An-Najah National University has been selected as one of 24 universities benefiting from the EUSEEDS project (Enable, Upgrade and Spread Employability, Entrepreneurship and Digital Skills), co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.

Implemented in five Eastern Mediterranean countries (Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine), the EUSEEDS project aims to develop young people’s employability, entrepreneurship, and digital skills, particularly in contexts marked by significant socio-economic challenges. 

The project includes the creation or revitalization of university-based employability and digital skills centres, with the objective of improving the professional integration of students, young graduates, and vulnerable groups. 

In Palestine, the selected institutions are An-Najah National University (Nablus), Al-Quds Open University (Jenin), Bethlehem University (Bethlehem), Al-Aqsa University (Gaza), Hebron University (Hebron), and  Al-Quds University (Abu Dis, Jerusalem). 

Commenting on the announcement, Dr Saed Alkhayyat, Head of An-Najah Innovation Park, said:
“Being selected for EUSEEDS is a strong endorsement of An-Najah National University’s commitment to employability, entrepreneurship and digital skills. Through An-Najah Innovation Park, we will translate this opportunity into practical support for students and graduates, strengthen links with the labour market, and expand pathways for innovation-led careers and enterprise creation.”

Dr Rani Shahwan, EUSEEDS Project Manager at An-Najah National University, added:
“EUSEEDS is a timely platform to upgrade and scale skills-based initiatives at An-Najah National University. Our focus will be on delivering high-impact activities that respond to real market needs, including targeted digital skills training, employability services and stronger engagement with employers and ecosystem partners, ensuring sustainable outcomes beyond the project period.”

A rigorous selection process
The selection followed a call for applications launched in October 2025 and a rigorous assessment based on the project’s expected impact, the organisational capacity and institutional commitment of the universities, as well as their ability to ensure the sustainability of the centres and integrate the initiative into their overall strategy. 

About EUSEEDS
AUF Middle East is the lead partner of the EUSEEDS project, co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme. The project is implemented by a consortium of seven partners across six countries, including regional partners (Enroot in Egypt; Jordan Youth Innovation Forum in Jordan; Forward Mena in Lebanon; Palestine Information and Communication Technology Incubator in Palestine) and European partners (Center for Social Innovation in Cyprus and Aix-Marseille University in France). 

Useful link www.interregnextmed.eu/projects/euseeds 

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