ICP provides equitable access to quality education, sustainable developmental interventions, and trainings in a variety of fields to the Palestinian community, in order to realize its full potential. The Institute for Community Partnership (ICP) at Bethlehem University was founded in 1989 (originally named Business Development Center) as one of the community-service extension units of Bethlehem Un
iversity. The Institute is an integral unit of the University which undertakes the responsibility of strengthening the ties between the University and the Palestinian community by enriching and developing the entire Palestinian community through identifying emerging developmental needs and responding to them through different service programs. To ensure that projects are implemented in complete harmony and under strategic sustainable programs, ICP established centers of excellenceas well as sustainable units that can accumulate experience and enhance services. The centers are:
* The Fair Trade Development Center (FTDC) is Bethlehem University's extended development arm to vulnerable small scale producers and farmers. The FTDC was founded in 2006 with the purpose of enhancing awareness of Fair Trade as an effective socioeconomic and development tool especially targeting small scale producers and farmers. To maximize the benefits, the FTDC has established strong and fruitful partnerships with esteemed national and international NGOs with diversified specializations to arrive together at "well designed and comprehensive" development programs.
* The Continuing Education Center (CEC) is committed to contributing to the building of a cadre of skilled personnel through the high-quality training and development programs it offers. The CEC programs are designed to suit the specific needs and requirements of the target group, and a proper Training Needs Assessment (TNA) is conducted prior to the start of a training program. Some of the areas that the training programs cover are: managerial skills, leadership skills, public speaking, marketing skills, project cycle management, public administration, fundraising and proposal writing, information technology, democracy, policy, and community development. Programs can include seminars, workshops, short and long training courses, diploma programs, etc. One of the star programs implemented by the CEC is the Professional Diploma Program in Public Administration which works to target Palestinian public sector managers.
* The Media Education Center (MEC) is an initiative launched by the ICP in June 2008 to invest its resources for the benefit of the Palestinian teachers, students, parents and media professionals by providing them with knowledge and training in the field of media education. Since 2003, Bethlehem University and the ICP have made tremendous efforts to develop and enhance media education and literacy in Palestine. Developing a finely equipped Digital Media Center, organizing training courses in citizen media skills, organizing training programs for school children and their teachers in media education theory and applications, and organizing and conducting Media Summer camps are a few examples. These efforts led to the establishment of the MEC, which is foreseen to become a leading center for media education in Palestine. One of the main projects of MEC is the development of a Media Education Kit that will help raise awareness of media education among the Palestinian youth.
* The La Salle center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (LCEI) is an initiative launched by the ICP to invest its resources for the benefit of the university graduates. It supplies graduates with the proper preparation in new-business development and management by providing the enabling environment to innovate. The center aims at promoting entrepreneurship and new business start-ups among university graduates as a means for economical development and job creation.
