Fieldwork and Academic Research: Palestine is a popular place for researchers, students, and professors to conduct fieldwork, due in part to the political situation which features prominently in news media at various intervals. Whether you wish to research the conflict’s impact on children, unemployment among Palestinians, water scarcity, or women’s rights, the Excellence Center in Palestine can help guide you through this process. 

The Center accommodates internationals who need assistance with research for their bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral programs. Depending on the conditions of your program, fieldwork may be a requirement for receiving your degree. In either case, having experience on the ground is a valuable asset to your studies, and one that will make you more desirable and better prepared in a competitive job market. 

While much of academia employs theory, there’s also a very real, practical component in order to build on previous analyses. Simultaneously, practice would not be possible without the theory from which to initially learn and contextualize your area of focus. If this is your first experience conducting empirical research outside the theoretical approach, don’t fret; the Center is prepared to assist both those more and less experienced in the practical application of their specialty. 

This article will cover the following topics: 

Fieldwork at the Center 

Naturally all research projects are going to have a unique, specialized focus in order to explore a new perspective, or to build upon an already existing concept. The Excellence Center encourages students from any and all disciplines to conduct their fieldwork here in Hebron or elsewhere in Palestine. Researchers will find the Center welcoming and ideal for embarking on their work, coordinating with other researchers, and meeting Palestinians to help explore and develop ideas. 

Translation 

We at the Excellence Center are fully aware that researchers may not have the linguistic ability to communicate with the local community while conducting their fieldwork. Our team is more than happy to help you in this endeavour, whether it be interpreting during interviews with Palestinians or translating documents and transcripts. 

Networking

Our staff are also able to assist researchers in identifying interview participants, connecting with local Palestinian organizations, and gathering data, among other things. This program is great for those intending to: 

• Do fieldwork in the West Bank
• Write from experience about the situation in Palestine
• Formulate their bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral thesis topic on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Research Contract

If a prospective participant wishes to receive assistance on their proposal through the Center, we ask you to inform us of your research objects and methodology, and sign the necessary agreement. 

The contract is meant to ensure the researcher abides by all ethical considerations–for instance, the AAA ethics guidelines for those studying anthropology–including those issued by the participant’s home university. Center staff are happy to provide you with a letter to support you in your application to your university’s ethics committee. Additionally, all subjects named during fieldwork shall be made anonymous, and the participant will supply the Center with their findings at the conclusion of their program. 

Work at the Center 

As a participant associated with the Excellence Center, we expect you to dedicate a small amount of your time volunteering in other programs. However, this will in no way be an impediment to your main research objectives, and may actually be a benefit to your findings. Through your work at the Center, you will quickly be incorporated into a network of Palestinians and internationals who can help you with your fieldwork and inspire your research. 

Time Off

Participants have two days off per week, and additionally receive four days’ vacation each month. During this time, you will be able to visit various historical and cultural sites throughout the region while also personally experiencing the occupation. There are also numerous universities in the West Bank you can visit in order to access their libraries and databases as your conduct your research.  

Hebron, Your Research Home-Base

During your research project, the city of Hebron will be your home-base and the Center your headquarters. Hebron is a microcosm of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as all the key practices of occupation are carried out here, making this city especially ideal and thought-provoking for those studying Israel-Palestine. 

With its strong ties to the local community in and around Hebron, the Excellence Center will provide you with a broad network to help you with your fieldwork.  

Program Benefits

This program will give you the opportunity to gain insight into one of the most politically divisive regions in the world. Participants of the Fieldwork and Academic Research Program in Palestine will be provided with:

• 12 hours of conversational Palestinian Arabic lessons for each month they participate
• Participants may choose between Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and Colloquial Arabic–either Levantine and/or Palestinian specifically
• Qualified Arabic instructors with a specialized educational background
• Accommodations with a Palestinian host family, or in a shared dorm or apartment
• Complimentary breakfast provided by the Center 6 times per week (Sat-Thur)

• Center-led visits to various sites in the city of Hebron, such as the Old City, religious sites, refugee camps, various factories and industrial hubs, etc.
• Firsthand experience of life under occupation 
• Better understanding for human rights issues pertaining to Palestine through day trips to refugee camps and Israeli settlements
• Engagement in educational and social activities
• Palestinian hospitality
• Opportunities to visit other cities such as Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Jenin, Nazareth, etc
• Certification upon completion

Trepidations?

We understand people often have reservations about traveling to the West Bank given the political state of things, but the Excellence Center is here to support you. Additionally, Palestinians themselves are very friendly, helpful, and hospitable; they’re often very eager to meet with foreigners, if not to welcome them then to strike a connection. 

All throughout the year, the Center hosts international visitors who come here to study, volunteer, intern, or simply visit. During your program, you will meet other international participants, Palestinian students and young professionals, and community members, all of whom either provide or access our services. You will have plenty of opportunities to engage with them in various Center-led educational and community activities, such as sports exercises, after-school English clubs, and visits to local historical and cultural sites. 

The Excellence Center is very cohesive, and we treat our Palestinian students and international visitors like family. With the bustling social atmosphere of Hebron and the variety of people at the Center, you will surely never feel lonely or bored. 

Getting started 

Palestine is a fruitful place for researchers of all disciplines to conduct their work, and the Excellence Center is especially happy to assist you in your endeavors while here in Palestine. 

During your time here, we can help you to identify interview participants, introduce you to local organizations, translate Arabic transcripts needed for research, and more. In order to get started, inform of us of you project ideas and research objectives; after contract details have been drafted and agreed upon, you are ready to being your adventure!

Associated Fees

The Excellence Center does not receive funds from either governmental or non-governmental organizations, thus in order to remain operational we charge participants a fee for our facilities, accommodation, and support. These fees help enable us to continue the work we do for the local Palestinian community in Hebron.

The current fee for this program is ab €400 per week, which includes pre-departure support, accommodation, breakfast, full coordination with the Center, 3 hours of Arabic instruction per week, and Center-led excursions within Hebron. 

Program Eligibility

Anyone between the ages of 18 and 75 is eligible for the Fieldwork and Academic Research Program in Palestine. Previously acquired degrees are not necessary for this program, and all majors are welcome.

Visa Process

The Palestinian Authority has the authority to administer internal Palestinian affairs within the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, however they have no power to control or regulate travel into the Territories or out through bordering countries. As such, the Palestinian Authority cannot issue visas to anyone who wants to enter Palestine, and as such participants must receive their visa from the Israeli authorities in order to be granted entry. Therefore, the Israeli government and its authorities are responsible for providing you with a tourist visa upon arrival; conversely you can also apply for a visa beforehand or through an Israeli embassy or consulate. 

Visas upon arrival are rarely denied to those travelling via the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, however if you are accessing Israel by way of the land crossings you may have more longer wait times and more hassle. After clearing customs, most citizens of the U.S. or European countries are issued tourist visas, which are valid for 90 days.

Traveling to Hebron, Palestine 

Reaching the Center in Hebron, Palestine will be a long journey, but it need not be arduous. Although there are some obstacles when traveling to Hebron, the Excellence Center in Palestine has all the resources you need to reach us in an efficient, safe, and practical manner. Please read our articles below on planning your trip, flying to Palestine, the different routes to Hebron, and Israeli and Palestinian taxi services: 

• How to fly to Palestine
• How to get to Hebron, Palestine
• Planning your trip to Palestine
• How to get from the Ben Gurion Airport (Israel) to Hebron

If you have any further inquiries about travel to Palestine, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. Our contact information can be found at the bottom of this page. 

Questions?

If you have any further questions on the Fieldwork and Academic Research Program, or if you would like to receive an application form, please write to us at Rafat@excellencenter.org with ‘Fieldwork and Academic Research Program’ in the subject. For those looking to apply, return the form to us once its completed. 

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