February 16, 2004, Dr. Niall Holohan, Head of the Representative Office of Ireland, visited Bethlehem University, accompanied by Stephen Lister and Trish Silkin, both Principal Consultants to Ireland Aid. Bethlehem University is a recipient of continuous assistance from Ireland Aid since 1988.

The aim of the visit was to evaluate all the funded programs and to draw recommendations for future cooperation in Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Midwifery, Neonatal Nursing, Emergency Nursing, Public Administration, Early Childhood Development, and Water.

Brother Vincent Malham, President-Vice Chancellor, met with the visiting delegation, and gave an overview of the challenges and accomplishments given the financial difficulties the University is facing.

Brother Fergus McArdle, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Mr. Sami El-Youssef, Vice President for Finances and Planning, discussed various components of the Ireland Aid grant to Bethlehem University. Experts from the various faculties met with the guests and spoke about their respective grants.

Bethlehem University is exerting tremendous effort to ensure implementation of its various programs funded by Ireland Aid. The University is extending its Occupational Therapy Program to Gaza. Nursing students from besieged areas have come to Bethlehem University for a two-week crash course and then went back to their various localities. At the same time the University is looking for ways to improve its student access to training in hospitals, now that trainees are facing considerable difficulty reaching hospitals in Jerusalem and Ramallah. Members of the Faculty of Education are visiting the refugee camps and villages.