test Rehearsing Pedagogy: Arts-Based Education as Creative Practice in Palestinian Higher Education|Education & Theatre

Rehearsing Pedagogy: Arts-Based Education as Creative Practice in Palestinian Higher Education A Case Study of the MA Program in Creative Pedagogies and Community Practices at Bethlehem University

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Published: Nov 25, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/edth.43265
Keywords:
Creative pedagogy arts-based education teacher training critical pedagogy educational transformation creative agency Palestine
Rand Barakat
Bethlehem University, Palestine
Abstract

This study examines the MA programme in Creative Pedagogies and Community Practices at Bethlehem University, situating arts-based education as a tool for personal, pedagogical and community development in Palestinian higher education. Employing a qualitative case study approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with graduates and current students to explore participants’ motivations, experiences and engagement with creative practices. Thematic analysis highlights how the programme fosters critical reflection, personal transformation and innovative teaching approaches, while providing a supportive space for navigating complex social and institutional challenges. Findings demonstrate how arts-based pedagogy can reshape teaching practices and inform understandings of learning, identity and community engagement within contexts marked by cultural and structural constraints.

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Author Biography
Rand Barakat, Bethlehem University, Palestine

Rand Barakat is an educator, researcher and writer based in Jerusalem. She holds an MA in Creative Pedagogies and Community Practices from Bethlehem University, Palestine, where her thesis examined the role of interactive storytelling in fostering environmental awareness among students. With a background in English language and literature, and over six years of experience in formal and non-formal educational settings, Rand explores how creative, studentcentred methodologies can support meaningful learning and community engagement. Her current work focuses on the role of the arts in education in contexts of social and structural challenges, with an emphasis on identity, resilience
and cultural expression. Through both academic inquiry and field-based research, she contributes to interdisciplinary discussions bridging pedagogy, creativity and empowerment, investigating how arts-based education can serve as a tool for dialogue, critical thinking and collective transformation.

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