Project Investigators

Dina Kiwan

Dina Kiwan

Principal Investigator, University of Birmingham

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Ruth Gilligan

Co-Investigator, University of Birmingham

mazmi al masri

Nazmi Al-Masri

Co-Investigator, Islamic University Gaza

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Maha Shuayb

Co-Investigator, Centre for Lebanese Studies

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Anthony Downey

Co-Investigator, Birmingham City University

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Kate Woodcock

Co-Investigator, University of Birmingham

Rita Giacaman

Co-Investigator, Birzeit University

Deborah Youdell photo

Deborah Youdell

Co-Investigator, University of Birmingham

Project Researchers and PhD Students

Vera Kubenz photo

Vera Kubenz

Research Fellow, University of Birmingham

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Bobby Beaumont

PhD Student, University of Birmingham

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Giada Costantini

PhD Student, University of Birmingham

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Maram Theodory

PhD Student, University of Birmingham

Advisory Board

Ibrahim Abdullah

Disability Advisor, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) - Lebanon

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Angharad Beckett

Associate Professor of Political Sociology and Co-Director, Centre for Disability Studies, University of Leeds - UK

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Julia McGeown

Education Technical Advisor, Humanity & Inclusion at Global Partnerships for Education - UK

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Ola Abu Al Ghaib

Head of the Technical Secretariat, United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities oPt

Professor Matthew Broome

Matthew Broome

Professor of Psychiatry and Youth Mental Health Director of the Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham - UK

Professor Jasbir Puar photo

Jasbir Puar

Professor and Graduate Director, Women’s and Gender Studies, Rutgers University - USA

Hadeel Abu Soufeh photo

Hadeel Abu Soufeh

Disability Activist and Consultant - Jordan

Professor Abir Hamdar

Abir Hamdar

Professor and Deputy Director of Research (Impact), School of Modern Languages and Cultures, Durham University - UK

Laila Atshan photo

Leila Atshan

Consultant, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - West Bank

Naim Kabaja photo

Naim Kabaja

Director, Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children - Gaza

Network Partners

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University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

The project is led by the University of Birmingham in the UK, a world top 100 university founded in 1900 as the first civic University in England. For over 100 years, innovative academic research at the University has influenced society and impacted people’s lives.

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Centre for Lebanese Studies, Beirut, Lebanon

The Centre for Lebanese Studies is a research center that aims to produce relevant research in a collaborative, respectful, critical, valuable, equitable and transparent manner.

Birzeit University

Birzeit University, West Bank, Palestine

Founded in 1972, Birzeit University is a leading educational institution and an intellectual hub that attracts top students and faculty, offering a wide range of academic programmes and professional development opportunities. It is an academic powerhouse with a clear focus on excellence that has secured it national and international recognition unparalleled with other established institutions. Birzeit University is a vibrant community of scholarship and learning that stands in the service of the country and the community. 

Birmingham City University

Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK

With around 24,000 students from 80 countries, Birmingham City University is a large and diverse place to study. The University has an enviable reputation for providing quality, student-focused education in a professional and friendly environment. Its superb courses, state-of-the-art facilities, first-rate staff and focus on practical skills and professional relevance is producing some of the country’s most employable graduates.

Islamic University of Gaza

Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine

The Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) is an independent academic institution supervised by the Ministry of Higher Education. IUG provides its students with an academic environment that adheres to Islamic principles as well as Palestinian traditions and customs. It is an academic institution that strives to raise the educational, cultural and civilization levels in the Palestinian society, to keep up with current trends in higher education and technology advancements, to encourage scientific research, and to contribute in building future generations and developing the society in a framework of Islamic values.

Action on Armed Violence

Action on Armed Violence, London, UK

Action on Armed Violence is a charity which seeks to reduce the impact of armed violence through monitoring and research of the causes and consequences of weapon-based violence. They have a specific focus on the impact of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas and have been running a global monitor of explosive violence since October 2010. 

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Al Ma'Mal Foundation for Contemporary Art, Jerusalem

Al-Ma’mal is a non-profit organisation founded to promote, instigate, disseminate and create art. Founded in 1997, Al-Ma’mal serves as an advocate for contemporary art and a catalyst for the realization of art projects in Jerusalem.

A M Qattan Foundation

A M Qattan Foundation, UK & Palestine

The A M Qattan Foundation (AMQF) is an independent, not-for-profit developmental organisation working in the fields of culture and education, with a particular focus on children, teachers and young artists. The Foundation is an independent institution, working in the knowledge and creativity sectors, using an integrative approach and targeting a variety of social groups, particularly children, teachers and young artists. It seeks to empower free individuals within a dynamic Palestinian and Arab culture, through a long-term, participatory developmental ethos.

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Edraak, Jordan

Edraak is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform, that is an initiative of the Queen Rania Foundation (QRF). QRF is determined to ensure that the Arab world is at the forefront of educational innovation. As such, QRF has capitalised on regional Arab talent to leverage technology developed by the Harvard-MIT consortium, edX, to create the first non-profit Arabic MOOC platform. The new MOOC platform will present the Arab world with unique and vital opportunities that can be part of a necessary revolution in education and learning.

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Tammey For Youth Development, Jordan

Tammey was founded in 2010 by a diverse team with over 20 years of experience in the field of youth development, grew into a passionate community committed to genuine development, and now runs through a core strategic management team in addition to affiliate experts around the world.