategy; Establish training courses network; Develop dissemination plan ; Public promotional activities ; Project publications.(MGT) WP7: Project Management including: Project Representatives Meetings; Project Management and Admin.