Challenges Facing the Political Participation of University Students

A Field Study at Koya University

Authors

  • Basida H. Anwar Department of Education and Psychology, Faculty of Education, Koya University, Kurdistan, Region, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4457-160X
  • Hazim A. Ramadhan Department of Education and Psychology, Faculty of Education, Koya University, Kurdistan, Region, Iraq
  • Dastan O. Mahmood Department of Kindergarten, College of Basic Education, University of Raparin, Kurdistan Region, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9827-2330

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14500/kujhss.v8n2y2025.pp408-420

Keywords:

Political participation, challenges, students, university students, youth

Abstract

Abstract: This study aims to identify the challenges and obstacles faced by university students in political participation. The research was conducted using a quantitative approach with a social survey method and a random sample of 372 students from a population of 4,455 Koya University students during the 2023-2024 academic year. A 34-item scale, covering four dimensions—institutional, socio-cultural, psychological, and political—was developed and distributed to the sample via an online survey. The key findings indicate that the overall level of obstacles to political participation among Koya University students is moderate. Among the dimensions, the institutional obstacles were the most significant, while the political dimension showed the lowest level of challenges. Demographic factors, particularly gender, had an influence on the political dimension, with male students facing more difficulties. However, party affiliation or neutrality did not have a significant impact across any of the dimensions. In conclusion, the barriers to political participation among Koya University students are not high, but the gendered nature of political engagement in the community results in males being more exposed to political challenges. Party affiliation appears to have no effect on the obstacles faced by students.

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Author Biographies

Basida H. Anwar, Department of Education and Psychology, Faculty of Education, Koya University, Kurdistan, Region, Iraq

She is a lecturer in the Department of Education and Psychology at the Faculty of Education, Koya University, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Koya University and a master’s degree in Social Psychology from Salahaddin University-Erbil. Her interests include education, social psychology, and behavior.

Dastan O. Mahmood, Department of Kindergarten, College of Basic Education, University of Raparin, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

He is a lecturer in the Kindergarten Department at the College of Primary Education, Raperin University, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Koya University and a master’s degree in Educational Sociology from Salahaddin University, Erbil. He teaches educational statistics, research methods, and kindergarten programs. His interests include education and behavioral issues.

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Published

2025-07-28

How to Cite

Anwar, B. H., Ramadhan, H. A. and Mahmood, D. O. (2025) “Challenges Facing the Political Participation of University Students: A Field Study at Koya University”, KOYA UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, 8(2), pp. 408–420. doi: 10.14500/kujhss.v8n2y2025.pp408-420.

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Issue Fifteen

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Basida H. Anwar, Hazim A. Ramadhan, Dastan O. Mahmood

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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