{"id":39,"date":"2024-05-05T08:35:34","date_gmt":"2024-05-05T08:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/about-us\/"},"modified":"2024-05-05T16:32:19","modified_gmt":"2024-05-05T16:32:19","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"39\" class=\"elementor elementor-39\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7fa2dc55 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7fa2dc55\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11b0f0ce e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"11b0f0ce\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-425aece2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"425aece2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2fe4dab2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2fe4dab2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Gaza Virtual University (GVU) supports the vitality of institutions of higher learning in Palestine through international collaboration.<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-365af02e elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"365af02e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;\">All of Gaza\u2019s university campuses have been demolished by Israel, and many students, faculty, and administrators have been killed or maimed. While Gazan academics have persevered through decades of precarious living conditions and repression, the widespread destruction wrought in this war will likely push many to leave permanently to countries ready to accept these highly trained emigres. Given the cost and incubation period needed to produce PhDs, Gaza may become a higher education desert, depriving the Strip of a critical engine of its cultural and economic advancement.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d21857 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3d21857\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;\">Mission.<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"> Gaza Virtual University develops and operates a network of international universities and academics who support the continuity and advancement of higher learning institutions in Palestine. In particular, GVU:<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst\" style=\"text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><!--[endif]--><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;\">operates an information clearinghouse on the status of urgent needs identified by Gaza\u2019s universities as they resume operation,<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><!--[endif]--><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;\">solicits international academic institutions and individual academics for teaching, research, and administrative support,<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><!--[endif]--><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;\">connects professors in Gaza with paid teaching, research, and consulting opportunities in the network,<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><!--[endif]--><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;\">recruits and appoints international academics to serve as volunteer GVU \u201cfaculty,\u201d mirroring a university structure with departments and schools,<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><!--[endif]--><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;\">coordinates teams of GVU faculty who seek funding (e.g. project proposals, donations) on behalf of Palestinian (with special focus on Gaza initially) universities that request such assistance, and<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><!--[endif]--><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;\">serves as an information clearinghouse on philanthropic or other funding opportunities for Palestinian universities. <\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpLast\" style=\"text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><!--[endif]--><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;\">connects students from around the world with students in Palestine through activities such as tutoring, peer advising, hackathons, global design challenges (not an immediate goal).<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f9efb58 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6f9efb58\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3056a2d1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3056a2d1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7bb9f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b7bb9f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our Aliance<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f55e58f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5f55e58f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5683e3b elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"5683e3b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/aub-150x150.jpg\" class=\"elementor-animation-sink attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-156\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/aub-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/aub-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/aub-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/aub-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/aub.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h1 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\">American University of Beirut<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4edf7c99 elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"4edf7c99\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bzu-150x150.png\" class=\"elementor-animation-sink attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-157\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bzu-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bzu-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bzu.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h3 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\">Birzeit University<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-348a8bd8 elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"348a8bd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Palestine_Polytechnic_University-150x150.png\" class=\"elementor-animation-sink attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-158\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h3 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\">Polytechnic University<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75c6e5b2 elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"75c6e5b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"98\" src=\"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/s4p-300x98.png\" class=\"elementor-animation-sink attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-159\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/s4p-300x98.png 300w, https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/s4p-768x251.png 768w, https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/s4p.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h3 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\">Scientist4Palestine<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gaza Virtual University (GVU) supports the vitality of institutions of higher learning in Palestine through international collaboration. All of Gaza\u2019s university campuses have been demolished by Israel, and many students, faculty, and administrators have been killed or maimed. While Gazan academics have persevered through decades of precarious living conditions and repression, the widespread destruction wrought [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","nfd_onboarding_generated":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-39","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/39","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/39\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":171,"href":"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/39\/revisions\/171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pleiadesms.com\/website_d24264c0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}