Students attend their graduation ceremony at Bethlehem University, in the West Bank. (Maan Images)

Palestinians, like other populations facing displacement and political uncertainty, have invested heavily in education, a portable asset. In the past, the rate of Palestinian university graduates compared to other national groups was among the highest in the world.

There are eleven Palestinian universities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Birzeit University (near Ramallah) and An-Najah National University in Nablus are two of the oldest and best-recognized universities in the West Bank. The Islamic University enjoys that distinction in the Gaza Strip. Just under 50% of university students are women.

There are, in addition, five university colleges, 25 community colleges, and 76 schools providing a range of vocational training.

Sources: Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs; Birzeit University Barriers to Education Fact Sheet