USIM Palestinian PhD student perseveres and triumphs in qualifying examination
SEREMBAN: Despite enduring hardships, such as the destruction of his hometown amid Israeli aggression in Gaza, Palestine, Abdullah Abuajwa, 40, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) persevered with unwavering determination and triumphed in his qualifying examination held online on Friday.
In a video shared by USIM, Abdullah, who is located in northern Gaza, appeared neatly dressed under a tent in an open area surrounded by the rubble of buildings destroyed by Zionist forces, as he sat for the examination.
The Palestinian student in the PhD programme in Human Resource Management at the Faculty of Leadership and Management, was determined to sit for the qualifying exam despite the constant risk of being bombed at any moment.
At the end of the exam session, Abdullah expressed gratitude to the faculty members, particularly the supervisory committee led by Dr. Ali Nasser Ali Al-Tahitah, who tirelessly provided moral support and guidance throughout his studies.
“I will continue until my studies are completed, no matter how difficult the circumstances. These extremely challenging conditions have made me stronger, and I will continue to pray for Allah SWT to grant me beneficial knowledge for religion and Palestine,” he said in a statement issued by USIM yesterday.
Abdallah recounted that despite the destruction of communication infrastructure in Gaza, he managed to secure an internet signal to proceed with the qualifying exam, using solar cells to charge his laptop and mobile phone.
USIM stated that Abdallah’s research focuses on the impact of digital leadership on change management in higher education institutions in Palestine.
Meanwhile, his primary supervisor, Ali Nasser, lauded Abdallah’s remarkable resilience in successfully passing the qualifying exam, enabling him to progress from the current seventh semester towards completing his PhD.
“Abdallah faced various challenges, including financial difficulties and the health issues of his child, who suffers from cerebral atrophy, all aggravated by the war in Gaza. Despite disruptions and delays Abdallah remains committed to continuing his education,” he said.
USIM said that Abdallah’s wife and three children are currently in Southern Gaza, while he and one of his children are in Northern Gaza.
His house and vehicle in Northern Gaza were also destroyed, and many of his relatives have been killed since the Israeli regime’s attacks last October.