Hometown: Deir Al-Balah - Gaza Strip

Research Interests: International Education and Cultural Exchange, Peacebuilding, Social Change, and Youth Development

Anas graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza with a degree in English and Education. During and after his undergraduate time, Anas volunteered and worked at various local and international nonprofits in the fields of international education, human rights, and youth empowerment. Based on these experiences, Anas went on to complete an MSc in Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding at Durham University, UK, where he conducted his dissertation research on professionalization of peacebuilding as a field of academic study and of professional service. He diversified his academic knowledge by studying displacement, development, diplomacy, and, through a field course in South Africa, post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruction. As a MAAS student, Anas is intent on exploring these topics further in the particular context of the Arab world. Specifically, he is interested in scoping the current engagement and unexplored potential of Arab higher education in localizing knowledge, development, and peacebuilding. Anas has been awarded several scholarships in Palestine, Jordan, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S. His latest award is the Pedro Arrupe Scholarship for Peace, which has generously provided support for his MAAS degree. Anas is a keen music listener and frequently blogs about education, civil peace, and global citizenship.