Palestinian universities, the labor market, and duplicate specializations

Anyone who follows advertisements and campaigns during these days will notice that there is intense competition between the universities, colleges and various educational institutes in our country, and that these institutions have begun focused campaigns to attract those who will pass the Tawjihi exam. It is clear from the low level of acceptance rates announced in the past and announced by higher education institutions in our country, the extent of the intense competition to attract students, and thus obtain the largest possible number of male and female students who constitute more than two-thirds of the total number of students, and thus obtain the tuition fees that it collects from them. Among them, they pay, without paying much attention to the type or quality of education, or the nature of the specialization needed by the labor market in our country.

It has become clear that these tuition fees, despite the decline in the level and quality of higher education in our country, and despite the deteriorating economic and social conditions, are rising regularly and continuously, and it has become uncommon to start the new academic year in Palestinian universities without problems, misunderstandings, or strikes occurring. The reason is raising tuition fees. In many cases, studies are suspended for long periods, until confrontations occur between students and university administrations, and they are closed. Universities have become essentially dependent for their survival on the tuition fees collected from students.

At the same time, and these days, tens of thousands of graduates are rejoicing in leaving their studies, finishing university or college life, and embarking on the reality of life, as Palestinian higher education institutions these days have begun graduation procedures for holders of various certificates and in various specializations, and of course graduates have the right To rejoice after finishing fatigue and suffering of all kinds, but with the end of the momentum of celebration, and after a period of research, the graduates discover what the possibilities and opportunities are, the nature of the market’s needs and the scarcity of its capabilities, and they begin to experience and coexist with unemployment and with the high unemployment rates that rise on a steady annual basis. In our country.

It is known that one of the main goals of higher education institutions in the world, and our country is supposed to be among them, is to contribute to meeting the needs of society and covering the various shortcomings, by supplying the various sectors, from the public sector, the private sector, companies and institutions, with educated or trained hands, in order to build Development and progress. Therefore, the philosophy and goals of higher education are supposed to intertwine with the needs of society through its various sectors. Society supports higher education and higher education provides society with what it needs of trained, educated hands who can acquire management and leadership skills.

Without a doubt, the Palestinian higher education institutions, with the level of their various degrees, from diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, and some doctoral specializations, and the diverse specializations they contain, from sociology to engineering, pharmacy, medicine, science, literature, and even education, which we find repeated in most Palestinian universities, are the main body that It bears responsibility for the deterioration and decline of this situation, in terms of weak planning and guidance and not focusing as a priority on quality or the interest of the student, by linking it to the needs of society.

According to the available figures, a large percentage of graduates, and thus of the unemployed, are Palestinian women, and this demonstrates the depth of the tragedy that educated Palestinian women are experiencing, knowing that the percentage of female graduate students in most Palestinian universities exceeds 65%, but the percentage of women’s participation in The labor market in our country still does not exceed 18% only, and I do not know how much this percentage is for female graduates from higher education institutions only, or from specializations repeated in the majority of universities in our country.

With the intensification of competition campaigns between higher education institutions in our country for students, and therefore for tuition, and in the midst of the continuing rise in the costs of higher education, would it not be better for Palestinian universities to develop strategic investment plans and establish their own investment funds, achieving a financial return that contributes to filling their financial deficit? Wouldn’t it also be better for it to build relationships and links with the Palestinian private sector, relationships that achieve mutual benefit for both parties and link specializations and graduates with the labor markets in our country, and the private sector is the most important employer for it? Wouldn’t it also be better to rationalize expenses and even close specializations whose presence has become a financial and social burden, and has become Unemployment rates among its graduates exceed 80% cumulatively, with investment in it useless for the graduate and for society.

After a period of research, graduates discover what the possibilities and opportunities are, the nature of the market’s needs and the scarcity of its capabilities, and they begin to experience and live with unemployment.