From Gaza to Venice, Ca' Foscari Welcomes Two Palestinian Visiting Scholars
The war has inflicted a severe blow on academic life in Gaza, with the destruction of the entire Palestinian education system, starting with the universities.
Two lecturers from Al-Aqsa University – the largest public university in Palestine, now destroyed by Israeli airstrikes – were able to reach Venice for a period of research and teaching at Ca’ Foscari. Since October, Alaedin Alsayed, Associate Professor of Human Resource Management, and Mahmoud Abu Aisha, Assistant Professor of Business Administration, have been Visiting Scholars in the Department of Asian and North African Studies, under the supervision of Professor Simone Sibilio.
Professor Alsayed, former Dean of the Faculty of Management and Finance at Al-Aqsa University, centres his research on developing the skills necessary to bridge the gap between education and the labour market, driven by the conviction that “education fulfills its true purpose only when it empowers individuals to make a difference in their communities.” His work also investigates how organizations can preserve and enhance employee competencies in the workplace and leadership styles.
Professor Abu Aisha is the former Coordinator of International Relations at Al-Aqsa University and has always felt like he was “born to be both an academic and a researcher.” After his university was destroyed and the conflict forced him to interrupt his research, he chose to resume his work at Ca’ Foscari, investigating innovation.
Both scholars will also participate in teaching activities with students, sharing their professional and personal experiences.
Their presence at Ca’ Foscari is part of a broader framework of collaboration and support for the Palestinian people. Thanks to the IUPALS project – Italian Universities for Palestinian Students, launched by the Conference of Italian University Rectors – and with the support of Ca’ Foscari, students Silvia Al Ama and Yazan Slaila will be able to complete their Master’s degree programmes at our university.
For the two new Visiting Scholars, Alsayed and Abu Aisha, this experience means much more than an academic interlude: it is a chance to continue their work in a safe environment, and to keep alive the voice of a university community marked by loss and suffering.
What led you to choose Ca’ Foscari University as your host institution? What kind of activities or projects will you be involved in during your time here?
Alsayed: My choice of Ca’ Foscari University was deliberate and heartfelt. I first visited the university three years ago for a short stay, and that brief encounter was enough to convince me that this is where I belong. Honestly, at Ca’ Foscari I found a community that blends academic excellence with human warmth, where collaboration and respect go hand in hand.
During my visit period, I plan to focus on three main areas: First, intensive research work, producing rigorous studies that make full use of Ca’ Foscari’s exceptional academic resources. Second, academic engagement, through teaching, mentoring, and collaborating with students and colleagues. Third, workshops, seminars and outreach activities, all within and beyond the university, to promote research skills, academic ambition, and awareness of the educational and human situation in Gaza.
Abu Aisha: I have adored Ca' Foscari University ever since I recognised its vibrant educational environment, via an invitation by Professor Simone Sibilio to conduct lectures at the University. I felt the need to rescue my academic and research career and Ca' Foscari University was the most appropriate decision.
Frankly, the projects and research I will implement at Ca' Foscari University are the ones which the Gaza war has prevented me from conducting at Alaqsa University in Gaza, as it has been destroyed by the Israeli army. I feel a great passion to carry on my research and projects here in Italy, as I have revolutionary projects and valuable research ideas. Furthermore, I will teach the students of the Department of Asian and North African Studies and of the Venice School of Management.
What were your first impressions of Venice — the city itself, the university, and the department?
Alsayed: Indeed, Venice is not simply a city, I feel it is like a poem, a wonderful place where history, beauty, and humanity are embraced. Therefore, when I first came to Ca’ Foscari three years ago, the visit was brief, yet it left a profound mark on me. I knew I wanted to return, not as a short time visitor, but as part of its academic family. I did, and I am proud of that. To me, what makes Ca’ Foscari special is not only its reputation but also its deeply human spirit. My colleagues welcomed me with sincere kindness and warm smiles that made me feel at home immediately. Furthermore, I can obviously observe a unique sense of teamwork and mutual respect that defines the entire institution.
Venice in particular is another story: every bridge, every canal, every reflection tells a story. Its people are kind, cooperative and open hearted, embodying the generosity of the Italian spirit. Saying the truth, even after a month here, I can honestly say that I have never felt like a stranger. If I had to choose again, I would still choose Venice again and again.
Abu Aisha: Once I arrived in Venice I was fascinated, I found it pulsates with a rich history, a rooted civilisation and friendly people. I also think that I'm lucky to work within Ca' Foscari University's campus, as I have found it has an excellent academic reputation which, in addition to its location, makes it an international University. Indeed, the University is a great one to enroll in and I was shocked by the great warm welcome from the staff of the two departments I'm working in. They are so helpful and kind, they have merciful hearts. They make me totally assured that there are always good people who, even in the darkness of war, can rescue you. Even all the other staff members who helped me are exactly like that, good people.
In this terrible moment for Palestine, what does it mean to you personally to have access to an opportunity like this?
Alsayed: Well, being here at such a painful time for Palestine carries profound meaning. It simply and easily gives me an opportunity for life itself, a passage from fear and devastation to safety and hope.
This is not only an academic experience, but rather a journey of survival and rebirth, after enduring unimaginable hardship in Gaza. In Italy, and especially in Venice, I have regained my faith in humanity and rediscovered my passion for knowledge and teaching. Yet my joy remains incomplete, because my family is still in Gaza, facing danger and uncertainty every day.I live between gratitude for my safety and sorrow for their suffering. My peace will only be complete when they are safe too.
Abu Aisha: It is exactly - without overreaction - like a hero has rescued me from the rubble of Gaza and flown me to Hope in Venice, where I can resume my academic and research career.
What do you hope to share with or convey to the people you'll meet here in Venice? What would you like them to know about your country and your experience?
Alsayed: I couldn't find enough words to carry a message expressing my gratitude, love and respect toward the people of Venice and to Italy. You Italians have shown me that goodness still exists in this world. In your compassion, your solidarity, and even your sincere tears, I have seen the true meaning of humanity. Ca’ Foscari University has played an inspiring role in presenting the truthful and just image of Palestine, and in promoting values of justice, solidarity, and real human dignity. Your support goes beyond academia, it is a moral and humanitarian stance that speaks to the noblest aspects of the Italian spirit. Therefore, my message from my heart, can be summarized in three points, first, you are partners in Palestine. It is not ours alone; it is a symbol of faith, justice, and human resilience. Standing with us means standing with humanity itself, and thus, you deserve to be a part of Palestine. Second, your compassion makes a difference, your voices have reached beyond borders. Because of your solidarity, some of us were able to reach safety in Venice even during the war, like what happened to me. I ask you to keep speaking up, so that our families and children may also find safety. In the end, my experience in Venice has been one of achievement, serenity, and renewed humanity. It reminded me that the world still holds light, and that the seeds of solidarity you have planted are already beginning to grow.
Abu Aisha: My Palestinian people and I are exactly like you, where we adore life and love each other. We are also peace seekers with all the world, we refuse violence and at the same time we can't give up our rights. The war has been making us cry a lot, our tears don't stop pouring. The war was unimaginable, we literally encountered all types of suffering. Even I suffered a lot to secure a loaf of bread for my son and my daughter. I can't forget how me, my son, my daughter and my wife used to hug each other wishing we would not be the destination while hearing the sound of the Israeli missiles on their way to kill Gazans. Unfortunately, we hoped for that a lot.
The arrival of Prof. Alsayed and Prof. Abu Aisha was made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Ministry of Universities and Research, led by Minister Anna Maria Bernini; the Crisis Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, led by Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani; the Italian Ambassador to Amman; the Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem; the Italian Civil Protection and the European Civil Protection Mechanism; the Guardia di Finanza; the Custody of the Holy Land and the John Paul II Foundation; and the CRUI – Conference of Italian University Rectors.
