Teaching Excellence Award for alumna

Dr Naser-Najjab studied for her PhD at Exeter’s Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies in 2004. Afterwards she resumed her career at Birzeit University as Professor of Gender and Psychology and Philosophy. Such topics are sensitive and controversial and this creates debate in class discussions.

She explained: “I generate discussions that encourage my students to think and to question their assumptions. I teach with compassion and make sure that my students think about certain issues to draw their own conclusions.

“My philosophy in teaching is based on Socrates strategy: ‘I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.”

Dr Naser-Najjab said she believes her student experience at Exeter enriched her teaching skills and had particular praise for Professor Tim Niblock, who supervised her PhD.

“Professor Niblock inspired me throughout my research to put aside my mind sets and approach my topic with an open mind,” she said.

Dr Naser-Najjab brought her two young daughters with her to Devon – one was aged three and the other nearly two when they arrived. She used the University’s childcare facilities and found Exeter to be a child-friendly city. Her daughters are still in touch with friends here.

* AMIDEAST is an American non-profit organisation engaged in education, training and development activities in the Middle East and North Africa.