Arab Educational Information Network

This study aimed to identify the role of entrepreneurial characteristics in improving the level of institutional performance in the private Palestinian universities operating in Gaza Strip. The researcher used the descriptive analytical approach, and questionnaire as a data collection tool. The population of the study consists of administrative and academic staff in the private Palestinian universities in Gaza Strip which contains (259) individuals as total. The sample was randomized for all the functional levels in the universities under study. The sample size was (155) while (131) valid samples were recovered at a percent of (85%). Several results were found by the study, the most remarkable among them are: The level of the entrepreneurial characteristics among the employees of the private Palestinian universities is relatively high at (77.9%). The level of the institutional performance in the private Palestinian universities in Gaza Strip is high, according to its relatively weight at (69.9%). There is a statistically significant relationship at the level of significance (α≤0.05) between the entrepreneurial characteristics of the employees of the private Palestinian universities and the improvement of the institutional performance.There exists a significant statistical effect at the level of significance (α≤0.05) between the entrepreneurial characteristics combined among employees of private Palestinian universities and the level of institutional performance. The study presented a number of recommendations, the most prominent of which are: Supporting entrepreneurship initiatives and giving the employees of the private Palestinian universities an area of freedom and independency in their work by providing work environment that explodes energies and encourages creativity, and generates ideas that contribute to the development of services, the opening of new faculties, or expansion of the disciplines of existing colleges. Support research and development activities in order to improve the performance of the private Palestinian universities, and hold workshops to discuss ways of developing performance. (Author's abstract)