"All of Palestine is involved in the process of building - not only with stone - but building a society. We cannot build the roof without building the foundations first and it is our duty as a university to build solid foundations. As I look at this 20th class of graduates, I am sure that they too will participate in the building of a strong foundation for our future state. We will struggle to have this state as one that is independent, modern and democratic - a state where its primary assets are its young men and women." - President Dr. Hanna Nasir, 10 July 1995

On 10th July 1995, another 440 students received their degree certificates at a lively graduation ceremony held on the new campus of Birzeit University. The ceremony began with a minute's silence for the martyrs of the university, followed by the national anthem. There was a presentation to the families of the eleven martyrs to acknowledge their sons' sacrifice in the struggle for Palestinian independence.

The university president, Dr. Hanna Nasir acknowledged, at this the 20th graduation ceremony, that "The students who graduate today have faced tremendous challenges due to the continuous harassments inflicted by occupation; imprisonment, interrogation and the closure of areas resulting in restrictions on the freedom of movement, to cite some examples. Some students who are graduating are currently in prison and are not therefore able to collect their degrees in person." To underline the point, nine graduating Gazan students arrived late for the ceremony, after being delayed for several hours at Erez checkpoint outside Gaza.

Of the changes in the political process between Israel and the Palestinians, Dr. Nasir commented, "For years we have lived under occupation. We still are, but we do realise that its painful realities are changing. For sure we have not achieved what we have dreamed and yearned for, yet we must also remember that the occupation too, has not achieved what it had planned. This is not the place for political discussion of who has lost or who has won, rather this is the time when it is our responsibility to build our society."

There was a special presentation of an honorary doctorate to Omar Al-Aggad, a Palestinian who has contributed much to the rebuilding of Arab society. Al-Aggad, an honorary member of Birzeit's Board of Trustees and the donor who made possible the construction of the Engineering Building that bears his name, was the second to receive an honorary doctorate from Birzeit University, the first presented to Palestinian academic Edward Said in 1993. Born in Jaffa, Al-Aggad was forced to leave his homeland in the wake of the events of 1948. He moved to Saudi Arabia, where he established major construction industries. A founding member of the Institute for Palestine Studies and member of the Palestine National Council of the PLO, this was his first trip to the West Bank since 1967, happily coinciding with the graduation ceremony.

Left: Graduation day 1995. Dr. Hanna Nasir presents Omar Al-Aggad (right) with an honorary doctorate, while Dr. Darweesh Nazal (centre), Chairman of the Board of Trustees, looks on. Photo by Garo Nalbandian.

The text of his doctorate stated that, "Today, the university honours Mr. Al-Aggad for his pioneering role in the public economic field, building institutions, establishing industries that have contributed to constructing the modern state in the Arab World and for his distinguished contribution in supporting Birzeit University, especially the Faculty of Engineering building that bears his name."

Dr. Nasir also spoke of how "the special relationship of partnership between the society and the university forms an ideal structure for future policies of development. This relationship is not new at Birzeit. For years, since the founding of the university, we have offered educational programmes that directly serve the society's needs - programmes in health, literacy, environmental health and continuing education. Next year, for the first time, we will be offering Masters programmes in International Relations and Education. All these are examples of practical services that can also help provide the well-trained personnel needed in the many departments of the new Palestinian National Authority."

Birzeit also honoured the Palestinian Ministry of Education in the for its "remarkable" work in "not only stopping the deterioration" resulting from 27 years of neglect of the educational system, but "recording impressive achievements" in its rebuilding. Education Minister Yasser Amer was presented with a plaque acknowledging the Ministry's work.