The Cognitive Role of Universities and its Impact on the Success of Freelancing (A Field Study on Private Sector Companies in the Palestinian Southern Governorates)

The study aimed to identify the impact of the cognitive role of universities on the success of freelancing in private sector companies in the Palestinian southern governorates. The researchers used the descriptive analytical approach to achieve the study objectives. Also, they used the questionnaire as a study tool. The population of the study represented all freelancer workers in the private sector companies in the southern governorates. The total sample was (189) employees, selected by simple random sampling method. The number of returned questionnaires was (162) and (150) questionnaires were valid for statistical analysis. The study reached several results, including: the existence of a medium and statistically significant relationship between the cognitive role of universities in its three dimensions represented in (university professor, student and extracurricular activities, courses) and the success of the freelancer workers in private sector companies in the southern governorates. Also, it showed that the level of the reality of the success of freelancing in private sector companies in the southern governorates has a relative weight of (64.7%). The study recommended the necessity of universities updating their curriculum, addressing the topics of freelancing, the necessity of freelancers to learn English language skills, customer communication skills, and marketing skills for their services. Also, it recommended the necessity of higher education institutions and ministries paying attention to spreading the culture of freelancing among people in the Gaza Strip.