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Bethlehem University
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Bethlehem University (Arabic: جامعة بيت لحم) is a Catholic university located in the city of Bethlehem, in the West Bank, Palestine.[1]
Key Information
History
[edit]Established shortly before the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War in 1973,[1] the university traces its roots to 1893, when the De La Salle Brothers opened schools in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jaffa, and Nazareth, along with others in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt; and to 1964's Pope Paul VI's visit to the Holy Land in which he promised the Palestinian people a university, a centre for Ecumenical Studies (Tantur Ecumenical Institute), and a school for children with special educational needs (Effetá Paul VI School).
As of 2025[update], Bethlehem University is the first established university in Palestine and the only Catholic university in the Holy Land (excluding seminary schools and theological or biblical institutes).[1] It continues to be a joint project supported by the Vatican and run by the De La Salle Brothers.
In 2017 the Palestine Museum of Natural History opened on the campus; it is closely linked to the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability.[2][3]
Demographics
[edit]Bethlehem University students are predominantly Muslim (~75%) and female (~78%), with Christians representing ~25% of the students.[4]
Faculties
[edit]- Arts & Humanities
- Business Administration
- Education
- Nursing & Health Sciences
- Applied Sciences, Technology & Engineering
- Institute of Hotel Management & Tourism
Interreligious character
[edit]All religious groups are welcome at the university, which currently counts among its students Christians of many different denominations including Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Russian Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, Greek Catholic, and others.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Prada, Oscar Elizalde (19 February 2025). "Bethlehem University faces challenges amid ongoing West Bank restrictions". La Salle Worldwide. Vatican News. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ^ "Biodiversity and hope flourish at Palestine's first natural history museum". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ "Palestine Museum of Natural History". ngarchitects. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ "Mission and History". Bethlehem University. Archived from the original on 7 February 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
External links
[edit]- Directory of Faculty and Staff Archived 9 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine
- Official website
Media related to Bethlehem University at Wikimedia Commons
Bethlehem University
View on GrokipediaBethlehem University is a Catholic co-educational institution of higher learning founded in 1973 in Bethlehem, West Bank, as the first university established in the Palestinian territories, sponsored by the Vatican and the De La Salle Christian Brothers in the Lasallian tradition.[1][2] It enrolls approximately 3,300 students, with 77% female enrollment and a demographic composition of about 70% Muslim and 30% Christian students, offering around 60 programs including baccalaureate degrees in arts, business administration, education, nursing, sciences, and hotel management, as well as master's programs in areas such as international cooperation and molecular biotechnology.[3][2] Accredited by the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education and affiliated with international organizations like the Association of Arab Universities and the International Federation of Catholic Universities, the university emphasizes academic excellence, ethical research, and community engagement amid a regional context marked by political tensions and restrictions on movement enforced by Israeli authorities, which have periodically disrupted operations and access for students and staff.[2][4][5] To date, it has graduated over 22,000 alumni who serve in Palestinian society and internationally, representing a significant achievement in fostering education in a predominantly Muslim population at a Christian institution.[1][2]

