The Dimensions of the Citizenship Concept among the Jordanian University Students

Abstract

This study examined Jordanian university students' knowledge of the citizenship concept while also aiming to reveal whether there were any statistically significant differences in students' knowledge of the citizenship concept due to gender, residence, family income, college, academic level and accumulative grade point average. The study sample comprised 900 B.A level enrolled at six Jordanian universities in the academic year 2012/2013. The research tool was a questionnaire comprising 56 items in four dimensions (identity, loyalty, pluralism, freedom and political participation). Study findings revealed a high level of knowledge of the citizenship concept the total level of the Jordanian university students' in all dimensions was high, despite a medium rating for freedom and political. Results showed statistically significant differences as follows: with regard to the gender variable on the dimensions of identity, pluralism, and freedom and political participation, in favor of males; among rural and urban students on the dimension of loyalty, in favor of rural students; on the dimension of freedom and political participation, in favor of urban students; in favor of high income students on the dimensions of identity, pluralism, freedom and political participation; among students of scientific and humanities colleges on the dimensions of pluralism and freedom and political participation, in favor of humanities colleges; with regard to student academic level on the dimensions of loyalty, pluralism, and freedom and political participation, in favor of the fourth year students. Finally, there were statistically significant differences with regard to the students' accumulative grade point average variable in favor of students with grades of excellent and very good.

Increasing Citizen Engagement and Participation through eGovernment in Jordan

“…The results bring to light the importance of addressing political participation in Jordan as a factor influencing citizen use of e Government. Al-Sabeelah et al (2015) acknowledge that the changing social, economic, and political climate in Jordan may have implications for the participation of citizens in government. In particular, these authors argue that shifts in traditional values and beliefs may serve as the basis for disenfranchising many citizens, disrupting and discouraging participation in the political process.…”

Factors affecting citizenship education according to perceptions and experiences of secondary-school teachers

“…The definitions of citizenship, in fact, include the role of citizens. Citizenship in the national context is defined in various sources as follows: it is the identity limited to the rules of a piece of Earth that is defined by specific characteristics and on which people have a right to live freely (Ulutaş, 2014); the state establishes a legal status in which it determines the conditions and provisions of the unilateral will and establishes a link between people (Çiftçi, 2006, p. 113); the rights that citizens expect from the state and the rights that the state expects citizens to fulfill (Al-Sabeelah, Alraggad, & Abou-Ameerh, 2015). Berlach (1996) states that certain groups and individuals are privileged through certain laws and rights, and other individuals or groups may feel weak and deprived of their rights.…”