Two grants have recently been made to the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC), which has also just announced the award of a scholarship to a student from the Islamic University of Gaza.
Jeff Feltman, assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs and Jill Shaunfield, vice chair of the MEDRC Executive Council confirmed a 2011 grant contribution of US$ 400,000 to be provided to Oman-based MEDRC.
Shinichi Yamanaka, counselor of the Japanese embassy in Oman, visited MEDRC on 22 October 2011. He stated that the government of Japan would make a financial contribution to MEDRC in 2011 of US$ 65,300.
The MEDRC-Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) Center of Excellence in Desalination & Water Reuse announced an Msc Scholarship Award to Samer El Namara for participation in the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) Masters Program
His masters thesis research is entitled Applying Value Engineering Concept in Project Life Cycle Case Study: Deir El Balah Desalination Plant. The IUG supervisor responsible for the scholar was Dr Sawalhi Nabil, Construction Management, University of Salford, Manchester, UK.
The MEDRC-PWA CoE Scholarship Program offers students in Gaza and the West Bank the opportunity to study at local universities in the field of water management, desalination and reuse. The aim of the program is to allow students to gain skills and expertise to make a long-term contribution to the further development in desalination and water reuse activities for Gaza and the West Bank.