Khodori Institute, Tulkarm
Encyclopedia
Khodori Institute is an agricultural college located in Tulkarm
, in the northern West Bank
. The college was inaugurated in 1930 after the British Government had received a bequest from the Iraq
i born Jewish philanthropist
Sir Ellis Kadoorie. The college was named in his honour and still bears his name. The Agricultural college came under the authority of the Government of the British Mandate and was supervised by the Department of Agriculture. In addition to the agricultural land the college included; cattle, sheep and chicken farms. The agricultural school played an important role in providing the Palestinian agricultural sector with technicians in various fields of agriculture. Due to the position of the 1948 Armistice line the college lost most of its agricultural land in the 1948 Arab Israeli war.
During the period of Jordanian administration the agricultural school was transformed into Technical Agricultural Institute offering an associate degree (Diploma) in all agricultural sciences until 1967. After the 1967 Six day war the importance of the college to agriculture in the West Bank declined, with deterioration of the farm buildings. The college was then transformed from an Agricultural based Institute to a college with an industrial based emphasis.
At the beginning of the peace process and following the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority
(PNA), there was a rejuvenation of the agricultural aspect of the college, through both governmental and non-governmental funding. An Italian organization in cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the Land Research Centre (LRC) set about repairing the dilapidated cattle farm. This initiative also encompassed the establishment of an information and agricultural advisory centre.
The Khadouri family has funded the construction of a new science wing for the college.
In early 2007 the college was granted the status of a university. It was accrideted officially on 30 August 2007 as Palestine Technical University- Kadorie. This was announced officially by its Dean and acting president Dr. Mutasim Babaa' on September 1st 2007. Parts of Khodori College land is now affiliated to the An-Najah National University
in Nablus
. This part includes faculty of agriculture and faculty of Veteran. With a grant from the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees a pilot project for the design, construction and operation of a biogas digester was erected at Khadori College, Energy Research Centre (ERC) of An-Najah National University provided technical assistance, supervision and valuation of results.
i born Jewish philanthropist
Sir Ellis Kadoorie, who died in the British colony of Hong Kong
in 1922. Kadoorie contributed 1,000,000 British Pounds. However, when Kadoorie's testament was read it became clear that the Yishuv
would not inherit the money - the government of Britain would - and that Kadoorie ordered in his testament to invest the money either in Palestine
or in Iraq
. Initially an agricultural school was built in Tulkarm. This opened in 1930 with an English principal; the school had the character of a British colonial institution. Soon after many institutions and leaders of the Yishuv made a petition to Herbert Samuel
for the establishment of a Jewish school. The British authorities endorsed the idea of a Jewish Palestinian agricultural school similar to the Arab Palestinian school in Tulkarm. The foundations for the second school were laid down in 1931 at Um J’abal, next to the village of Kfar Tavor
and the Jewish Kadoorie Agricultural High School was opened in 1933.
Tulkarm
Tulkarem or Tulkarm is a Palestinian city in the northern Samarian mountain range in the Tulkarm Governorate in the extreme northwestern West Bank adjacent to the Netanya and Haifa districts to the west, the Nablus and Jenin Districts to the east...
, in the northern West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
. The college was inaugurated in 1930 after the British Government had received a bequest from the Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i born Jewish philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
Sir Ellis Kadoorie. The college was named in his honour and still bears his name. The Agricultural college came under the authority of the Government of the British Mandate and was supervised by the Department of Agriculture. In addition to the agricultural land the college included; cattle, sheep and chicken farms. The agricultural school played an important role in providing the Palestinian agricultural sector with technicians in various fields of agriculture. Due to the position of the 1948 Armistice line the college lost most of its agricultural land in the 1948 Arab Israeli war.
During the period of Jordanian administration the agricultural school was transformed into Technical Agricultural Institute offering an associate degree (Diploma) in all agricultural sciences until 1967. After the 1967 Six day war the importance of the college to agriculture in the West Bank declined, with deterioration of the farm buildings. The college was then transformed from an Agricultural based Institute to a college with an industrial based emphasis.
At the beginning of the peace process and following the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority
Palestinian National Authority
The Palestinian Authority is the administrative organization established to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip...
(PNA), there was a rejuvenation of the agricultural aspect of the college, through both governmental and non-governmental funding. An Italian organization in cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the Land Research Centre (LRC) set about repairing the dilapidated cattle farm. This initiative also encompassed the establishment of an information and agricultural advisory centre.
The Khadouri family has funded the construction of a new science wing for the college.
In early 2007 the college was granted the status of a university. It was accrideted officially on 30 August 2007 as Palestine Technical University- Kadorie. This was announced officially by its Dean and acting president Dr. Mutasim Babaa' on September 1st 2007. Parts of Khodori College land is now affiliated to the An-Najah National University
An-Najah National University
An-Najah National University is a Palestinian non-governmental public university governed by a board of Trustees. It is located in Nablus, in the northern West Bank. The university has over 16,500 students and 300 professors in 19 faculties...
in Nablus
Nablus
Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the...
. This part includes faculty of agriculture and faculty of Veteran. With a grant from the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees a pilot project for the design, construction and operation of a biogas digester was erected at Khadori College, Energy Research Centre (ERC) of An-Najah National University provided technical assistance, supervision and valuation of results.
Education under occupation
The routine of the Khodori Institute has suffered under the Israeli occupation of the West Bank but the staff of the institute have adapted techniques to get around curfews enabling the Khodori institute to produce a high grade of student despite the many interruptions.2 Agricultural Institutes
"Khodori" is one of two of agricultural schools founded as agricultural schools by the British during the League of nations mandate of Palestine with contributions from a bequest of the IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i born Jewish philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
Sir Ellis Kadoorie, who died in the British colony of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 1922. Kadoorie contributed 1,000,000 British Pounds. However, when Kadoorie's testament was read it became clear that the Yishuv
Yishuv
The Yishuv or Ha-Yishuv is the term referring to the body of Jewish residents in Palestine before the establishment of the State of Israel...
would not inherit the money - the government of Britain would - and that Kadoorie ordered in his testament to invest the money either in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
or in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Initially an agricultural school was built in Tulkarm. This opened in 1930 with an English principal; the school had the character of a British colonial institution. Soon after many institutions and leaders of the Yishuv made a petition to Herbert Samuel
Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel
Herbert Louis Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel GCB OM GBE PC was a British politician and diplomat.-Early years:...
for the establishment of a Jewish school. The British authorities endorsed the idea of a Jewish Palestinian agricultural school similar to the Arab Palestinian school in Tulkarm. The foundations for the second school were laid down in 1931 at Um J’abal, next to the village of Kfar Tavor
Kfar Tavor
-External links:*...
and the Jewish Kadoorie Agricultural High School was opened in 1933.