A Proposed Strategy for Academic Accreditation at Palestinian Universities from the Faculty Members’ Perspective

Abstract

Abstract:

This study aimed to identify the opinion of a sample of faculty members in some Palestinian universities about the  proposed strategy for academic accreditation in these universities. The study sample consisted of (192) faculty members in some Palestinian universities, and a questionnaire of (69) items was developed and distributed to the sample of the study. The questionnaire items covered (9) variables: Vision,  goals, administration, equipment, library, study programs, faculty members, terms and conditions of admission and registration, student services and evaluation system and exams. Results of the study showed that the responses of the study participants were high and significant regarding these areas: vision,  goals,  study programs and faculty members, while on the participants’ responses were lower regarding administration, student services, evaluation system and exams, and the library, and the grand total.  On the other hand, the participants’ responses were not important regarding equipment, and terms and conditions of admission. Similarly, the results revealed statistically significant differences in the participants’ responses regarding the proposed strategy for academic accreditation based on the gender variable in favor of males regarding  vision,  goals,  study programs, evaluation system and exams, and in favor of females in the other areas and the grand total. The results also showed statistically significant differences in the participants’ responses regarding specialty in favor of humanities in these areas: vision and goals, and equipment, and in favor of scientific disciplines in these areas: the library, student services, whereas  there are no significant differences in the other areas and the grand  total.

The results also showed differences among the study sample based on the academic degree  variable in favor of PhD holders regarding administration, equipment, library, study programs, faculty members, and the terms and conditions of admission and registration, and the grand total, whereas  there are no significant differences in the other areas. As for the academic rank variable, results showed there were  differences between the means in favor of those of the rank of professor, regarding all areas the grand total.