Virtual Fellowships: Lifeline for Gazan Academics Amid University Destruction

The Devastating Impact of Conflict on Gaza's Higher Education Landscape

In the Gaza Strip, higher education has faced unprecedented destruction since the escalation of conflict in October 2023. All twelve universities operating in the region have sustained severe damage or complete demolition, rendering traditional academic activities impossible. Reports indicate that approximately 81 percent of all structures in Gaza have been affected, with educational facilities particularly hard-hit—88 to 91.8 percent requiring full rehabilitation or reconstruction. This catastrophe has not only erased physical infrastructure but also disrupted the lives of thousands of students and faculty members, with over 1,351 students and 241 academics losing their lives.

Universities such as the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG), Al-Aqsa University, and Al-Azhar University, once vibrant centers of learning, now lie in ruins. Laboratories, libraries, and lecture halls have been reduced to rubble, severing access to essential research tools and teaching environments. Faculty members, many of whom dedicated decades to scholarship, find themselves displaced, without offices, computers, or stable electricity. This systematic targeting of educational institutions, often termed 'scholasticide,' threatens to create a lost generation, depriving Gaza of its intellectual future while compounding humanitarian crises like famine and displacement.

Despite these harrowing conditions, resilience persists. Academics continue their work under duress, often relying on sporadic internet access from neighbors or makeshift power sources. The human cost extends beyond infrastructure: scholars report psychological strain, isolation, and the erosion of their professional identities as educators and researchers.

Emergence of Virtual Fellowships as a Critical Lifeline

Amid this devastation, virtual fellowships have emerged as a beacon of hope and continuity for Gazan academics. These remote academic positions allow scholars to affiliate with international universities, gaining access to digital resources, mentorship, and professional networks without leaving Gaza. Unlike physical relocation programs, which face visa and travel barriers, virtual models provide immediate, equitable support tailored to conflict zones.

Virtual fellowships typically offer a formal title or affiliation, library database access, university email addresses, one-on-one mentorship from 'critical friends,' and participation in online workshops and seminars. Participants engage in self-directed research projects, producing outputs like papers, reports, or creative works. Funded by modest grants or institutional budgets, these programs emphasize 'material solidarity'—tangible aid that sustains scholarly life rather than symbolic gestures.

This approach draws from earlier models in refugee support and pandemic-era remote collaborations but is uniquely adapted for Gaza's siege-like conditions, prioritizing flexibility for unstable internet and prioritizing fellows' safety and input in program design.

Gaza Education Research Virtual Fellowship: A Model Initiative

The Gaza Education Research Virtual Fellowship (GERVF), launched by the University of Bristol's Centre for Comparative and International Research in Education (CIRE), stands as a pioneering example. Initiated by Dr. Basma Hajir with a $13,500 grant, it partners with Gaza's Emergency Committee of Universities, selecting fellows from IUG and Al-Aqsa University.

The inaugural cohort focused on 'scholasticide in Gaza,' exploring its multifaceted impacts. Fellows received honoraria, full digital library access, mentorship, and four professional development workshops culminating in a seminar. Learn more about GERVF's structure and goals.

These projects not only advance knowledge but also empower fellows to document Gaza's educational plight from within.

University of Exeter's Virtual Scholar Scheme: Broadening Access

Complementing GERVF, the University of Exeter's Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences runs the Virtual Scholar Scheme. This program affiliates dozens of Gazan scholars with departments, granting online resource access and event participation. Over 50 scholars span fields from education to law, including notables like Dr. Ahmed Kamal Junina and Dr. Munawwar Najim.

Benefits include departmental integration, fostering a sense of belonging. Applications involve reviewing terms and submitting via online forms, with calls reopening in summer 2026. Explore the list of current virtual scholars at Exeter.

This scheme demonstrates scalability, hosting scholars across disciplines and enabling knowledge exchange that enriches both Gazan and host communities.

Additional Programs and Collaborative Efforts

Beyond Bristol and Exeter, initiatives proliferate. Friends of Palestinian Universities (FoPU), in partnership with UCL's Social Research Institute, offers virtual research fellowships emphasizing equitable models for Gaza. Early-career researchers explore virtual engagement barriers, receiving stipends, mentorship, and networks.

Other UK institutions like the Universities of Leeds, SOAS University of London, and Liverpool provide virtual scholarships. Globally, efforts include Academic Solidarity with Palestine's online courses and webinars. These programs collectively form a patchwork safety net, prioritizing retention of academics in Gaza to prevent brain drain.

• Honoraria or stipends for living costs
• Digital library and journal access
• Mentorship pairings
• Online seminars and workshops
• Affiliation for CV enhancement

Voices from the Frontlines: Testimonials of Transformation

Gazan fellows describe these opportunities as lifelines. Dr. Ahmed K. Junina shared, "This fellowship has given me empowerment and support, academically and psychologically—a lifeline fighting to keep our voices heard." Dr. Munawwar A. Najim added, "It breaks isolation, offering recognition and academic belonging when everything else collapsed."

One scholar recounted visiting a neighbor for internet, inadvertently boosting community morale by showing academia endures. These stories underscore psychological restoration alongside professional gains, with ripple effects as fellows share skills with students via informal networks.

Dr. Basma Hajir notes the 'transformative' impact, sustaining not just careers but scholarly purpose amid famine and bombardment.

Overcoming Logistical Hurdles in Conflict Zones

Implementing virtual fellowships demands ingenuity. Unreliable electricity, intermittent internet, and safety risks necessitate adaptive communication—WhatsApp for quick updates, asynchronous workshops, and flexible deadlines. Funds route through trusted intermediaries like FoPU to bypass blockades.

Challenges include fellows' physical decline from hunger and scholars balancing survival with research. Solutions involve prioritizing well-being check-ins, hybrid outputs, and co-designing programs with Gaza's university committees.

Innovation shines in AI tools for offline access and solar-powered hubs enabling participation.

Ripple Effects: Sustaining Communities and Knowledge

Virtual fellowships extend beyond individuals. Fellows mentor peers, deliver virtual lectures, and produce outputs amplifying Gaza's narrative. Outputs on scholasticide inform global policy, while enhanced CVs position scholars for future funding.

Host universities gain fresh perspectives on crisis education, fostering mutual learning. Omar Shweiki of FoPU urges global institutions to provide material support for survival-mode teaching. Read reflections in Times Higher Education.

Future Directions: Scaling Up and Institutionalizing Support

Leaders envision annual cohorts, alumni networks, and inter-university consortia. Bristol plans embedding GERVF institutionally, while calls grow for standardized models. Long-term, hybrid elements like third-country meetings could evolve programs.

Sustainability hinges on senior buy-in, diverse funding, and alignment with strategic priorities like decolonizing curricula.

Photo by Martti Salmi on Unsplash

Call for Global Academic Action

Higher education institutions worldwide can replicate these models: start small with departmental affiliations, leverage existing grants, and partner with Gaza committees. By offering virtual fellowships, the global academy affirms education's inviolability, countering scholasticide with solidarity.

This not only aids Gaza but enriches international scholarship, proving academia's resilience in adversity.