Higher education abroad : Palestinian students from Israel studying in Jordanian universities

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to expand the authors’ exploratory qualitative study, describing the characteristics of the flow of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel (PAI) to Jordanian higher education (HE) institutes as an alternative to HE studies in Israel (Jordanization).

Design/methodology/approach

At this stage of the study, 460 PAI studying in six Jordanian universities answered a questionnaire indicating the factors that led them to seek HE in Jordan. Respondents’ comparisons between the Israeli and Jordanian HE systems were analysed.

Findings

Results showed that Jordanian HE attracts PAIs for practical reasons: lenient acceptance policy and better chances to graduate, while cultural and linguistic similarities between the PAI and Jordanian societies are less influential. Israel's HE is attractive for financial reasons and employment qualification.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should compare the absorption of these graduates of Jordanian universities in Israel's labour market with the absorption of other graduates from Israeli and foreign universities.

Practical implications

The under‐representative proportion of PAI students in Israeli universities indicates the need for diversified programmes and reforms to bring more PAI students into Israeli campuses. Pre‐academic programmes focusing on acquisition of academic learning skills could assist PAI students during their first academic year and help prevent dropout.

Originality/value

This study provides unique and specific knowledge concerning the topic of indigenous ethnic minorities who migrate to study outside their states.

Citation

Arar, K. and Haj‐Yehia, K. (2013), "Higher education abroad : Palestinian students from Israel studying in Jordanian universities", Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, Vol. 5 No. 1, pp. 95-112. https://doi.org/10.1108/17581181311310306