In one of the most contested and divided regions of the world, Al-Quds University and Bard College have joined forces to transcend boundaries and allow students to thrive and reach their maximum potential.

The Honors College for Liberal Arts and Sciences, located in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Abu Dies, offers a globally competitive education that is rooted in the best of progressive and classical educational traditions. The liberal arts curriculum and approach to learning equips students with the tools to forge a successful career in diverse fields and to engage creatively with questions relevant to their own lives. The Honors College will offer a dual Bachelor of Arts degree from Bard College and Al-Quds University and will open in fall 2009.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program, located in the same premises as The Honors College, offers a singular approach to teacher education based on the idea that teachers should not only be experts in the academic fields they teach, but should also engage in teaching as a clinical profession. The MAT prepares teachers through a two-year program of graduate study in an academic field and key areas of education, closely integrated with experiences in classrooms. The MAT Program will offer a dual Master’s degree from Bard College and Al-Quds University and will open in fall 2009.

Beginning in 2010, the Al-Quds Bard Partnership will launch the final element in its comprehensive plan: a Model School for Palestinian students in grades 5-12. The MAT program will be integrated with the daily operations of this model school. Public school teachers and students and graduate faculty and students will work side-by-side, developing models of educational practice and creating a regional center for professional development.

We welcome those interested in joining our endeavor to visit or contact us and become part of one of the most innovative educational projects in the world today.