Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators of Palestine

وزارة التربية والتعليم العالي Science, Technology andInnovation Indicators ofPalestine Majdi Moamar Head of Training Division \DG of Supervision & Ed. Qualifying Ebrahim Qadah Head of Information Technology Division \DG of Curriculum

The Palestinian R&D: Status and potential for Development Prepared By Jad Isaac Mazin Qumsiyeh Mohammed Shabat Fadi Dweik Juliet Bannoura Walaa' Shudrum Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem

Background In MOEHE there is a General Directorate of Scientific Research that was created to support and advance R&D. A Science Research Council (SRC) was established to assist this Directorate in its mission. Membership of the SRC includes representatives from Palestinian universities and research centers. MOEHE presented a sectoral strategy for the coming three years on 23 December 2009. The strategy calls for more entrepreneurial learning, advancement of R&D as a component of higher education, and ensuring that higher education meets the needs of the Palestinian society 8/28/2014 3

METHODOLOGY A UNESCO questionnaire was designed to collect data on R&D in countries with established programs. The questionnaire was tested on 3 institutions. (18 pages) A new questionnaire was designed that is shorter, The new questionnaire went through a number of edits including input from the Ministry of higher Education until a new questionnaire was agreed upon. The questionnaire was sent to over 100 institutions including all universities, 5 ministries, and 65 NGOs or private sector, Field visits were conducted to 37 institutions in the West Bank and 16 in Gaza. Some institutions were noted not to have R&D efforts and others failed to respond, but we did receive 47 filled questionnaires. The data were fed in SPSS and analyzed. These data were discussed in a workshop. 8/28/2014 4

SURVEY RESULTS Classification of 63 Institution by Location

SURVEY RESULTS Classification of 63 Institution by sectors - 8/28/2014 6

SURVEY RESULTS HUMAN RESOURCES CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR EDUCATION AND R&D RESEARCH COOPERATION FINANCING R&D IN THE OPT R&D Infrastructure RESERCH OUTPUT AND QUALITY ISSUES The total number of personnel captured who are involved in R&D is 1744 8/28/2014 7

SURVEY RESULTS HUMAN RESOURCES CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR EDUCATION AND R&D RESEARCH COOPERATION FINANCING R&D IN THE OPT R&D Infrastructure RESERCH OUTPUT AND QUALITY ISSUES 8/28/2014 8

SURVEY RESULTS HUMAN RESOURCES CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR EDUCATION AND R&D RESEARCH COOPERATION FINANCING R&D IN THE OPT R&D Infrastructure RESERCH OUTPUT AND QUALITY ISSUES • Only five institutions participated in the surveys. • The Ministry of Economy is now conducting a study of possible R&D at all private institutions and in an initial survey of 22 institutions • More than 60% of these private sector institutions employ ten or less employees and are most interested in production • The study listed the following obstacles that limit the private sector from benefiting from the results of R & D: • - Outcome of existing research does not match the needs and requirements of the private sector and needs. • - Research institutions are not able to publish or/and distribute the results of their research and studies. • - The private sector is not invited to participate in university workshops and there are few opportunities to explain needs opinions and relaying trends. 8/28/2014 12

SURVEY RESULTS HUMAN RESOURCES CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR EDUCATION AND R&D RESEARCH COOPERATION FINANCING R&D IN THE OPT R&D Infrastructure RESERCH OUTPUT AND QUALITY ISSUES Students Distributions according to program at Tertiary Education Institutions 2007/2008 8/28/2014 13

SURVEY RESULTS HUMAN RESOURCES CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR EDUCATION AND R&D RESEARCH COOPERATION FINANCING R&D IN THE OPT R&D Infrastructure RESERCH OUTPUT AND QUALITY ISSUES -The table highlights joint projects in different sectors with different organizations. The most collaboration is between Palestinian academic institutions and their pears locally and internationally. Palestinian NGO’s are also quite active in collaborative projects. 8/28/2014 14

SURVEY RESULTS HUMAN RESOURCES CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR EDUCATION AND R&D RESEARCH COOPERATION FINANCING R&D IN THE OPT R&D Infrastructure RESERCH OUTPUT AND QUALITY ISSUES Total Annual Expenditure on Research and Development (7,651,749USD) 8/28/2014 15

SURVEY RESULTS HUMAN RESOURCES CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR EDUCATION AND R&D RESEARCH COOPERATION FINANCING R&D IN THE OPT R&D Infrastructure RESERCH OUTPUT AND QUALITY ISSUES The 63 R&D institutions surveyed reported existence of significant amounts of equipment and resources. 21.3% of household are using PCs, and half of those who use PCs connected to the Internet The enterprises sample taken for the study revealed that the percentage of ICT or ICT-related specialists totals about 3.5% of the total number of employees of all enterprises. It also reveals that among all enterprises, 82.4% do not employ any IT specialist while 17.6% do employ at least one ICT specialist. Statistics also show that 4.8% of total employees are IT specialists, and 23.0% of them are female, which shows that this kind of profession is male-dominated There area number of private groups that do great IT work in Palestine but in meeting with them and with universities, we were told there is little interactions/collaboration 8/28/2014 16

SURVEY RESULTS HUMAN RESOURCES CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR EDUCATION AND R&D RESEARCH COOPERATION FINANCING R&D IN THE OPT R&D Infrastructure RESERCH OUTPUT AND QUALITY ISSUES Output for research was rather small. Considering even the small total number of researchers (1744), it appears that there is less than one International publication per 3 researchers per year. If we add the local journals, the percentage goes up to 1.1 publications per person per year. This is low when comparing to developed countries but on par with Arab countries. Most or all R&D output in the Natural Sciences, Medical Sciences, and Engineering fields originates at institutes of higher education (95%, 100%, and 100% respectively). Civil society organizations and Institutes of Higher Education have contributed almost equally to R&D output in the Humanities, agriculture, and social science areas. 8/28/2014 17

STAKEHOLDERS’ PERCEPTIONS 8/28/2014 19

Mapping Research & Development with an eye to the future The Ministry of Education and Higher Education developed a plan for educational development for 2008-2012 (MOEHE, 2008). In the policies section "Science and technology” it states: “The study of science and technology will be improved, with special attention to the expansion of the utilization of information and communication technology in education at all levels and computer-related studies. The percentage of students studying science and technology will be increased at all levels. Science labs and their utilization in schools will be increased as well. A science and technology policy in higher education will be developed and related research will be encouraged”. Then it moved on to set the priorities for the years 2008-2012 including the following policy reforms: 1) Re-shifting the emphasis of textbooks in the curriculum, and the production and dissemination of alternative curriculum materials, teaching aids, school libraries, science laboratories and ICTs; 2) Strengthening monitoring and evaluation capabilities at all levels; 3) Reform of pre-service and in-service teacher training and development of a national strategy for teacher development; 4) Revision by the Agency of Accreditation and Quality Assurance of pre-service teacher training programs, and the technical profiles used for their selection; 5) Linking in-service teacher training to decentralized school improvement policies; and 6) Developing a system of school indicators of quality improvement. 8/28/2014 20

Challenges • Monitoring of quality and impact of services was weak in Palestinian institutions largely due to the absence of harmonized quality standards • Lack of mobility and access: Israeli restrictions and other impediments to R&D. • Lack of coordination and cooperation. • Risk of dependency and domination. • The excessive focus on teaching without understanding the relevance of new knowledge acquisition impedes the ability to do R&D • Human Resources: There is a lack of proper training in R&D and lack of emphasis on R&D • Limited infrastructure including informational database access, laboratories, centers of excellence • There is a lack of confidence and recognition of existing skills and knowledge-base • The percentage of high school students choosing to go into science and technology fields is low • Stakeholders identified a proliferation of graduate programs without clear direction 8/28/2014 21

A ROADMAP FOR PROMOTING R&D IN PALESTINE Based on the review of literature, the survey, and discussion with stakeholders, these are the recommendations to develop a coherent and effective Palestinian R&D that can serve the future needs of the Palestinian society: 1) Vision 2) Strategy and Policy 3) Cooperation 4) Centers of Excellence 5) Human Resources 6) Ending the occupation 7) Governance 8) Private Public partnership 9) Financing 10) Infrastructure 11) Education 8/28/2014 22

أشكركم ودمتم

Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators of Palestine