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جامعة بيت لحم | |
 | |
| Motto | Indivisa Manent Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1 October 1973 |
Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic De La Salle Brothers |
Academic affiliations | ACCU UNIMED International Association of Lasallian Universities (IALU) |
| Chancellor | Most Rev. MonsignorAdolfo Tito Yllana |
| Vice-Chancellor | BrotherHéctor Hernán Santos GonzálezFSC, PhD |
Administrative staff | c. 409 |
| Undergraduates | 5000 (fall 2023) |
| Location | , |
| Website | www |
 | |
Bethlehem University (Arabic:جامعة بيت لحم) is aCatholic university located in the city ofBethlehem, in theWest Bank,Palestine.[1]
Established shortly before the outbreak of theYom Kippur War in 1973,[1] the university traces its roots to 1893, when theDe La Salle Brothers opened schools inBethlehem,Jerusalem,Jaffa, andNazareth, along with others inTurkey,Lebanon,Jordan, andEgypt; and to 1964'sPope Paul VI's visit to theHoly Land in which he promised thePalestinian people a university, a centre for Ecumenical Studies (Tantur Ecumenical Institute), and a school for children with special educational needs (Effetá Paul VI School).
As of 2025[update], Bethlehem University is the first established university in Palestine and the onlyCatholic university in the Holy Land (excluding seminary schools and theological or biblical institutes).[1] It continues to be a joint project supported by the Vatican and run by the De La Salle Brothers.
In 2017 thePalestine Museum of Natural History opened on the campus; it is closely linked to the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability.[2][3]
Bethlehem University students are predominantlyMuslim (~75%) and female (~78%), withChristians representing ~25% of the students.[4]
All religious groups are welcome at the university, which currently counts among its students Christians of many different denominations includingGreek Orthodox,Roman Catholic,Lutheran,Anglican,Russian Orthodox,Syriac Orthodox,Greek Catholic, and others.
Media related toBethlehem University at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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31°42′53.50″N35°11′55.0″E / 31.7148611°N 35.198611°E /31.7148611; 35.198611
