INTRODUCTION
A UNIVERSITY FOR A NEW PALESTINE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM

This Vision for Bethlehem University over the next five years has been inspired by the purpose of Bethlehem University's Founders "to serve the people of the West Bank and Gaza". The Vision is also inspired by a university community which, as it celebrates a 25-year history, commits itself to renewed growth and development as it moves into a new millennium.

Founded in 1973, the Statutes of Bethlehem University set out its basic functions as threefold :

• To offer academic programs of excellent quality, so that qualified students may be prepared to assume responsible positions in society
• To add to knowledge through research, scholarship and creative activities in both fundamental and applied fields, and to seek ways of applying that knowledge to the betterment and enrichment of the people of the West Bank and Gaza
• To make available to the community the results of the research and the rich heritage of human culture embodied in the arts and sciences.

Bethlehem University shares the vision and views of the Minister of Higher Education in her Introduction to the MOHE Rationalization Plan. The Minister's Introduction can be regarded as the context within which we work and the challenge to which we are planning to respond.

An authoritative response to the Bethlehem University Five Year Plan Consultation Process described the role of a university in the new Palestine as follows:

"All existing documents concerning the role of higher education in Palestine today (whether elaborated by the Palestinians themselves, or by intergovernmental organisations such as UNESCO, the European Commission, the World Bank, etc.), emphasise its unique role at this historical moment in the history of the Palestinian people:

a. As the main instrument for human resources development, which represents the main asset of the Palestinians for self-sustainable development, given the very scarce material resources of the country;

b. As the major educational, scientific and cultural force in Palestinian society today;

c. As a main factor conducive to national identity, national integration and social stability, through the advancement of democracy and active participation in the civil society, which are necessary prerequisites for building up an independent Palestinian state;

d. As a major participant in international dialogue with other nations, particularly with the international intellectual and academic community, thus making an important contribution to peace in one of the most tensioned and conflict-ridden regions of the world". (Professor Dumitru Chitoran, Head, PEACE Programme Office at UNESCO; emphasis by author).

Bethlehem University has accepted the invitation of the Minister of Higher Education to participate in "achieving our future goals by rising to meet the challenges of today" and Bethlehem University hopes and plans to play its part in the fulfillment of the role described by Professor Chitoran. It is a daunting task, but we are confidently beginning our response in our Five Year Plan, the Vision Phase of which is contained in the pages which follow.

Writing for a number of readerships simultaneously has been very difficult. Furthermore, it was necessary to balance detailed and comprehensive discussion against the importance of relative brevity. It is worth recalling, too, that this is a Statement of a Vision to be followed by an Implementation Phase Plan, which will be specific and operational. Like the Minister of Higher Education "we remain determined and undeterred". As an ancient Celtic inscription puts it:

A Vision without a Task is but a dream
A Task without a Vision is drudgery
But a Vision and a Task together are the Hope of the World.

We are a people of Hope.