The Strategy of Addressing the Variance Between the Outputs of Higher Education and the Needs of the Labor Market in Palestine (ICT sector) in Light of National and International Strategic Perspectives رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

This study objective was to assess the strategy of addressing the variance between the outputs of higher education and the needs of the labor market in Palestine (ICT sector) in light of national and international strategic perspective. It is a qualitative study which was conducted in two phases using Semi-structured interview for both of them. The first phase aimed to examine the gap between the outputs of higher education and the needs of the labor market in the ICT sector. The interviews included 6 ICT academic supervisors and 15 fresh graduates or expected graduates in 4 local universities, 4 ICT companies, in addition to the chairman of (PITA). The results of this phase revealed the existence of the gap, which is caused by: The weakness of updating the curricula, tools and programs in universities in line with the continuous development of ICT labor market, the weakness of the Palestinian ICT market to meet the global trends and poor coordination with the higher education institutions, and students' weakness regarding the skills needed by labor market. In the second phase, the results of the first phase were presented to the decision-makers in each of: MNE, MOHE, MOL and the MTICT. Policies and strategies of these institutions were discussed. Among the most important findings are the following: There is no clear strategic thinking regarding ICT sector by policy makers, lack of comprehensiveness integrated strategic plans for this sector, poor coordination between all stakeholders, weak formation of the HEC as there is no representation for the most important institutions in it, the accreditation and quality assurance system for higher education institutions is conventional, weakness and fragility of the labor market as a result of the chaotic situation and the absence of laws to regulate it, in addition to the lack of in-depth statistics and studies whether for ICT higher education or for ICT labor market. The study concluded several recommendations, the most important of which are: Develop a strategic thinking about the future of ICT sector in Palestine, embrace the ICT sector as a priority on the national policy agenda as a vital sector to enhance the economical and societal development, re-structure HEC and engage the ICT sector as a permanent and essential part of it, establish units in the MOL to study, analyze the labor market and monitor its trends and needs according to the active productive sectors (i.e. ICT sector), review the accreditation and quality mechanisms of ICT programs. At the end, the researcher proposed an outline for a strategy is for ICT sector.