Global Cooperation for Quality Education
Marissa Gross Yarm
National Erasmus+ Office Israel
Topics
1. Israeli Higher Education System: Facts and
Figures
2. Irish – Israeli Academic Cooperation
3. Israeli Priorities in Erasmus+
4. Challenges in Israeli HE/ Potential Project Topics
Start-up Nation
• Population: 8 million
• Produces more start-up companies than large
nations like Japan, China, India, Korea, Canada and
the UK.
• World’s highest R&D expenditure to GDP
• World’s largest number of companies in the NASDAQ
outside the U.S.
• #5 in the world in number of patents per capita
• Leading High-tech companies (Waze, Wix, Onavo)
Quality Scientific Research
 International Achievements of Israeli Academia:

No. 5 in scientific publications per capita

High ranking of citations per paper

10 Nobel prizes (5 chemistry; 2 economics)

3 Turing prizes (computer sciences)

1 Fields medal (mathematics)

No. 3 in winning ERC grants (after UK & Germany)
8
Israeli Universities in Shanghai Ranking
Academic Ranking of World Universities – 2014
Institution
World Rank
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
70
Technion – Israeli Institute of Technology
78
Weizmann Institute of Science
101-150
Tel Aviv University
151-200
Bar-Ilan University
401-500
Ben-Gurion University
401-500
* Institutions ranked within the same range are listed alphabetically
Computer Science:
Technion #18, Tel Aviv, #20, Weizmann #51-75, Hebrew University #51-75
Institutions of Higher Education in Israel
Universities, 8
Open
University, 1
Private
colleges, 15
Teaching
colleges, 21
Art &
Engineering
Colleges, 9
Public
Comprehensive
colleges, 12
Total: 65 institutions
Student Population
 306,000 students in 65 institutions
 50% of university aged Israelis are enrolled in higher
education (record)
 Colleges are dominant in undergraduate studies
 25% of students study in the periphery
11
International
Student Experience
(It)… is not only academic enhancement, but also
a fantastic journey in … Israel, which I regarded as
the unparalleled country among the 20 ones I
have ever been to. Recollecting the past summer,
I cannot help looking forward to returning to this
exceptional land once more. Yuyao Wang , China,
Hebrew University
“I chose Technion because of the expertise of
“I have absolutely love my time
here. The study tour, the trips with
the International School and
traveling with friends have all been
incredible opportunities. But out of
all my experiences I have enjoyed
studying Hebrew the most. There is
nothing like learning the language
of the country you are living in.”
Jillian S, USA, University of Haifa
Israel and Israeli universities in high end
research and development projects, which
are a prime objective of mine. The individual
attention that is given is remarkable. I have a
great opportunity to meet completely
different societies and cultures.” Ashkay
Vajpayee, India, Technion, accepted to
graduate studies at Stanford University.
2. Irish – Israeli Academic
Cooperation
Irish-Israeli Commonalities
• Ancient histories; Both host archeological
ruins older than the pyramids
• Revival of languages
• “Small Advanced Economies”
• Strong high-tech sectors
• 10 Nobel Laureates
• Chief Rabbi of Israel & 6th Israeli President
were Irish (Herzog)
Irish-Israeli
Academic Cooperation
• 3 Tempus projects
– Lifelong Learning in Applied Fields (University of
Dublin, Trinity College)
– Transnational Academic Careers in Child and Youth
Welfare (Trinity College Dublin)
– Student Active Learning in Science (National
Centre for Excellence in Math and Science)
• Erasmus Mundus
– EMAIL III (University College Dublin)
3. Israeli Priorities in
Erasmus+
Capacity Building
A. Subject Areas
Teacher training and education science,
Humanities, Social & behavioural science, Life
Sciences, Physical Sciences, Mathematics &
Statistics, Engineering, Health, Environment
B. Improving quality of education and
training
Bologna Process, Learning & Teaching Tools
Project
Idea
Capacity Building
C. Improving Management and operation
of HEIs
University services, Internationalisation of HE,
Access to and democratisation of HE
D. Developing the HE sector within society
at large
Project
Idea
Lifelong learning, University-business
cooperation & employability, knowledge triangle
International Credit Mobility
• 21.8% of funds directed to Southern
Mediterranean (90% incoming)
• Internationalization high priority for Israeli
institutions
• Developing new English programs; New
capacities for student exchange
• Recommendation to start with staff exchange
if no previous experience with Israel
• “Excellent students”
4. Challenges in Israeli HE/
Potential Project Ideas
Challenges for Israeli HE
• Current trends show stagnancy in the
number of students:
- Extra efforts are required to recruit
minority, Ultra-Orthodox and international
students
• Binary incentives are needed in budgeting
- the colleges have a greater role in society
and these roles should be incentivized
• Recruitment of new faculty
Academic Needs/Potential Projects
Internationalization
Empowering Female Academics
Development of Learning Technologies
Student Support Services
Access to Higher Education
• Widening access for disabled, learning disabilities,
disadvantaged populations, new immigrants Project
Idea
• Ultra- Orthodox & Minorities not represented
proportionally in higher education
% of Israeli
population
Proportion in HE
Ultra-Orthodox
Minorities*
8%-11%
21%
2%
8%
Main Barriers
Ultra Orthodox
• Knowledge gaps / core
curriculum(esp. for men)
Minorities
• Low matriculation &
psychometric success rates
• Language
• Lack of information and
guidance
• Lack of info and guidance
• Cultural and social
• Geographical accessibility
• Socio-economic
• Cultural and social
• Socio-economic
Access Through Holistic Support
• Launch of an holistic program for minorities:
HighSchool
PreAcademic
During
bachelors
Higher
degrees
and
faculty
• Pre-academic info & consultation
• Preparation: helping pre-academic students, excellence
scholarships
• Support in 1st year
• Employment guidance and practicum in 3rd year
• Encouraging advanced degrees & faculty
Large resources, steering committee,
dedicated budget
25 25
Project Ideas
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Innovation
Environmental Studies (Water)
Support for disadvantaged populations
Learning disabilities
Professional education
Knowledge Triangle
Business/University Collaboration
Teacher training
Student & Staff Exchange!!
Thank You!
Go raibh míle maith agaibh!
[email protected]