al-Quds Open University

{{Infobox university

| name = Al-Quds Open University

| image = Al-Quds Open University logo.svg

| caption =

| motto =

| established = 1991

| type = Open university

| president = Prof. Ibrahim Al-Shaer

| undergrad = 60,000+

| postgrad =

| staff =

| city = All Palestinian cities

| country = Palestine

| website = {{URL|http://www.qou.edu}}

}}

Al-Quds Open University ({{langx|ar|جامعة القدس المفتوحة}}) is an independent, distance education public university in Palestine. It was created by a decree issued by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1991.{{cite web |title=homePage/english/index.jsp?pageId=4 |url=http://www.qou.edu/homePage/english/index.jsp?pageId=4 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227013038/http://www.qou.edu/homePage/english/index.jsp?pageId=4 |archivedate=2010-02-27 |accessdate=2009-02-12 |website=Al-Quds Open University}}

QOU is the first Open Learning institute in the Palestinian territories. It has 60,000 students studying in 19 branches and centers distributed all over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. QOU is the largest non-campus university in Palestine.{{fact|date=November 2023}}

In 2023, the university's facilities in the Gaza Strip were destroyed by Israeli bombardment during the Gaza war.{{cite web |last=Sawahel|first=Wagdy|title=439 HE students and staff killed, universities hit in war|url=https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20231107142515556|website=University World News|date=7 November 2023|access-date=16 March 2024}}{{cite web |last=Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor|title=European academics condemn Israel's destruction of education system in Gaza|url=https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6220/Annihilation-of-education:-100-European-academics-sign-Euro-Med-Monitor-petition-against-systematic-Israeli-destruction-of-Gaza-Strip%E2%80%99s-educational-system|website=euromedmonitor.org|date=12 March 2024|access-date=16 March 2024}}

Faculties

The university has seven faculties leading to a BA Degree in:{{cite web |title=homePage/english/index.jsp?pageId=8 |url=http://www.qou.edu/homePage/english/index.jsp?pageId=8 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527100632/http://www.qou.edu/homePage/english/index.jsp?pageId=8 |archivedate=2010-05-27 |accessdate=2009-02-12 |website=Al-Quds Open University}}

Technology and Applied Sciences
Agriculture
Social and Family Development
Administrative and Economic Sciences
Media
Arts
Educational sciences

QOU established a Faculty of Graduate Studies for the 2015-2016 school year. The faculty offers a master's degree in the following specializations:

Arabic Language & Literature
Psychological & Educational Counseling
Digital Business Administration
Political Science
Education Technology and e-Learning
Strategic Management & Leadership
Applied Human Resource Management
Management and Public Policy
Information Technology
Special Education
Educational Supervision and Administration
Social Work
Teaching Social Science
Islamic Da'wa and International Relations in Islam
Family Counseling and Guidance
Applied Marketing Management
Accounting and Finance
Management of Media Institutions
Information Technology

The university has announced plans to create Post Graduate School in the future.{{cite web |title=homePage/english/index.jsp?pageId=3 |url=http://www.qou.edu/homePage/english/index.jsp?pageId=3 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227013033/http://www.qou.edu/homePage/english/index.jsp?pageId=3 |archivedate=2010-02-27 |accessdate=2009-02-12 |website=Al-Quds Open University}}

University centers

The university has six centers located in the Palestinian Territories, as follows:

The Information and Communication Technology Center (ICTC) is responsible for the technical development, computerizing all administrative, academic, financial and productive works of the university.{{cite web |title=homePage/english/index.jsp?pageId=52 |url=http://www.qou.edu/homePage/english/index.jsp?pageId=52 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527204601/http://www.qou.edu/homePage/english/index.jsp?pageId=52 |archivedate=2010-05-27 |accessdate=2009-02-12 |website=Al-Quds Open University}}
The ICTC is the largest computerized network in Palestine, and is an accredited testing center for specialized international certificates. It also has most of its systems and curricula computerized. The network, a partnership with the Palestinian Development Gateway, was funded by the Programme for Assistance to the Palestinian People, part of the United Nations Development Programme.{{Cite news |date=19 March 2004 |title=Net aid for Palestinian students |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/technology/3497918.stm |work=BBC News}}
The Continuing Education Center (CEC) was created to make connections between academic knowledge and practical experience.http://www.qou.edu/homePage/english/index.jsp?pageId=37{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Center for Digital Learning