JOHOR BAHRU, Sep 25 – Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia and Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), graciously attended the UTM Chancellor’s Engagement with Palestinian Students, held at Dewan Senat Ainuddin Wahid, Sultan Ibrahim Chancellery Building, UTM Johor Bahru.

The engagement, themed “From Gaza to Malaysia: Palestinian Voices of Resilience, Hope and Rebuilding,” provided a meaningful platform for Palestinian students and academics to share their experiences, educational aspirations and hopes for the future of their homeland.

Her Majesty was accompanied by Her Highness Che’ Puan Mahkota Khaleeda Johor, Pro-Chancellor of UTM. Also present were UTM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim.

The programme brought together 12 Palestinian students, two UTM staff members and 12 dependants, creating an opportunity for the Palestinian community at UTM to engage directly with Her Majesty in an atmosphere of compassion, dignity and solidarity.

Education as a Foundation for Rebuilding Palestine

In his welcoming address, UTM Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim reaffirmed the university’s commitment to providing Palestinian students with a supportive academic environment.

He emphasised that the engagement was intended to provide a safe space for Palestinian students to share their experiences, aspirations and perspectives on living and studying at UTM.

The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the important role of education in preparing future professionals, researchers and leaders who can contribute to Palestine’s recovery and reconstruction.

The dialogue session was moderated by Dr. Mohamad S. J. Darwish, Senior Lecturer at UTM’s Faculty of Civil Engineering (FKA), who highlighted the longstanding importance of education within Palestinian society.

The panel featured Sabreen M. M. Eleyan; Saifeddin Mithqal Hasan Meqbil, a Bseisu-UTM scholar from the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT); and Ghada Alhaddad, a member of the Palestinian Committee in Malaysia.

Their discussions explored the challenges faced by Palestinian students, the importance of maintaining access to education during conflict, and the potential contribution of higher education institutions to rebuilding Gaza.

Palestinian Voices of Resilience and Hope

One of the most moving moments of the engagement came through the personal testimony of Sabreen M. M. Eleyan, a PhD candidate in Architecture at UTM’s Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying (FABU) and recipient of the UTM Serambi Al-Quds Scholarship.

Sabreen shared the profound loss she experienced following the death of her father and brothers, as well as the destruction of her family home in Gaza, shortly after beginning her doctoral studies at UTM.

Despite these devastating circumstances, she spoke of her determination to continue her education and honour her family’s aspirations.

Her testimony deeply moved Her Majesty and those present, highlighting the extraordinary resilience demonstrated by Palestinian students who continue pursuing academic excellence while carrying the emotional burden of conflict and separation from their loved ones.

Saifeddin highlighted the importance of expanding digital learning opportunities for Palestinian students affected by the destruction of educational infrastructure. His proposed Open Digital Doors approach emphasised access to digital libraries, online learning resources, virtual academic collaboration and partnerships between universities.

Meanwhile, Ghada Alhaddad discussed the challenges of rebuilding Gaza’s physical and social infrastructure, highlighting the need for sustainable planning, engineering expertise and human-centred development. She emphasised the importance of support in architecture, civil engineering, environmental sustainability and advanced technologies for the future reconstruction of her homeland.

Other Palestinian students also shared their hopes and aspirations, including the need to expand financial assistance and scholarship opportunities for undergraduate and Master’s students. They expressed their desire to give back to Malaysia upon graduation, in appreciation of the opportunities, kindness and support extended to them throughout their academic journeys.

One particularly moving moment came when a Palestinian staff member described Malaysia as their second home, expressing gratitude for being recognised and treated with dignity as human beings.

Another touching moment came when a Palestinian student conveyed a heartfelt message from her father, who is in his seventies, expressing his sincere gratitude to Malaysia for the warmth, kindness and compassion extended to the Palestinian people. His message reflected the deep appreciation felt across generations of Palestinian families for the solidarity and support they have received from Malaysia.

The heartfelt reflection stirred emotions throughout the room, underscoring the profound impact of compassion, acceptance and a sense of belonging on the Palestinian community in Malaysia.

Strengthening UTM’s Commitment to Palestinian Education

During the engagement, the Vice-Chancellor highlighted the UTM Serambi Al-Quds Programme, launched by Her Majesty in 2022, which provides full doctoral sponsorship to ten Palestinian scholars.

He also announced the Malaysia-Japan Strategic Partnership: Engineering a Resilient Palestine, an initiative developed in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The partnership is expected to welcome additional Palestinian postgraduate students to UTM to pursue advanced studies in engineering, science and technology, further strengthening the university’s contribution to human capital development for Palestine.

These initiatives reflect UTM’s commitment to ensuring that Palestinian students have access to educational opportunities and the knowledge required to contribute meaningfully to their homeland’s future.

Royal Compassion and Solidarity

As a gesture of compassion and support, Her Majesty graciously presented care packages through Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor to the Palestinian students and families attending the programme.

Following the formal engagement, Her Majesty joined the Palestinian students, UTM staff members and their dependants for a royal luncheon at the Banquet Hall.

The gathering provided a more personal setting for interaction, strengthening the sense of belonging and solidarity extended to the Palestinian community at UTM.

The Chancellor’s engagement reaffirmed UTM’s commitment to humanity, inclusivity and the transformative power of education.

Beyond providing academic opportunities, the university continues to serve as a supportive environment where Palestinian students can pursue their aspirations, develop their expertise and prepare to contribute to the long-term recovery of their homeland.

Through royal patronage, institutional support and international academic partnerships, UTM remains committed to ensuring that education continues to offer hope, opportunity and a pathway towards rebuilding Palestine.