Choosing to journey together intentionally

Worldwide academic volunteers, please complete the expression of interest form.

The Academic Rifqa programme for Palestinian scholars in Gaza directly addresses ActforPal’s main objectives, to retain and motivate Palestinian talent and integrate Palestinian culture, history, and identity into academic discourse and research, challenging narratives and practices of erasure and reclaiming the rightful place of Palestinian contributions in global scholarship.

The programme aims to support the academic success and career progression of Palestinian graduate students and early career academics by fostering their intellectual, personal, and professional self-enhancement and advancement through structured guidance and tutoring via digital communication.

Grounded in the competencies and functional roles of university teaching staff, this initiative prioritizes quality education, lifelong learning, social responsibility, and the promotion of transversal and disciplinary skills essential for success in higher education.

It is founded on the notion of rifqa (الرفقه), making the choice to journey together intentionally.

The scholars in this programme are master’s students, doctoral students and individuals with a doctoral degree in their first three years after defending their thesis. 

Academic companions across the world provide individual guidance services to the scholars, performing tutoring functions aligned with the European Higher Education Area standards.

This includes academic advising; assistance with research methodologies and the use of various analytical tools; writing seminar papers, theses, and research articles; curriculum vitae development; and identifying fields that offer work opportunities.

These tasks are carried out according to the needs of each Palestinian scholar, through regular one-on-one communication and guidance sessions.

Participants commit to 2 hours per month for 6 months, with the possibility of extension based on mutual availability, suitability and interest.

This programme incurs no financial cost for participants. All participants join on a strictly voluntary basis, dedicating only their time and effort. It is prohibited for any monetary exchange or compensation to occur between participants at any stage.

Certification of participation is issued by ActforPal upon successful completion of the initial 6-month commitment, which can be presented to educational institutions as part of participants’ academic and professional portfolios. Such certificates can serve as merit indicators rewarding active engagement and professional development, making them valuable for academic recognition.