PUBLIC POLICY ALIGNMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS WITH YOUTH EMPOWERMENT REQUIREMENTS: A CASE STUDY OF THE LOCAL LABOR MARKET IN GAZA

This study aimed to identify the alignment level of public policies in higher education institutions with youth empowerment requirements within the local labor markets of Gaza City. To achieve this objective, the researcher employed a descriptive-analytical approach. Data were collected using study instruments applied to a simple random sample of (353) employees across higher education institutions in Gaza, selected based on variables of gender, academic degree, and years of service during the second half of the 2022 academic year. The results revealed that the overall level of public policies in higher education institutions was High, while the level of youth empowerment in the local labor market was Medium. The findings further indicated a statistically significant positive correlation at the significance level of (Sa - 0.05S) between higher education public policies and youth empowerment requirements. Additionally, the study found no statistically significant differences in the respondents perceptions regarding both public policies and youth empowerment attributable to the variables of gender, academic degree, or years of service.