At the beginning of the academic year 2003, Palestine Polytechnic University was a pioneer in initiating this specialty in the Palestinian arena, to meet the growing needs of the local and regional community in this field of engineering, and provide quality work opportunities for its graduates.

The specialty HVAC'R Engineering  is a unique program of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the College of Engineering and Technology in Palestine Polytechnic University, and has become over time a key requirement of the communities, as this specialization relies on pairing between modern man needs to live in a comfortable environment, and the technological progress that the world is witnessing in all fields, applications of refrigeration and air conditioning engineering are stretching  to cover all industrial, food, medical and other sectors .

This branch provides students with all the basic sciences in mechanical engineering, and specialized modern sciences in the field of refrigeration and air-conditioning engineering, since it is based on a set of courses that integrate with each other to produce engineers with high ability, both scientifically and practically, and qualify them to work or pursue their higher studies in various fields of specializations.

Refrigeration and air-conditioning engineering program plan includes (163) credit hours,(59) credit hours of which are specialized in the field of thermal and automatic electric control and hydraulic systems sciences, the study plan also includes about (28) credits dedicated to courses in air conditioning and refrigeration, heating, control of refrigeration and air-conditioning, mechanical services in buildings, manufacturing and food preservation technology, allowing to graduates in this specialization a wide range of distinctive work in specialized industrial sectors advisory engineering. This is in addition to courses on the use of computer and engineering software, and computer aided manufacturing.

Palestine Polytechnic University aims through specialty of refrigeration and air conditioning engineering to:

1. The graduation of qualified engineers scientifically and culturally and morally to play a key role in raising social and national technical level.
2. Provide students with all the basic sciences in mechanical engineering and specialized modern sciences in air conditioning and refrigeration engineering that include control systems.
3. Rehabilitation of students to design and analyze thermal systems and services for public and private facilities using appropriate engineering principles.
4. The provision of equal opportunities to teach mechanical engineering for both genders.
5. Rehabilitation of students with the necessary skills for the implementation of projects within the specialist and homogeneous work team.
6. Provide students with the necessary skills to communicate and self-development and scientific research.

1. Designing, performing the engineering calculations and preparing all bid documents for mechanical services systems in buildings, which include: (Air conditioning, refrigeration, ventilation, heating, sanitary installations, water, swimming pools, firefighting, cooking, heating and medical gases)
2. Preparing the necessary shop drawings and plans that show the nature, capacity and location of the systems and equipment in buildings, and preparing the programs and procedures for their installation.
3. Supervising the implementation of engineering plans on sites and following up the inspection of the completed installations and networks, and documenting their applications and compliance with approved specifications and standards.
4. Preparing plans and programs for operation and maintenance of mechanical services systems in buildings, following up their implementation and making modifications to them.
5. Providing technical supports to technicians to maintain mechanical services systems in buildings.
6. Designing, operating maintaining the refrigerating rooms and refrigeration units.
7. Preparing studies and designs to develop the use of mechanical services systems in buildings and linking them to solar energy systems, control systems, smart buildings, and follow-up on environmental and technological developments in their field.
8. Diagnostics, problem solving and finding alternative solutions in the design, installation, operation and maintenance of mechanical service systems in buildings.
9. Develop work procedures and methods based on occupational safety and health using modern technologies and follow up the development of quality systems and standards.
10. Graduate a mechanical engineer able to engage in work in hospitals, foods, pharmaceutical  factories, and departments of  various governmental institutions, including ministries, municipalities and others.

In addition to the fact that graduate of refrigeration and air conditioning engineering can pursue his postgraduate studies (Masters and PhD), he can work in many various fields which include; design and supervision of mechanical services systems in public and private enterprises, industry, as well as in the supply, installation and maintenance of mechanical services equipment for private companies. In addition to industrial, medical and general services sectors. This is clearly reflected in the high proportion of working graduates of this branch whether inside or outside home.