This appointment crowns an outstanding academic career, as Dr. Beshtawi has been selected among a highly limited group of international scholars and experts to contribute to the design of scientific programs, review academic initiatives, and develop reference frameworks that govern optometry education and professional practice according to the highest international standards. This selection reflects global confidence in her academic expertise and her leadership role in advancing optometric education.

The World Council of Optometry, established in 1927, is a non-profit international organization whose membership includes academic and professional institutions, regulatory bodies, and individuals from over one hundred countries. The Council plays a pivotal role in promoting evidence-based professional practice, developing optometry education policies, and integrating eye care into primary health care systems worldwide.

This achievement also carries an institutional dimension, as An-Najah National University has been a member of the World Council of Optometry since 2005, thanks to pioneering efforts led by Dr. Kherieh Rassas, Vice President for Global Partnerships and Initiatives and President of the Union of Mediterranean Universities (UNIMED). Her efforts have strengthened the university’s international presence and enabled its staff to actively participate in global initiatives and programs.

Dr. Beshtawi’s appointment represents a strategic advancement that highlights the capacity of Palestinian academics to compete at international forums and underscores their tangible contribution to the development of optometry education and professional practice at both regional and global levels.

An-Najah National University expressed its pride in this remarkable achievement, noting that Dr. Beshtawi’s membership on the Scientific Committee of the World Council of Optometry embodies the university’s academic excellence and reflects its ongoing support for staff engagement in international scientific institutions, thereby enhancing Palestine’s academic and professional visibility on the global stage.