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The creation of a Ministry for Higher Education (www.mohe.gov.ps) and the passing of the “Higher Education Law” (Law No. 11 / 1998) by the PLC are positive signs for the encouragement of higher education in Palestine . Table 5 shows that there are 11 major universities, 5 university colleges, and 26 community colleges in the Palestinian Territories . There are seven major public universities, one major private university, and one governmental university in the WB. In addition, there are numerous colleges. In the GS there are two major public universities in addition to few colleges.
Palestinian universities offer degrees in social sciences, physical sciences, engineering, humanities and arts, law, media, business administration, pharmacy, and medicine. All of the major universities offer numerous masters’ programs. The university curriculums are American oriented (the Birzeit University is the closest because most of its faculty members are American educated). The “credit hour” system is used by most Palestinian universities. Degrees which are offered by the major Palestinian universities are recognized regionally (by the “Association of Arab Universities”) and internationally (by most Western countries).
Table 5
Universities and Colleges in the PalestinianTerritories
|
Public |
Private |
Government |
Student Enrollment |
Universities |
8 |
1 |
2 |
83,384 |
University Colleges |
2 (UN) |
-- |
3 |
971 |
Community Colleges |
12 + 2 (UN) |
5 |
7 |
5,313 |
Total |
24 |
6 |
12 |
89,668 |
Source: The Ministry of Higher Education @ www.mohe.gov.ps
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