Availability of volunteer work implementation requirements in Palestinian universities in the Gaza Governorates from students’ perspectives and ways to develop them

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the availability of requirements for implementing volunteer activities in Palestinian universities in the Gaza governorates from students’ perspectives and explore ways for their development. The descriptive-analytical approach was used. The study population consisted of all fourth-year students enrolled at Al-Azhar, the Islamic, and Al-Aqsa Universities during the second semester of the 2017/2018 academic year, totaling (10,589) students. A stratified random sample of (530) students, representing (5%) of the population, was selected, and (398) valid questionnaires were retrieved for analysis. A questionnaire of (47) items covering four dimensions—administrative, cultural, environmental, and evaluation and follow-up requirements—was developed and analyzed using SPSS. The findings indicated a moderate level of availability, with a relative weight of (58.04%). No statistically significant differences at (α ≤ 0.05) were found with respect to gender or university, whereas significant differences were found according to faculty type in favor of scientific faculties. The results also highlighted the establishment of a volunteer affairs unit and incentives for outstanding student initiatives as key development strategies. Recommendations included allocating an appropriate budget, utilizing religious motivation among youth, integrating volunteer hours into academic study plans, training volunteers in teamwork skills, and providing supportive environments.