Why this Palestinian university is offering Turkish language courses
Al-Quds University is the first Palestinian university to offer Turkish language courses to its students, in an effort to promote cooperation between the two countries.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Al-Quds University in Abu Dis, near Jerusalem, has signed a protocol of cooperation with the Turkish Institute of Yunus Emre to start teaching Turkish at the university. Based on the Nov. 13 agreement, qualified teachers will offer courses on the Turkish language, culture, history and arts. The two institutions will also conduct joint research.
Al-Quds University is among 45 institutions around the world to partner with the Turkish Yunus Emre Institute. Notably, the university granted Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan an honorary doctorate in 2012 in recognition of his support for the Palestinian cause.
Rajaa Yousef, a 21-year-old student at Al-Quds University, told Al-Monitor that the opportunity to learn Turkish is a chance to learn about other cultures. She added that Turkish would come in handy should she decide to finish her postgraduate studies at a Turkish university.
Ramez al-Khatib, another Al-Quds student, told Al-Monitor that many universities around the world started teaching the Turkish language after the Turkish renaissance under Erdogan, stressing that the Turkish course in Jerusalem will attract high enrollment.
