• Preparing academic and educational leaders equipped with innovative skills and critical insights that keep pace with educational transformations.
• Enhancing the production of qualitative research that addresses educational issues using innovative scientific methods.
• Developing students’ ability to employ digital transformation tools to enhance learning and teaching environments.
• Instilling the concept of educational and social leadership within Palestinian and Arab societies.
• Linking scientific research with educational practice through effective partnerships with educational and community institutions.
• Contributing to achieving the fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 4): ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

• Faculty members at universities and faculties of education.
• Educators aiming to enhance their professional and research competencies.
• Personnel working in education directorates, including administrators and educational supervisors.
• Educational counselors, school principals, and educational program coordinators.
• Professionals employed by local and international educational non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

Graduates of this program are expected to:

1. Possess comprehensive knowledge of contemporary trends in education, learning theories, and educational research.
2. Employ critical thinking and advanced analytical skills to evaluate and enhance educational practices.
3. Demonstrate competence in conducting applied research that effectively addresses practical challenges within the education sector.
4. Collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams to devise solutions for complex educational issues.
5. Design and implement innovative curricula and assessment strategies that promote creativity and effectiveness.
6. Uphold the highest standards of research ethics and academic integrity in all scholarly endeavors.

1. Knowledge and Understanding

• Analyze and apply contemporary educational theories in diverse local and international contexts.
• Gain an in-depth understanding of global trends in educational innovation and qualitative research methodologies.
• Comprehend the influence of cultural, social, and political factors on educational systems.

2. Research and Critical Thinking Skills

• Design and execute innovative educational research grounded in robust scientific evidence.
• Critically analyze educational policies and formulate actionable, evidence-based recommendations.
• Employ multidisciplinary research approaches to enhance teaching and learning effectiveness.
• Publish research in reputable, peer-reviewed international journals.

3. Leadership and Professional Development

• Lead educational transformation through innovative practices and leadership.
• Collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary research groups.
• Create and implement interactive, technology-enhanced learning environments geared toward future educational needs.

Graduates of the PhD program in Educational Creativity and Innovation can occupy a range of advanced and diverse positions, including:

• Serving as faculty members at universities, colleges, and educational institutions and supervising qualitative educational research.
• Leading research and development centers within higher education institutions.
• Serving as consultants in ministries of education to develop educational policies and improve education quality.
• Directing educational institutions or professional training and development centers.
• Designing curricula, teaching strategies, and assessment methods, as well as managing digital transformation programs in education.
• Undertaking educational evaluation tasks, analyzing educational policies, and designing measurement and assessment tools.
• Coordinating and supervising educational programs in local and international NGOs concerned with education and development.
• Providing educational consultancy to schools, universities, and community organizations in areas of leadership, innovation, and institutional development.
• Establishing and leading entrepreneurial initiatives or startups in educational technology and innovative interactive digital content.

• The PhD program in Educational Creativity and Innovation comprises (51) credit hrs, distributed as follows:

 

Number of Credit Hours	Courses
24	Compulsory Requirements
9	Elective Requirements
18	PhD Thesis
51	TOTAL

 

 

• Compulsory Requirements: The student must successfully complete all of the following compulsory courses:

Credit hrs.	Course Title	Course No.
3	Advanced Strategic Management in Educational Institutions	820110
3	Innovative Curriculum Design	820211
3	Innovative Thinking in Education	820120
3	Total Quality Management in Education	820210
3	Innovative and Creative Assessment	820221
3	Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in Education	820220
3	Advanced Educational Research Methods	820111
3	Advanced Educational Statistics	820121
24		TOTAL

 

• Elective Requirements: The student must successfully complete (9) credit hours selected from the following courses:

Credit hrs.	Course Title	Course No.
3	Theories of Educational Creativity and Innovation	820122
3	Designing Innovative Learning Environment	820123
3	Leading Creativity and Innovation	820124
3	Human Resource Management and Development	820212
3	Education and Entrepreneurship	820213
3	School Inquiry in Palestine	820214
3	Technology and Creativity	820222
3	Comparative Education Policies	820223
24		TOTAL

 

• PhD Thesis: The student must submit and successfully defend the the PhD thesis as follows:

Credit hrs.	Course Title	Course No.
18	PhD Thesis	820310

 

• Study Plan: The study plan outlines the distribution of courses across the six semesters as follows:

First Year
FALL			SPRING
Course No.	Corse Titles	Credits	Course No.	Corse Titles	Credits
820110	Advanced Strategic Management in Educational Institutions	3	820140	Advanced Educational Statistics	3
820130	Advanced Educational Research Methods	3	820120	Innovative Thinking in Education	3
				Elective Course	3
TOTAL		6	TOTAL		9

 

Second Year
FALL			SPRING
Course No.	Corse Titles	Credits	Course No.	Corse Titles	Credits
820220	Total Quality Management in Education	3	820240	Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in Education	3
820210	Innovative Curriculum Design	3	820230	Innovative and Creative Assessment	3
	Elective Course	3		Elective Course	3
TOTAL		9	TOTAL		9

 

Third Year
FALL			SPRING
Course No.	Corse Titles	Credits	Course No.	Corse Titles	Credits
820310	PhD Thesis	9	820310	PhD Thesis	9

 

 

1. Advanced Strategic Management in Educational Institutions

 

This course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance creativity and innovation within educational environments, with a particular emphasis on the Palestinian context, which necessitates unconventional solutions to confront the challenges posed by occupation and difficult socio-economic conditions. The course examines strategies for creative thinking, such as brainstorming and design thinking, as approaches to developing educational solutions that are responsive to the local reality—such as the innovative use of available resources and the advancement of e-learning to address mobility restrictions. It also emphasizes the creation of an educational environment that nurtures creativity and outlines methods for evaluating the effectiveness of developmental initiatives. Additionally, the course offers practical solutions to overcome obstacles faced by educational institutions in Palestine, including limited funding and restricted access to certain areas. By integrating theoretical foundations with practical applications, the course provides an interactive learning experience aimed at empowering students to drive meaningful change in their educational settings and to strengthen the resilience and developmental capacity of Palestinian educational institutions in the face of ongoing challenges.

 

2. Innovative Curriculum Design

 

This course offers an advanced perspective on curriculum development, aligning with the latest global educational trends and the evolving needs of contemporary learning communities. Grounded in internationally recognized models and best practices, the course examines the philosophical and pedagogical foundations of curriculum design, with a focus on internationally adopted frameworks that have contributed to successful educational reform in countries such as Finland and Singapore. The course emphasizes the theoretical and philosophical bases for designing innovative curricula, highlighting advanced educational models such as backward design, project-based learning, and interdisciplinary integration. It also explores the integration of modern technologies and artificial intelligence in developing flexible, interactive curricula that accommodate individual differences and respond to the demands of learning in the digital age. Combining academic research with practical application, the course pays particular attention to diverse educational contexts, including the unique challenges faced by education systems in regions experiencing exceptional circumstances, such as Palestine. This focus enhances students’ ability to develop impactful and sustainable educational solutions. The course is designed to empower doctoral students to take on leadership roles in the design and management of advanced curricula that promote educational innovation and contribute to improving the quality of education both locally and globally.

 

3. Innovative Thinking in Education

This course aims to develop students’ abilities to apply innovative thinking methods to enhance the educational process. It focuses on creative thinking strategies such as brainstorming, design thinking, and problem-solving, and explores how these tools can be applied to develop innovative curricula and teaching methods. The course also examines the role of educators and educational leaders in fostering a culture of innovation within educational institutions. It addresses multiple dimensions of innovation in education, including the development of non-traditional teaching approaches such as project-based learning, blended learning, and the use of advanced technologies like augmented and virtual reality to enhance student engagement with educational content. The course also explores the design of flexible curricula that emphasize 21st-century skills. Ultimately, the course seeks to empower students to integrate innovative practices into their educational environments, thereby contributing to improved education quality and promoting critical and creative thinking among learners.

 

4. Total Quality Management in Education

 

This course aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the concepts and tools of Total Quality Management (TQM) and their application within educational institutions. The course focuses on strategies for developing and implementing quality plans designed to enhance educational performance, meet the needs of students and the local community, and ensure the sustainability of continuous improvement across all aspects of the educational process. The course explores the application of key TQM principles such as continuous improvement, customer orientation (students and parents), and systems thinking in all teaching and learning activities. Emphasis is placed on fostering a school and university culture that supports innovation and encourages active participation from all stakeholders, including teachers, administrators, and students. Students will also learn how to utilize measurement and evaluation tools—such as continuous assessment and key performance indicators (KPIs)—to monitor and evaluate educational quality and support performance improvement goals. Additionally, the course addresses effective educational leadership in the context of quality management, focusing on ways to motivate educational teams toward achieving excellence.

 

5. Innovative and Creative Assessment

 

This course aims to develop students’ skills in utilizing assessment methods and techniques that promote creativity and innovation in the educational process. It focuses on diverse and modern evaluation strategies that support critical and creative thinking, such as performance-based assessment, formative assessment, and project-based assessment—allowing students to express their ideas and solve problems in innovative ways. The course also explores the use of technology in assessment, including data analysis tools and digital platforms that provide immediate feedback and help personalize the learning experience. Emphasis is placed on assessment techniques that go beyond measuring knowledge to stimulate creative thinking and assess skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation. In addition, the course includes case studies of innovative assessment models implemented in global educational institutions and examines how these models can be adapted to meet local needs and available resources. As a result, students will gain the necessary skills to design and implement creative assessment tools that foster innovation, provide constructive feedback, and enhance overall student performance and learning outcomes.

6. Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in Education

This course provides students with an in-depth understanding of the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in transforming the educational process and enhancing learning quality. It focuses on analyzing how intelligent technologies contribute to the design of personalized learning environments, promote interaction between students and educators, and offer innovative solutions to educational challenges. The course covers key concepts such as machine learning, natural language processing, and educational robotics, highlighting their impact on teaching and assessment methods. It also explores the use of recommendation systems to personalize educational content based on individual student needs. Students will examine cutting-edge global applications of AI in education and compare these models to the Palestinian educational context, exploring practical strategies for integrating AI into curriculum development and instructional practices. Additionally, the course addresses the ethical implications of using AI in education, its influence on the evolving roles of teachers and learners, and its potential to foster critical and creative thinking skills.

7. Advanced Educational Research Methods

This course aims to equip students with advanced knowledge in the design and implementation of educational research that contributes to the development of education and the enhancement of its outcomes. It focuses on advanced qualitative and quantitative research strategies, encompassing techniques for analyzing complex data and interpreting results, with an emphasis on modern educational research tools such as big data analytics and artificial intelligence. The course also reviews contemporary methods for developing questionnaires and assessment scales, as well as the use of field experiments and applied studies to investigate educational challenges in various contexts. Additionally, it addresses research applications related to current issues such as educational reform, innovation in teaching, and the impact of emerging technologies on the educational process. The course strengthens students’ understanding of how to select and develop appropriate research methodologies for complex educational studies, while considering ethical issues in educational research and the importance of ensuring the validity and practical relevance of findings. Through this course, students also acquire the skills to design and manage advanced educational research projects that contribute to improving teaching practices and formulating innovative and effective educational policies.

8. Advanced Educational Statistics

This course aims to explore the latest advanced statistical methods related to data description and categories of parametric and non-parametric statistical tests. It focuses on the application of advanced statistical techniques in educational and psychological research. The course covers statistical concepts and models that assist researchers in analyzing educational data in accurate and comprehensive ways. Topics include Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), multiple regression, factor analysis, path analysis, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), and repeated measures analysis. The course also involves the practical application of theoretical skills using advanced statistical software such as SPSS, AMOS, or others.

 

 

9. Theories of Educational Creativity and Innovation

 

This course aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the fundamental theories that underpin creativity and innovation in education. It focuses on reviewing key theories that explain and guide the processes of creativity and innovation, such as Flow Theory and Social Learning Theory, alongside creative thinking theories like Lateral Thinking and Critical Thinking. The course also discusses the application of these theories in educational settings and how they can be used to design learning environments that encourage innovative thinking and enhance the ability of teachers and students to engage creatively with learning content. Additionally, it covers the “Open Innovation” model and its application in educational institutions to foster collaboration among teachers, students, and the local community in finding new solutions to educational challenges. Furthermore, the course explores how to integrate these theories with modern educational technologies, including interactive learning and project-based learning. By the end of the course, students will learn how to apply creativity and innovation theories to improve education quality, stimulate creativity within classrooms, and achieve positive and sustainable transformation in educational institutions.

 

10. Designing Innovative Learning Environments

 

This course equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to design learning environments that foster creativity and enhance interaction between students and teachers. It focuses on strategies and frameworks that support student-centered education, emphasizing the integration of modern technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality to provide interactive and engaging learning experiences. The course also addresses the importance of incorporating active learning methods, including project-based learning and collaborative learning, in designing environments that stimulate critical thinking and support 21st-century skills. Additionally, it discusses the design of both digital and physical classrooms that allow students the freedom to express their ideas and learn through experience and exploration. The course reviews how technological tools—such as interactive educational platforms, smart devices, and digital resources—can be used to customize learning experiences according to students’ diverse needs, thereby enhancing learning effectiveness. Furthermore, it highlights the role of teachers in creating flexible learning environments that embrace diversity and promote social interaction among students.

 

11. Leading Creativity and Innovation

This course aims to empower students with a deep understanding of creativity and innovation and their vital role in the development of educational and administrative institutions. It focuses on the relationship between effective leadership and fostering an environment that encourages creative thinking and institutional innovation. The course also addresses strategies for leading change, managing creative teams, and applying modern tools and methods to stimulate innovation within educational and administrative organizations. Students will have the opportunity to analyze various leadership models, apply practical skills in creative problem-solving, and design feasible innovative initiatives.

 

12. Human Resource Management and Development

 

This course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective human resource management in educational institutions. It focuses on strategies for attracting, developing, and motivating talent, with an emphasis on creating a supportive educational environment that fosters creativity and innovation. The course covers strategic human resource planning, performance management, and the design of training and continuous professional development programs for teachers and administrative staff. It also discusses the importance of transformational leadership in promoting a culture of sustainable learning and innovation within educational institutions. The course reviews the latest global trends in human resource development, such as the use of technology in recruitment and professional growth, talent management, and data analysis for strategic decision-making. Additionally, it highlights the unique aspects of human resource management in the educational context, comparing global models with the Palestinian model to ensure the highest levels of efficiency and quality in the educational process.

 

13. Education and Entrepreneurship

 

This course aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to integrate entrepreneurship concepts into the educational process, thereby promoting innovative thinking and independence among students and teachers. The course focuses on curriculum development and activities that encourage entrepreneurial thinking, and on the application of project-based and real-world challenge-based learning approaches to empower students to transform their ideas into successful initiatives and projects. It explores the role of educational institutions in cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset by fostering supportive learning environments, encouraging a culture of innovation and calculated risk-taking, and enhancing problem-solving and decision-making skills. The course also reviews strategies for designing entrepreneurship education programs in schools and universities, aligning them with labor market demands to ensure graduates are well-prepared to launch and manage successful ventures or contribute effectively to the development of existing organizations. Additionally, the course examines global experiences and models in entrepreneurship education, comparing them with the Palestinian context, and explores ways to adapt curricula and programs to local challenges and opportunities.

 

14. School Inquiry in Palestine

 

This course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze the structural and functional challenges facing Palestinian schools, while fostering critical and ethical thinking in addressing these issues. The course focuses on examining the impact of political, social, and economic factors on the education system and explores strategies for school reform from a comprehensive perspective that integrates justice, quality, and innovation. Students will investigate global trends in educational reform and compare them with the Palestinian context, with a focus on the role of educational policies in shaping the future of schools. The course also discusses the concept of dismembering and reassembling institutional structures to transform schools into more flexible and adaptive learning environments that can meet contemporary challenges. Through the study of educational reform models and the application of reflexive and constructivist thinking, students will develop visions and policies that aim to improve the quality of education, promote equity in educational opportunities, and contribute to building a more sustainable and just educational system in Palestine.

 

15. Technology and Creativity

 

This course aims to explore the role of technology in enhancing creativity within educational institutions, with a special focus on advanced technological tools that contribute to developing innovative learning environments. The course emphasizes the use of artificial intelligence to personalize the learning experience and deliver educational content tailored to each student’s needs. It also covers the application of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in designing interactive and immersive learning experiences that encourage creativity and enable new ways of exploring educational concepts. Furthermore, the course addresses the use of modern e-learning platforms, such as blended learning and online education, to empower students for self-directed learning and interaction with multimedia educational content. It develops innovative teaching methods based on technologies like adaptive learning and data analytics to track student progress and provide immediate support. The course also discusses how to integrate digital tools such as educational apps and gamified learning to stimulate critical and creative thinking. It highlights the use of gamification to make the educational process more engaging and motivating. A major focus is on incorporating these technological tools into curriculum design and learning activities that support students’ technical and creative skills, thereby enhancing their ability to face future challenges. Through this course, students learn how to strategically leverage technology to stimulate creativity and deliver unconventional learning experiences that keep pace with rapid developments in the educational field.

 

16. Comparative Education Policies

 

This course focuses on the study of education policies from a comparative perspective. It involves analyzing educational systems in different countries to understand how education policies are formulated and implemented, and how economic, cultural, political, and social factors influence their development. The course enables students to evaluate global education models and policies and to extract lessons learned to improve the local education system. Additionally, the course addresses contemporary issues such as educational equity, education financing, privatization, educational reforms, and governance in education, with an emphasis on the differences and similarities between developing and developed countries.

 

17. Competency Exam

This exam assesses students’ mastery of the core subjects covered in the program, as well as their analytical and synthetic skills. It is administered upon completion of 20 credit hours of coursework.

 

18. PhD Thesis

Writing a publishable dissertation in the field of specialization and successfully defending it.