The CSC at An-Najah National University was established in 1999 in cooperation with McGill University in Canada to provide community services grounded in professional social work principles and rooted in the values of human rights.

The center operates as a community-based institution closely connected to the local community and affiliated with the university. It relies primarily on the volunteer efforts of university students and community members. Through its programs and initiatives, the CSC seeks to empower the local community to become more organized and capable of addressing the challenges it faces,

particularly among marginalized individuals and vulnerable groups. This is achieved by engaging community members, addressing their concerns, and enabling them to become more self-reliant in solving their own problems. The center remains committed to promoting and upholding human rights through both its professional practices and the outcomes it seeks to achieve.

The CSC designs and implements community programs based on the needs of the local community while emphasizing respect for, protection of, and commitment to human rights. It also serves as a model for the relationship between the Palestinian university and the local community, reflecting the university’s philosophy and vision of community engagement. In addition, the center promotes a professional approach to community work rooted in human rights and seeks to strengthen these values within Palestinian social work institutions through partnership and coordination.

The center also works to promote a culture of volunteerism by engaging university students and community members in organized volunteer initiatives and providing partner institutions with trained and specialized volunteers. At the same time, it offers practical and theoretical training opportunities for university students, particularly those studying the humanities and social sciences.

The CSC represents a reflection of An-Najah National University’s commitment to social responsibility at both the local and international levels. It serves as a cornerstone in implementing the university’s social responsibility strategy through programs and initiatives with humanitarian, educational, environmental, and social dimensions that target the most vulnerable groups and communities in the Nablus Governorate. These initiatives directly contribute to strengthening the university’s social impact, supporting sustainability efforts, and enhancing its standing in international rankings.

The center also benefits from a broad network of community partnerships and channels student energy through community service courses and volunteer programs. It aims to move beyond individual initiatives toward a sustainable institutional model based on long-term project management, diversified funding sources, and stronger integration with the university’s academic and administrative units.

Vision

To be a leading and trusted platform that strengthens integration between the university and the community while contributing to social justice and the preservation of human dignity.

Mission

The CSC works to create meaningful and sustainable developmental impact that reflects the university’s role through long-term programs, active student engagement, and strong institutional partnerships, in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Core Values

Human Dignity: The center places human dignity at the core of its programs and initiatives and seeks to empower vulnerable groups while preserving their privacy and dignity.

Social Justice: The CSC directs its efforts toward the most underserved groups and communities in ways that promote equal opportunities and strengthen social balance.

Social Responsibility: The center reflects the university’s commitment to its national and community role through initiatives that create meaningful and sustainable impact.

Transparency and Accountability: The CSC manages its resources with integrity and efficiency and remains committed to transparency in the management of donations, partnerships, and community-focused projects.

Partnership and Integration: The center works collaboratively with civil society organizations and public and private sector institutions while promoting integration with various university units.

Sustainability: The CSC focuses on building long-term programs and income-generating initiatives that ensure the continuity and sustainability of developmental impact.

Empowerment and Initiative: The center invests in student potential and encourages initiative, leadership, and organized volunteer work that contributes to empowering the local community.

The CSC aims to:

●Strengthen and deepen the relationship between the university and the local community through direct engagement with community needs.

●Promote volunteerism in Palestinian society through a professional and institutionalized approach that moves beyond seasonal or unstructured volunteer work.

●Encourage sustainable development by investing in human potential and community participation.

● Provide humanities and social sciences students with opportunities to participate in programs connected to their academic disciplines.

● Contribute to local community development and address community needs in ways that provide a model for effective community engagement.

●Help alleviate the burdens faced by Palestinian society under challenging circumstances by strengthening community participation in social development and promoting self-reliance, enabling individuals and communities to become active contributors to their own development.