Bethlehem University’s Tarek Ahmad Juffali Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences continues to demonstrate its mission of service, compassion, and academic excellence by supporting five nurses from Gaza currently enrolled in the Master’s Program in Oncology and Palliative Care.

The University recently held an online progress and coordination meeting with the Gaza students, their program coordinator, faculty members, and University administrators. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the students’ academic progress, address challenges posed by the war, and reinforce the University’s commitment to ensuring continuity of learning and psychosocial support despite difficult circumstances.

During the meeting, students shared updates on their coursework, research, and field experiences. Faculty members expressed admiration for their perseverance and dedication, highlighting how their academic journey embodies resilience and hope. The discussion also emphasized the importance of maintaining strong communication channels between the students, faculty, and University support offices to facilitate both academic and emotional well-being.

To complement these efforts, the students are working on a documentary project that captures their personal and professional journeys; a reflection of the realities of life, loss, and healing in Gaza, and a testament to the transformative power of education even in times of crisis.

Recognizing the emotional toll of the war and the demanding nature of oncology and palliative care, Bethlehem University has partnered with the Guidance and Training Center (GTC) to provide regular psychological support sessions. The initiative has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from students, who report improved focus, confidence, and emotional resilience.

These five nurses, supported by full scholarships funded collaboratively by VID Specialized University (Norway) through the NORPART project, friends from Glasgow, and Bethlehem University, represent a vital step toward building Gaza’s first cadre of specialized oncology and palliative-care nurses.

“Every patient deserves dignity, and every nurse deserves the training to deliver it. Our Gaza cohort is not simply earning a degree; they are building a resilient, compassionate cancer-care workforce for Palestine.” Ms. Mariam Awad, Program Coordinator, Master’s in Oncology and Palliative Care.

By empowering these students with advanced clinical and leadership skills, Bethlehem University is not only addressing an urgent healthcare need but also nurturing a generation of compassionate professionals who will provide quality care and dignity to patients and families affected by cancer across Palestine.