The event opened with remarks from Dr. Ola Anabtawi, from the Department of Nutrition and Food Processing, who highlighted the importance of empowering Palestinian youth and shifting from traditional teaching methods to modern approaches that focus on empowerment, innovation, and self-confidence. She stressed that such methods align with the requirements of the labor market and foster community entrepreneurship.

In his address, Dr. Naeem Salameh, Assistant Vice President for Humanities Faculties, emphasized that the Green Jobs Project reflects the university’s vision of linking higher education with both the labor market and the community, while enhancing individuals’ capacities to drive change. He noted that An-Najah implements its strategy by focusing on academic excellence, innovation, international openness, and community partnership. He added that education should not be measured only by what is taught in classrooms, but by the real impact it leaves on individuals and society. Dr. Salameh also pointed to the university’s international recognition, noting that An-Najah ranked first among Palestinian universities, third in the Arab world, and 82nd globally (out of 2,318 universities) in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025 for Sustainable Development.

Representing the Ministry of Agriculture, Engineer Nadeem Tabeela underscored the importance of such development initiatives in strengthening youth engagement in the agricultural sector. He stressed the Ministry’s strong commitment to empowering youth and integrating them into productive projects that enhance economic resilience and the sustainability of Palestinian agriculture. He praised An-Najah University for bridging education with real-world agricultural practices, and commended FAO and the Danish government for supporting an innovation-driven, entrepreneurial development approach. He affirmed that the Ministry will continue supporting such initiatives, which are central to advancing the agricultural sector as a tool for achieving food security and creating employment opportunities.

Dr. Heba Al-Fares, the project director, expressed her pride in the project’s achievements, stressing that agriculture is no longer merely a means of producing food, but a strategic tool for addressing global challenges such as climate change, unemployment, and food insecurity. She explained that the project serves as a practical model for activating this role by enabling youth to develop innovative and sustainable solutions, and by integrating them into green work environments. This, she noted, contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to eradicating poverty, ensuring decent work, fostering innovation, reducing inequalities, promoting responsible consumption, and combating climate change.

Dr. Al-Fares highlighted the project’s tangible achievements, noting that more than 25% of participants secured employment opportunities, whether at their training sites or with other companies and institutions. She also emphasized the success of An-Najah students in transforming their entrepreneurial ideas into income-generating projects, with 37 student projects in the agri-food sector receiving support. These projects, she noted, will have a positive impact on strengthening the local economy and creating new job opportunities in the community.

During the ceremony, participating students presented innovative entrepreneurial projects that demonstrated their creativity and contribution to building a sustainable Palestinian economy. They expressed their gratitude to An-Najah University and the project organizers, affirming that the experience marked a turning point in their academic and professional journeys. They explained that the project was not just a training program, but a true gateway for self-realization and for learning how to transform ideas into actionable projects that reflect their aspirations, serve the community, and prepare them for future leadership roles in the agricultural sector.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, An-Najah National University reaffirmed its commitment to expanding this successful model and institutionalizing it into a permanent program within the university—one that continues to incubate entrepreneurial ideas, strengthen a culture of green work, and support Palestinian youth in contributing to sustainable development both nationally and internationally. Certificates were also distributed to the participating students.

It is worth noting that more than 90 companies and institutions from the agricultural and food sectors contributed to training the students, reflecting the depth of community partnership built throughout the project and the private sector’s commitment to supporting youth and advancing green entrepreneurship.