Abstract. This study examines the evolution of e-learning policy within the Palestinian higher education sector by conducting a content analysis of strategic plans and official policy documents issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOHE) between 2010 and 2024. The analytical framework employed is grounded in the Hardee Policy Circle (2004a) and further informed by the policy dimension classifications outlined in Salajan and Roumell (2016), which delineate nine distinct components. Contrary to earlier suggestions, the study does not modify the original structure of the adopted models; rather, it leverages their established analytical categories to suit the complex Palestinian context. By applying this globally recognized framework, the study offers a structured and comparative lens through which the Palestinian case, shaped by prolonged conflict, limited sovereignty, and systemic disruption, can be interpreted and situated within broader international discourses on digital education policy. This approach enables scholars and practitioners alike to develop a more nuanced understanding of the policy landscape in conflict-affected higher education systems and to formulate context-sensitive interventions. The research focuses primarily on the diagnosis of policy articulation and the identification of institutional interventions, rather than on assessing trends or uncovering systemic gaps. Findings highlight the degree to which various dimensions of e-learning policy are reflected in national documents, with particular emphasis on institutional engagement and operational mechanisms. Overall, the study contributes to the global policy literature by offering an empirically grounded account of how e-learning policies are conceptualized, mobilized, and adapted within a higher education system operating under conditions of chronic instability.
Full reference: Abusamra, A., Muhtaseb, K., Natsha, A., & Awawdeh, R. (2026). E-learning policies in Palestinian higher education: A decade of strategic evolution through Hardee's framework. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 13, 102745. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2026.102745