In a remarkable international achievement, student Rawan Jamalan from the Energy and Environmental Engineering program and student Ahmad Assaf from the Mechatronics Engineering program, both under the supervision of Dr. Mohammad Abu Obaia from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at An-Najah National University, clinched first place in the “Food Preservation” category at the seventh edition of the “Arab StarPack” student competition held in Cairo.
This prestigious win follows their first-place victory in the student category at the Palestine Packaging Competition on March 20, 2023. The event took place at the Business Development and Prosperity Center in Jericho, attended by the Japanese Ambassador to Palestine, Yoichi Nakashima, and supported by the Palestinian Center for Business Development and Prosperity and the Palestinian Federation of Paper and Packaging Industries.
Their award-winning design, titled “Baraka,” stands out for its deep connection to Palestinian heritage spanning thousands of years. Inspired by the Quranic verse, “A blessed tree, an olive, neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil almost lights up, even if untouched by fire,” the design innovatively preserves olive oil’s flavor and quality. It also reflects Palestinian culture, adds aesthetic value to homes, and promotes a better environment. The design utilizes wood and glass, making it sustainable and easily recyclable. Moreover, it creates job opportunities for artisans and farmers while ensuring consumer health by protecting against plastic contamination. The product embodies Palestine’s historical legacy since the Roman era and instills pride in its heritage among those involved in its production, while being easily marketable due to the annual availability of Palestinian olives and oil.
The “Arab StarPack” competition is a regional Arab contest specializing in sustainable packaging design, with participation from all Arab countries. This year’s competition saw 602 students from various Arab nations competing in three categories: graphic packaging design, structural design, and food preservation. The grand ceremony, organized by the Lebanese Packaging Center (LibanPack) and led by Soha Atallah, Deputy Director of the World Packaging Organization, took place in Cairo, Egypt, from May 27 to 28, 2024. The event also featured Ali Badran representing UNIDO, who honored the winning students from An-Najah National University, Palestine.
This achievement is a source of pride and a new challenge for the students of An-Najah National University, despite the difficult circumstances faced by the Palestinian people.
