The reality of promoting cultural diversity values among Umm Al-Qura University students from their perspective

Abstract

The current study aimed to identify the extent to which cultural diversity values ​​are promoted among students at Umm Al-Qura University from their perspective. To achieve this objective, a descriptive survey methodology was employed. The researcher developed a questionnaire which was administered to a sample of 408 male and female students from various nationalities, academic disciplines, and academic levels at Umm Al-Qura University. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. The results showed that the extent to which cultural diversity values ​​are promoted among Umm Al-Qura University students was generally high, with an overall mean of 3.98 and a standard deviation of 0.28. The results also showed that the axis of faculty members promoting cultural diversity values ​​ranked first with a mean of (4.03) and a standard deviation of (0.35), indicating a high level of agreement. The axis of university activities promoting cultural diversity values ​​came in second with a mean of (3.99) and a standard deviation of (0.35), also indicating a high level of agreement. The axis of university courses promoting cultural diversity values ​​ranked third with a mean of (3.93) and a standard deviation of (0.42), also indicating a high level of agreement. Furthermore, the results showed no statistically significant differences at the significance level (a ≤ 0.05) in the perception of cultural diversity values ​​among Umm Al-Qura University students based on gender or academic year. However, the results did show differences based on nationality, favoring non-Saudi students, and differences based on academic specialization, favoring students in theoretical disciplines. In light of the results of this study, the researcher presented several recommendations, including the importance of continuing to encourage faculty members to play a greater role in promoting the values ​​of cultural diversity among students, the necessity of explicitly and implicitly including in university courses various topics that promote the values ​​of cultural diversity, and the implementation by the Deanship of Student Affairs of various university activities that promote the values ​​of cultural diversity among students, and others.