CAN AN ACADEMIC INSTITUTION AFFECT GRADUATES’ RESIDENCE CHOICES? A COMPARISON OF PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES OF GRADUATES OF THE ARIEL UNIVERSITY CENTER OF SAMARIA TOWARD THE SAMARIA REGION

This study examines the direct and indirect influence of the Ariel University Center of Samaria on the attitudes of its graduates who did not choose to settle in the geographic region in which the institution is located, compared to their counterparts who moved to and settled in the Samaria. According to consistent multi-annual University Center data, the majority (84.0%) of students at the Ariel University Center come from outside the region. Although students on campus focus on their academic assignments toward their degrees, students come into considerable daily contact with the region. Study findings indicate that a very small percentage of students who did not live or work in the region during their studies settled in their region after graduation. An interesting finding is that over two-thirds of all graduates (67.3%)- independent of whether or not they currently live in the Samaria - believe that an effort should be made to encourage graduates to live in the region. The study findings indicate significant differences in the typical profiles and values of graduates who settled in the Samaria region and those who settled outside Samaria after graduation. The theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed.