دور الجامعات الفلسطينية في جنوب الضفة الغربية في تنمية الوعي السياسي و نشره لدى الشباب الجامعي

الملخص EN

This study aimed at identifying the role of Palestinian Universities in the development of political awareness among young University students in Palestine and its relationship with certain variables : University, gender, place of residence and the student’s academic level.

The study used descriptive methodology and a random sample was selected from Palestinian universities in the southern part of the West Bank.

These universities were Hebron University, Palestine Polytechnic University, Al-Quds Open University, Al-Quds University and Bethlehem University.

This sample amounted to (1150) male and female students during the second semmester of the academic year 2007 / 2008.

To achieve the objective of the study, the researcher developed a questionnnaire in accordance with educational literature.

To establish the validity of the instrument, it was presented to a committee of referees who are specialiists in the field.

Reliability coefficient was computed by using Cronbach alppha which amounted to (0.90), (0.88) according to the spit-half method.

The study found that the role of the universities in developing and spreading political awareness among young University students was average.

Bethlehhem University came first in this regard, second, Hebron University, third, Al-Quds Open University, fourth, Al-Quds University, and last Palestiniian Polytechnic University.

The most prominent roles that contribute to the developing of political awareness were : offering students opportunities for holding seminars, national festivals and fairs, followed in the second place the participation of Universities in national occasions and political activities, followed in third place strengthening Palestinian identity and feeling of bellonging, followed in the fourth place consolidation of democracy through the election of students’ councils and finally offering of a compulsory course by Universities in political science and the Palestinian cause.

Meanwhile, the least prominent roles that contribute to the development of political awareness in Palestinian Universities were : encouraging youth meetings home and abroad with a mean of (1.58), encouraging academic trips to the ruined and archaeological places, looking after political detainees and providing services to them and their families, holding political seminars, linking social communication with political goals, and finally encouraging students initiatives towards politics.

Results also indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between the role of Palestinian Universities in the development of political awareness among young students from the students’ perspectives that can be attributed to the variables of University, gender, place of residence and the student’s academic level.

The study concluded with several recommendations, including providing material support to universities and attention to educating students and intereest in strengthening democratic practices in secondary schools.