Riyad Hassan El Khoudary () (born July 27, 1943) is a Palestinian professor. He has been the president of Gaza University since August 1, 2020. He is the vice-chairman of the board of trustees of Al-Quds Open University in Palestine, and a member of the Palestinian Higher Council for Innovation and Excellence since March 2018.
Member of the Palestinian National Council (PNC), 1996–present
Member of the Palestinian Central Council (PCC) and member of the PLO-Executive committee, 1996–2018 Head of the Education and Higher Education Department of PLO, 2005–2018 Chairman of the board of trustees of Al-Azhar Institutions in Palestine, 2014–2016 Founder and first President of Al-Azhar University in Gaza, 1991–2005 Leader of the founding team of Gaza University; its president 2007–2010, 2013–2016, and August 2020–present Academic staff member at Tripoli University in Libya, 1972–1982 Academic staff member at the Islamic University in Gaza, 1983–1991 Being a geologist he shared strongly on the Middle East Multilateral peace talks and headed the Palestinian delegation in the working group on water resources, 1992–present PhD in Geology from the University of Stuttgart – Germany in 1972; professor degree from the Islamic University in Gaza in 1985
Childhood and education
Riyad Hassan El Khoudary was born in 1943 in Gaza City, then in the British mandate of Palestine, where he attended primary, preparatory, and secondary schools, and completed his secondary school education in June 1960. In September 1960, he moved to Egypt and studied Geology at the Faculty of Science of the University of Cairo. He earned his B.Sc., special degree in geology in June 1964.
In 1965 he was awarded a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for postgraduate studies in geology. Subsequently, he went to Germany in the summer of 1965, studied German language for six months and then started his postgraduate studies. In December 1968 he earned his M.Sc. in Geology, and in August 1972 he earned his PhD in the same field from the University of Stuttgart. The title of his published doctoral dissertation was "Investigations in the Upper Jurassic of the Iberian Cordillera with special regard to the Micro fauna (Province of Teruel and Rincon de Ademuz)".
Academic and professional career
Al Fateh University – Tripoli
After earning his PhD in Geology from the University of Stuttgart in August 1972, El Khoudary moved subsequently to Libya to work as a lecturer at the Faculty of Petroleum & Mining Engg. of Al Fateh University in Tripoli and stayed at that university until the summer of 1983.
During this period he shared strongly on the establishment and development of the Geological & Geophysical Engg. Department, and was named as the head of the department, serving from 1979 to 1983. Beside his teaching activities he devoted some of his time to research and publish papers, and to write books in his field of specialization.
During his stay in Tripoli and depending on his academic, research and establishing services he was promoted to assistant professor in April 1976, and to associate professor in August 1979.
Islamic University – Gaza
In 1983 El Khoudary returned to Gaza to work at the faculty of Science of the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG).
Beside his teaching activities he was charged with the following administrative positions: Vice president for administrative affairs, Jan. 1984 – Dec. 1985, Oct. 1987 – Oct. 1989 Vice president of scientific research, Dec. 1989 – Nov. 1990 Dean of the faculty of Science, Dec. 1985 – Oct. 1987
He also published some papers, and was promoted to full professor in 1986.
Al-Azhar University – Gaza
In 1991 the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leadership in Tunisia decided to establish a national university in the Gaza Strip (Al-Azhar University - Gaza). El Khoudary headed the team of preparation and establishment of the new university in Gaza, and was its first president from 1991 to 2005.
During this time, El Khoudary and his colleagues established a modern university with about 14,000 students studying in nine faculties in addition to other facilities and centers.
In 1995 El Khoudary established and headed the Water Research Center at the university until 2005.
Al-Quds Open University
1992 saw the establishment of Al-Quds Open University in the West bank and Gaza. El Khoudary was charged with the establishment of the branch of Gaza and was named as its vice president for Gaza Strip affairs until December 1999. In March 2006 El Khoudary was assigned as the Vice Chairman of the board of trustees of Al-Quds Open University of Palestine.