Talking to Birzeit University Students via Satellite ‏ ... Abu-Ghazaleh Announces the Palestinian Universities will be the First to Join TAG Virtual University in 2012

21 Dec 2011
AMMAN/ RAMALLAH --- December 21, 2011 --- HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman and CEO of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) stated that the Palestinian universities will be the first educational institutions to be linked to TAG Corporate Virtual University to be launched in 2012 through joint educational and training business programs.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh pointed out that the University will be administered by digital open learning methods and classrooms which make it a pioneer project on a global level adding "We are moving toward a different era of what we are witnessing today and we will be living in a 'virtual world' which at the same time will be the “real world” while the current world will be referred to as the 'old world'."

These advanced inputs and guidelines were tackled in a discussion via satellite which was conducted at Talal Abu-Ghazaleh School Graduate of Business (TAGSB) between Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh and Birzeit University students organized by HE Dr. Sabri Saydam, advisor of the Palestinian President on Telecommunications and IT Affairs, in cooperation with the Commerce and Economics Faculty at the Birzeit University with the attendance of Dr. Khalil Al Hendi, head of the University, Dr. Mohammad Nasr, dean of the Faculty, Prof. Graise Khouri, Head of the program, professors and masters students in addition to former minister HE Sameer Abu Eisha from Al Najah University. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Saydam.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh told students about the bless of suffering since he was a child and forced out from Jaffa in 1948 with his family to Al Ghazya in the south of Saida, he continued with the several periods of his life with the various educational stages and finally with his work achievements. He also addressed the war initiated against Talal Abu-Ghazaleh & Co. International (TAGI) by giant global companies as TAGI became an Arab ‘phenomenon’ which determinedly entered the business sectors and the Arab markets.

Regardless of all obstacles and challenges, TAGI became a full member of the Forum of Firms (FoF), an association of international networks of accounting firms that perform transnational audits. Meanwhile, Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP) has also emerged to be the biggest on the Arab world to prove the potential of the Arab citizens to technically excel.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh addressed students saying: “I highly understand and admire your suffering which is at the same time the secret of your strength and the Palestinian people, who enabled you to overcome, survive and defeat your suffering and to advance to be among the leading nations as the Palestinians have one of the highest ratios of educational globally and one of the most people who use the Internet despite the occupation circumstances.”

He added that “one of God’s blessings is that we have entered the knowledge era while you are in a much better condition than that of the circumstances which I lived in. You are now in the knowledge age which is also the youth epoch and you can benefit from the ICT similar to any other individual all around the world and no one can deprive you from such a right. Though the Palestinian youth are living under occupation, yet, they have the same opportunity for those living in Tokyo or New York and there is no excuse not to avail yourselves of this knowledge treasure.”

He stressed that none of the inventors who contributed with their creativity to humanity and won hundreds of millions been supported or sponsored or financed by anyone, yet, they were the outcome of sufferance and any of you could be a Steve Jobs or Facebook inventor.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh announced that in cooperation with Dr. Saydam a number of knowledge centers will be established in the West Bank and Gaza Strip similar to the one launched in Amman where more than 30.000 students are currently benefiting from its various IT services.

Meanwhile and regarding TAGITOP, the first branded Arab netbook in the region designed according to the latest specifications as a non-profit project which will available to all users in the Arab world at cost with special prices for students which according to Abu-Ghazaleh hopes to become the school bag for all students.

He also stressed on the computer refurbishment project in Gaza Camp in Jerash in Jordan saying:"We have established a center for refurbishment of computers collected from international organizations in Jordan to be used in schools and charity societies which are handed to them as gifts."

Politically and regarding the Palestinian case he said:"The enemy has succeeded in diverting us from our cause by peace talks and dispute resolving in addition to others but the main subject is still "ending occupation" and it will not end until we go back to to core of the cause and call in one voice "people want to end occupation."

Regarding Creativity of Palestinians, he said that Palestinian creativity is not and individual case; Palestinians are people full of excellence in various aspects of life and they are proud of their achievements in developing civilization that is why I am working with my dear Sabri Saydam on achieving his initiative in building a data base for every Palestinian as an individual or the Palestinians as groups, that is why we have establish All 4 Palestine as a French Specialized society."