The Role of the Knowledge Economy in Achieving Quality Higher Education in Palestine

Abstract

The study aimed to provide perceptions about the knowledge economy and its role in achieving the quality of higher education in Palestinian universities. The researcher followed a qualitative approach, relying on literature, reports, and interviews with a sample of faculty members from Palestinian universities. The study addressed the requirements that must be met to support and provide the knowledge economy in Palestinian universities, including the need for university leaders to believe in the necessity of the knowledge economy and its role in achieving prosperity for universities and society as a whole. It also highlighted the need to provide support for researchers and professors in their research, including funding, publishing, and others The study further examined the role of the knowledge economy in achieving the quality of higher education in Palestinian universities, where it was found that the knowledge economy contributes to achieving the quality of higher education through qualitative research, inventions, advanced rankings achieved by universities in accreditation and quality indicators, and the trend towards modernizing curricula and adopting modern teaching and evaluation methods. The researcher found through the interviews that there are attempts and initiatives to promote the knowledge economy in Palestinian universities, while there is ambiguity about the concept and a lack of clarity about it. Based on these findings, the study offered several recommendations including, holding academic forums for Palestinian scholars and hosting experts in the field to explore the concept in depth. It also emphasized the importance of developing higher education policies that incorporate the knowledge economy as a key component for achieving quality education.