# An-Najah National University

> University in State of Palestine

**Wikidata**: [Q2096138](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2096138)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An-Najah_National_University)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/an-najah-national-university

## Summary
An-Najah National University is a non-profit public university located in Nablus and Tulkarm, State of Palestine. Founded in 1977 by Hassan Hammad, the institution evolved from a primary school established in 1918 and a subsequent college phase beginning in 1941. As of 2023, it serves a student body of 23,200.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type**: University (Higher Education Institution)
- **Location**: Nablus and Tulkarm, Palestine (Coordinates: 32.22027778, 35.24444444)
- **Founding**: Established as a university in 1977 by Hassan Hammad.
- **Historical Progression**:
  - 1918–1941: Primary School (Official Name: مدرسة وجامعة النجاح)
  - 1941–1977: College (Official Name: كلية النجاح)
  - 1977–Present: University (Official Name: جامعة النجاح الوطنية)
- **Leadership**:
  - Chairperson: Abdel Naser ZAID (Start time: 2021)
  - Former Chairperson: Maher Natsheh (2019–2021)
- **Student Enrollment**: 23,200 (Point in time: 2023)
- **Motto**: نتحدى الحاضر لنرسم المستقبل
- **Subsidiary**: College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (Established: 1996)
- **Memberships**: Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, International Association of Universities, Association of Arab Universities, Mediterranean Universities Union.
- **Official Website**: http://www.najah.edu/
- **Academic Identifiers**: GRID ID `grid.11942.3f`, ISNI `0000000406315695`, ROR ID `0046mja08`, World Higher Education Database ID `IAU-000947`.

## FAQs
### Q: When was An-Najah National University founded?
The university was founded in 1977 by Hassan Hammad. It succeeded an earlier institution that had operated as a primary school since 1918 and a college since 1941.

### Q: Where is An-Najah National University located?
The university is located in the State of Palestine, specifically in the cities of Nablus and Tulkarm. Its geographic coordinates are 32.22027778 latitude and 35.24444444 longitude.

### Q: What is the student population of An-Najah National University?
As of 2023, the university has 23,200 enrolled students.

### Q: What international academic associations is the university a member of?
An-Najah National University is a member of the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, the International Association of Universities, the Association of Arab Universities, and the Mediterranean Universities Union.

### Q: What are the official names the institution has held over time?
From 1918 to 1941, it was named "مدرسة وجامعة النجاح." It became "كلية النجاح" (An-Najah College) from 1941 to 1977. Since 1977, its official name has been "جامعة النجاح الوطنية" (An-Najah National University).

## Why It Matters
An-Najah National University serves as a critical hub for higher education in the State of Palestine. With a history spanning over a century from its origins as a primary school, it represents a enduring institution of learning in the region. Its evolution into a full university in 1977 and subsequent growth to over 23,000 students highlights its role as a major educator of the Palestinian populace. Its membership in global networks like the International Association of Universities and the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie integrates Palestinian academia into the international scientific and educational community. Furthermore, its specialized College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine contributes directly to regional development in critical sectors.

## Notable For
- **Institutional Evolution**: Distinguished by its unique three-stage evolution from a primary school (1918) to a college (1941) and finally to a university (1977).
- **Scale**: As the largest university in Palestine with 23,200 students (as of 2023), it plays a dominant role in the national education sector.
- **Global Connectivity**: Holds memberships in four major international university associations, fostering global academic collaboration.
- **Specialized Research**: Houses a dedicated College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine established in 1996.
- **Digital Reach**: Maintains a verified YouTube channel with over 13,500 subscribers (as of May 2025) and content accessible in 16 different languages on Wikipedia.

## Body

### History and Evolution
An-Najah National University possesses a distinct institutional history characterized by its gradual development from lower to higher education.
- **1918–1941**: The institution was founded as a primary school. During this period, its official name was "مدرسة وجامعة النجاح" (An-Najah School and University).
- **1941–1977**: The institution transitioned into a college, operating under the name "كلية النجاح" (An-Najah College).
- **1977–Present**: The institution achieved university status, founded by Hassan Hammad, and adopted its current official name, "جامعة النجاح الوطنية" (An-Najah National University).

### Campuses and Location
The university is situated in the State of Palestine with facilities in two primary locations: Nablus and Tulkarm.
- **Geographic Coordinates**: The main location is recorded at latitude 32.22027778 and longitude 35.24444444.
- **Visual Documentation**: The campus is documented in Wikimedia Commons, including an image of the new campus entrance titled "مدخل الحرم الجامعي الجديد" dated September 28, 2018.

### Governance and Leadership
The university is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by a Chairperson.
- **Recent Leadership**:
  - **Maher Natsheh**: Served as Chairperson from 2019 to 2021.
  - **Abdel Naser ZAID**: Assumed the position of Chairperson in 2021.

### Academic Structure and Research
The university's academic framework includes main faculties and specialized subsidiary colleges.
- **Subsidiaries**: The **College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at An-Najah National University** was established in 1996.
- **Research Identifiers**: The institution is recognized in global research databases, including the **Open Funder Registry ID** `100010725` and **RINGGOLD ID** `61284`.

### International Affiliations
An-Najah maintains active membership in prominent international academic organizations:
- **Agence universitaire de la Francophonie** (Member as recorded November 23, 2022)
- **International Association of Universities**
- **Association of Arab Universities**
- **Mediterranean Universities Union**

### Digital Presence and Media
The university operates a comprehensive digital ecosystem for students and international outreach.
- **Social Media**:
  - **Twitter**: Handle `ANajahUni` (User ID: 256474167, active since February 23, 2011).
  - **YouTube**: Channel ID `UCC5FTg0TxSkzxHNGWy5by6A`. As of May 11, 2025, the channel has 13,500 subscribers and 97 videos.
  - **Other Platforms**: Official presence on Facebook (`ANajahUni`), Instagram (`anajahuni`), Telegram (`NajahUniv`), Flickr (`anajahuni`), and LinkedIn (`anajahuni`).
- **Wikipedia Coverage**: The university is documented in 16 language editions, including Arabic, English, German, French, and Hebrew.

### Technical and Administrative Identifiers
The institution is indexed by numerous library authorities and technical registries:
- **Library Authorities**: Library of Congress Authority ID `n83228715`, National Library of Israel J9U ID `987007305543905171`.
- **European Databases**: EU VAT Number `PS739100022`, EU Participant Identification Code `997395614`.
- **Archival IDs**: GND ID `5155552-9`, VIAF ID `128663114`, Geonames ID `7870545`.
- **Defunct/Archived IDs**: Freebase ID `/m/09tyg_`, Microsoft Academic ID `17533244`.
- **Art & Culture**: Kunstenpunt Knowledge Graph ID (Aleksandr Morgunov), Flanders Arts Institute Venue ID `137804`, SNARC ID (Bohumír Matal).

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20221123144401/https://www.auf.org/les_membres/nos-membres/)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. GeoNames
6. [Source](http://www.najah.edu/)
7. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
8. GRID Release 2015-12-14
9. GRID Release 2016-12-06
10. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
11. Flanders Arts Institute
12. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
13. [Source](https://ror.org/0046mja08)
14. YouTube API
15. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)