The Academic Lab Twins Program
Overview: PSSAR Lab Twins Program
The PSSAR Lab Twins Program is a groundbreaking initiative by the Palestinian Students & Scholars at Risk (PSSAR) Network. It is designed to facilitate direct, faculty-level and research-lab-level partnerships between Palestinian scholars and their Canadian counterparts. These partnerships are built on academic equality, mutual respect, and a shared belief in the power of knowledge to advance justice. At its core, the program supports co-creation in research, teaching, and mentorship—opening scholarly channels where Palestinian academic contributions are recognized, supported, and elevated within the global academic ecosystem.
Why This Program Matters
Palestinian scholars, particularly those in Gaza and the West Bank, continue to endure barriers to mobility, access, and participation in global academic discourse due to occupation, siege, and systemic neglect. The Lab Twins Program responds to this crisis not with charity, but with solidarity. It affirms that Palestinian knowledge is indispensable to global inquiry and that the academic community must act to uphold academic freedom as a universal right. It also recognizes that Canadian academia has a crucial role to play in supporting just and equitable partnerships.
Scope of Collaboration
PSSAR Lab Twins may encompass a broad and flexible range of academic collaboration, including but not limited to:
- Joint research projects and co-authored publications
- Virtual seminars, guest lectures, and colloquia
- Co-development of academic curricula and open educational resources
- Mentorship and peer exchange for faculty and graduate students
- Research advising and collaborative supervision
- Sharing of datasets, methodologies, and best practices
- Each partnership is tailored to the capacities, goals, and contexts of the participating scholars.
PSSAR Academic Lab Twins Program
Solidarity in Practice: PSSAR's Facilitative Role
PSSAR serves as the facilitator for each partnership. We match participants based on academic interest and institutional capacity, support communications, and ensure each collaboration begins with clear expectations. We co-develop a Lab Twins Agreement for each pair, monitor progress, and request short biannual reports. This active involvement ensures accountability and nurtures each Twin relationship in line with our values of equity, dignity, and scholarly care.
Scholar-to-Scholar | Lab-to-Lab | Rooted in Solidarity
The Academic Collaboration Program offers a structured platform for faculty-to-faculty engagement, focusing on:
- Joint Research and Co-Publication: Collaborative projects that promote co-authorship and knowledge exchange.
- Mentorship and Peer Exchange: Building long-term academic relationships through dialogue and support
- Virtual Seminars and Guest Lectures: Hosting Palestinian professors as guest speakers in Canadian classrooms and vice versa.
- Curriculum and Content Development: Co-developing teaching materials, course modules, and thematic content across disciplines.
- Sharing of Resources and Best Practices: Access to academic tools, open-access databases, and pedagogical strategies.
Program Expectations and Structure
To ensure effective and equitable collaborations, the following guidelines apply:
- Biannual Reporting: All partnerships are expected to submit a brief joint report every six months, summarizing activities, outcomes, and any challenges encountered.
- No Funding Required: Participation does not necessitate financial contributions from Canadian institutions at this stage.
- Mutual Guest Speaking Opportunities: Encouragement of reciprocal guest lectures between Palestinian and Canadian faculty members.
- Curriculum and Content Development: Collaborative creation of course materials and academic content is strongly encouraged.
- Sharing Best Practices: Participants should document and disseminate effective pedagogical and research practices.
- PSSAR Involvement and Acknowledgment: PSSAR must be actively involved in coordinating collaborations and should be formally acknowledged in all related outputs and communications.
Benefits for All Stakeholders
The Lab Twins Program is designed for shared growth and mutual benefit:
- Palestinian Faculty: Gain visibility, mentorship, professional networks, and publication opportunities
- Canadian Faculty: Enrich their teaching and research with global perspectives grounded in justice and human rights
- Students: Engage in transformative learning through mentorship, research opportunities, and cross-cultural dialogue
- Institutions: Reinforce their values and global partnerships in support of equity and academic freedom
Advancing Talent and Scientific Contribution
By facilitating these collaborations, the program aims to:
- Harness Underrepresented Talent: Integrate the insights and expertise of Palestinian scholars into global research endeavors.
- Expand Disciplinary Knowledge: Foster interdisciplinary research that addresses pressing global challenges.
- Promote Equitable Scholarship: Ensure that academic contributions from conflict-affected regions are recognized and valued.
Get Involved
Whether you're a university administrator, a faculty member in Palestine, or a Canadian academic interested in partnership, we invite you to participate in this initiative.
Contact us at info@pssar.ca to express interest or learn more.
Together, we can strengthen academic freedom, elevate research, and advance equity in global scholarship.
PSSAR Lab Twins Agreement
Each partnership begins with a flexible, jointly crafted Lab Twins Agreement. This document, facilitated by PSSAR, defines the goals, timeline, roles, and intended outputs of the collaboration. It also outlines expectations for engagement, reporting, and acknowledgement. Most importantly, it centers shared academic values and a commitment to just and respectful partnership. The agreement protects against imbalance while allowing adaptability and creativity.
PSSAR Lab Twins
Canada’s Role in Global Justice through Higher Education
Canada’s higher education institutions have an opportunity to lead by example. The Lab Twins Program invites Canadian faculty to take up that opportunity—not in abstraction, but in concrete partnerships that advance the public mission of education, confront injustice, and cultivate enduring ties with scholars facing ad