The Israeli Higher Education System

cil for Higher Educ 60of AcadeYmeairsc Excellence
ation

Seve
Coun

rence
Launch of the New Campus

1958-2018 Table of Contents
60th Anniversary
n t h of the CHE n f e

Annual Co Message from the Minister of Education and Chair of 2
the Council for Higher Education, Naftali Bennett
3
Message from the Chair of the Planning and
Budgeting Committee, Prof. Yaffa Zilbershats 5
6
Message from the Deputy Chair of the Council for 14
Higher Education, Prof. Ido Perlman 26
30
Facts and Figures
34
Access to Higher Education 36

High-Tech and the Humanities 46
47
The New Campus Vision

Internationalization in the Israeli Higher Education
System

Academic Research

Council for Higher Education (CHE) and Planning
and Budgeting Committee (PBC) Members

List of Academic Institutions

7th Annual Conference on Higher Education

Council for Higher Education | Planning and Budgeting Committee

28th of Cheshvan 5779 - November 6, 2018
Ramada Hotel, Jerusalem



Message from the Minister of Education and Chair of the Council Launch of the New Campus
for Higher Education, Naftali Bennett 1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 Distinguished guests and members of the higher education family in Israel,

2 The conference on higher education takes place this year as we mark the 60th anniversary of the Council for Higher
Education and the launch of the New Campus vision. One foot is deeply rooted in a long tradition of academic excellence in
Seventh research and teaching while the other foot faces forward toward opening academia to the world of entrepreneurship and
Annual innovation while adapting to changing digital needs.
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We are proud to announce that we have fulfilled the mission on which we set out to reinforce high-tech courses of study
and, for the first time, engineering studies is the most popular course of studies in Israel. Furthermore, according to our data,
one out of every four students in Israel in the past year studied engineering or computer science. At the same time, we are
continuing to work to reduce fees in over-burdened fields such as law and business administration, and the sharp decreases
in demand for these fields demonstrate that we are on the right path.

The world of basic research was, and remains, at the heart of higher education in the State of Israel. With an investment of
millions of shekels, we have greatly increased research funds’ budgets and for the first time, we have formulated a plan to
build and upgrade university research infrastructures.

Alongside these activities, we are continuing to work to broaden accessibility of higher education in the periphery: More
than 45,000 students come from towns that are low on the socioeconomic scale. Additionally, approximately one quarter
of students study in academic institutions located in southern and northern districts. There is no doubt that reinforcing
academic institutions in the periphery will result in strengthening the periphery as a whole.

The plan to make higher education accessible to Arab citizens has made impressive gains: Within a decade, the number
of Arab students has been doubled and the percentage of Arab students in academia is close to their proportion of the
population. Additionally, we are implementing a focused program in Bedouin society and among Arabs of East Jerusalem
in order to better integrate them into higher education. Alongside this, we are investing extensive efforts in integrating
Ethiopian expatriates and members of the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community and I am certain that in the next few years, we
will see a significant improvement here as well.

I wish to thank the members of the CHE for their great dedication and contribution to the future of higher education and the
State of Israel.

Wishing you a fruitful and successful academic year!

Naftali Bennett

Minister of Education and Chair of the
Council for Higher Education

Message from the Chair of the Planning and Budgeting Committee Launch of the New Campus
Prof. Yaffa Zilbershats 1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

Members of the Israeli academic system: Council for Higher Education

Why did we choose to mark 60 years of academic excellence by launching the important New Campus project? 3

The reason stems from the obligation imposed on each and every one of us to not only pat ourselves on the back for our Seventh
achievements but also to deal with those changes that impact the higher education system in the State of Israel and the rest Annual
of the world and redesign the system for which we are responsible in accordance with these changes. Conference

The central change stems from the Internet revolution which has altered every facet of our lives: Communication, social
interaction, consumerism, culture, and more.

There is no doubt that this revolution also has an impact on the world of education at every stage including study in
institutions of higher education. It is also clear that the Internet revolution impacts research methods, employment and, as
a result, the disappearance of certain professions and the birth of new ones, age of the students, and an easier transfer of
interdisciplinary knowledge between institutions in this country and outside of it, and more.

We are at the start of the third year of the six-year plan for the higher education system which commenced with the 2016/17
academic year and which will end in the 2021/22 academic year. It is important to us that academic institutions of higher
education in the State of Israel adjust to these changes and furthermore, take advantage of them in order to develop the
system and build a new and relevant campus.

In the field of education, there is no doubt that digital learning [e-learning] is a key component in adjusting to education
during the Internet generation. Here, we are at an advanced stage of the creation of excellent courses in institutions which
make knowledge accessible to their students as well as to those located outside their gates. In this context, I wish to praise
and thank those academic institutions which have joined the consortium that is currently putting together digital courses in
the field of computer science and which will, to a great extent, advance the ability to acquire know-how in this important
field.

Additionally, I expect a change in the coming years in the composition of students on campus. No longer shall it be a place
attended only by students in their twenties who wish to obtain know-how and a profession in which they will engage for
their entire lives. On the New Campus, we will have young persons as well as older adults who come to institutions of higher
education in order to broaden their knowledge or change careers. The New Campus is also the place where we realize the
Israeli hope of all of the population groups meeting up in one place.

We are obligated to help institutions make higher education accessible to Arabs, Bedouins, Druze, Ethiopians, Ultra-Orthodox
Jews, and residents of the periphery. We must ensure that their representation among the student population matches their
percentages in the population and that their stay on campus will assist them in learning and understanding one another. In
order to achieve this goal, we have joined with the Israeli Hope in Academia project led by the President of Israel, Mr. Reuven
Rivlin and which is being implemented in almost all institutions of higher education in the State of Israel.

Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 The campus of the future must include students from all over the world. Israel must become an educational center to
which the best students and researchers from all over the world. The international project which attracts we are leading in
the framework of our multiyear plan is intended to create an infrastructure in institutions of higher education to achieve this
important goal.

A central and important facet of the new future campus addresses the subject of entrepreneurship and innovation and
the academia-industry interface. A campus building which is relevant to these subjects has a number of levels: A training
and instructional level; a level for creating an environment of entrepreneurship and innovation on campus by means of
events, competitions, hackathons, etc.; a level for realizing entrepreneurial ideas while taking advantage of the campus
experience with all of its components to assist in this and opening the gates of academia to industry. This is indeed a new
campus which requires creativity and daring in order to build it. In order to encourage institutions to work in this direction,
we issued a competitive call offering an opportunity to win PBC grants for institutions to propose creative projects relating to
an innovative and entrepreneurial campus. Nineteen institutions of higher education took part in the process and submitted
very impressive, varied, and innovative proposals. All of these institutions, without a doubt, underwent a very important and
beneficial internal process which allowed them to properly prepare to build their campus in the new age. We will announce
the best proposals during the opening session of the conference.

I congratulate the three recipients of the Higher Education Prize and am greatly appreciative of their impressive achievements
in promoting the system, and welcome all of those guests who honor us with their presence as well as those participating
in the conference and all of its sessions, in particular the Minister of Education, the chairpersons of the CHE throughout the
years, as well as the chairpersons of the PBC throughout the years, all of whom will take part in the opening session of this
conference.

My thanks and gratitude to the President of Israel, Mr. Reuven Rivlin, who honors us with his presence, to the Honorable
Minister of Education and Chair of the CHE, Mr. Naftali Bennett, who is our partner on this path, and the institutions of higher
education, with whom working is both fruitful and challenging. Thank you to my colleagues, the Deputy Chair of the CHE,
Prof. Ido Perlman, the members of the PBC and the CHE, as well as the CEO, Mr. Matanyahu Engelman, the COOs, and the
entire excellent professional staffs of the CHE and PBC, without whom these ideas would remain on paper whereas with
them and thanks to them, we are making them a reality.

Prof. Yaffa Zilbershats

Chair of the Planning and Budgeting Committee

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Message from the Deputy Chair of the Council for Higher Launch of the New Campus
Education, Prof. Ido Perlman 1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

Members of the higher education family - greetings, Council for Higher Education

2018 marks 60 years since the founding of the Council for Higher Education. In 1958, when the Council for Higher 5
Education Law was enacted, there were five institutions of higher education in Israel - all universities. Over the years, there
has been much development both in terms of the number of institutions as well as their variety and, of course, the number of Seventh
students enrolled in the higher education system. Annual
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Currently, there are 62 institutions of higher education operating throughout Israel: Research universities, budgeted
academic colleges, non-budgeted colleges, and academic teacher colleges in which more than 300,000 students are
enrolled.

The Israeli higher educational system’s name precedes it around the world because of the impressive achievements attained
by these institutions over the years, including being home to recipients of prestigious awards: Nobel Prize, Fields Medal, and
others, as well as high placement in various international rankings.

Alongside these achievements, the Israeli higher education system faces many challenges including: An increase in research
budgets, dealing with a variety of populaces, making higher education accessible to the social periphery and the country’s
geographic periphery, promoting women, encouraging and promoting the humanities, promoting internationalism,
improving the quality of teaching including promoting teaching and digital learning, improving the teacher training system,
and more. The role of the CHE according to the powers granted under the CHE Law of 1958 is to serve as the sole regulator
of the higher education system in Israel, acting to promote and develop the higher education system including its planning
and budgeting (by means of the Planning at Budgeting Committee – the PBC) while maintaining the independence of the
system, regulating it, and ensuring its quality. Given the variety in the system, the CHE must find the balance between the
need to establish guidelines and rules which will ensure the above and assist the system in dealing with the challenges
it faces alongside the need to ease regulation and strengthen the institutions by placing greater accountability on the
institutions themselves using a risk-based approach.

The CHE will continue to act to ensure an appropriate academic level on the one hand while reducing regulation on the
other hand, and we expect all institutions of higher education to act responsibly to ensure quality higher education at the
highest level for the benefit of students, society in general, and the Israeli market.

I wish to thank all those who toiled in this endeavor, the Minister of Education and Chair of the CHE, MK Naftali Bennett, the
Chair of the PBC – Prof. Yaffa Zilbershats, the members of the CHE, the members of the academic and administrative staff at
the institutions of higher education, the Chair of the Student Union, and a special thank you to the dedicated and caring
professional staff of the management of the PBC/CHE.

Best wishes for continued cooperation and fruitful action,

Prof. (emeritus) Ido Perlman

Deputy Chair of the Council for Higher Education

OECD Ranking: Israel Ranks Second in the World in Percentage of Launch of the New Campus
25-64 year-olds with tertiary education 1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

The most recently published OECD report (September 2018) ranked Israel second in the world (after Canada)
for the percentage of native-born citizens aged 25-64 possessing a post-secondary or academic education
(48.5%).

The OECD Report:
Percentage of Persons With a Post-Secondary and Higher Education Among Persons, Aged 25-64

USA Israel Canada %06
%05
48% 49% 53%

OECD France Ireland
Average
36% 43%
34%
60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 Germany %04

30% %03

Italy %02

20%

%01

%0

‫הילטיא‬ ‫הינמרג‬ ‫ב"הרא דנלריא תפרצ עצוממ‬ ‫לארשי‬ ‫הדנק‬
DCEO Education at a Glance, 2018

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Institutions of Higher Education Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

The 2018/19 academic year marks 60 years for the CHE and 70 years of academic excellence in Israel. In 1948, Facts and Figures
approximately 1600 students were enrolled in 3 universities: The Technion, the Hebrew University, and the
Weitzman Institute of Science. Since then and over the course of 70 years, the academic system has grown and
currently includes 62 institutions of higher education: 8 research universities, the Open University, 20 budgeted
academic colleges, 12 non-budgeted colleges, and 21 academic teacher colleges. The budget for the higher
education system is approximately NIS 11.5 billion, the highest budget since the State was founded.

Multiyear View – Development of Institutions of Higher Education
(Absolute Numbers)

Colleges of Education/Teacher Colleges 59 65 67 66 64 63 63 62
Non-Budgeted Colleges
Budgeted Colleges
Universities

50 24 22 21 21 21 21 21

26

31 19 12 16 16 14 13 13 12

21 13 7 7 Council for Higher Education

7 2 16 18 21 21 21 21 21 20 20
51 8

88888888899

‫אוניברסיטאות‬ ‫מכללות מתוקצבות‬ ‫מכללות חוץ תקציביות‬ ‫מכללות אקדמיות לחינוך‬ 7

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Overall Number of Students and Bachelor’s Degree Students Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

In 2018/19, 306,600 students enrolled in academic institutions in Israel including: 230,800 bachelor’s degree
students, 63,400 master’s degree students, 11,400 doctoral students, and 1000 certificate program students.

After a large increase in the number of students for all degrees, from 89,060 students in the 1989/90 academic
year to 283,850 students in the 2009/10 academic year, we are witness in recent years to a stabilization in the
number of students (approximately 300,000 students for all degree levels). Similarly, alongside a moderate
increase in the number of students for advanced degrees, there is a slight decrease in the number of students
who are candidates for bachelor’s degrees. This stems, inter alia, from a stabilization in the percentage of those
eligible for matriculation in general and those meeting the threshold requirements for universities in particular, as
well as a slowdown in the growth rate in the relevant age group entering the higher education system.

Multiyear View – Bachelor’s Degree Students

Total
Bachelor’s Degree

306,440 306,600

283,850

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 199,240

89,060 159,560 221,810 230,895 230,800

68,250 1999/2000 2009/10 2017/18 2018/19

1989/90

8 The data include those enrolled in the Open University.
The student data appearing in this report are received from the Central Statistics Bureau in coordination with and with the guidance of the
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Number of Advanced Degree Students Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

This growth trend in advanced degrees has continued in 2018/2019 as well: An analysis of the data demonstrates Facts and Figures
that since the start of the 21st century, the number of master’s degree students has doubled. In 2018/19, 63,400
students are enrolled in Israel in master’s degree programs as compared to only 31,340 in 1999/2000. Doctoral
programs are characterized by a similar trend: 11,400 students enrolled in the 2018/19 academic year as
compared to only 6,650 in the 1999/2000 academic year.

Multiyear View – Advanced Degree Students

Master’s Degree
Doctoral Degree

1989/90 1999/2000 2009/10 2017/18 2018/19 Council for Higher Education

The data includes those enrolled in the Open University. 9

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Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

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of the CHE

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018

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Students by Institution Type Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

An examination of the number of students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs divided by institutions Facts and Figures
demonstrates that until the start of the 1990s, most students (85%) were enrolled in universities. Since then, as
previously noted, there have been significant changes in the structure of the higher education system and at
the beginning of the 21st century, approximately half of bachelor’s degree students were enrolled in universities
and the remainder in colleges. During the course of the past decade, the CHE and the PBC encouraged a policy
of transferring academic responsibility for study tracks at budgeted colleges from the universities to complete
independence within the framework of the colleges, a process which increased the percentage of students
enrolled in colleges. The percentage of bachelor’s degree students enrolled in colleges currently stands at 60%
and in universities at 40%.

Students by Institution Type (Percentages)

1989/90 Total Total Total Budgeted Non- Academic
Students Universities Academic Academic budgeted Colleges of
Colleges Colleges Academic Education
55,250 85.0 Colleges
15.0 3.4 8.6
3.0

99/2000 126,900 52.8 47.2 20.2 11.8 15.2

2009/10 178,740 37.2 62.8 33.0 18.5 11.3

2016/17 191,240 38.9 61.1 29.6 18.1 13.4 Council for Higher Education

2017/18 189,845 39.1 60.9 29.7 18.0 13.2

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Increase in Number of Senior Academic Faculty at Universities Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

The number of senior academic Faculty members at universities has increased since the 1989/90 academic
year by approximately 40%, from 3,900 faculty members (FTE) to approximately 5,400 in the 2017/18
academic year. With that, in the decade between 1999/2000 and 2009/10, there was a significant decrease
in the number of faculty members, parallel to a significant increase in the number of students in the system.
As part of the goals of the CHE’s multiyear plan for 2010/11-2015/16, emphasis was placed on recruiting
young and excelling academic faculty and as a result and the number of faculty members has begun to
once again increase, albeit at a relatively moderate rate.

Senior Academic faculty (FTE) at Research Universities, by Year

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018

1989/90
1990/91
1991/92
1992/93
1993/94
1994/95
1995/96
1996/97
1997/98
1998/99
1999/00
2000/01
2001/02
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16
2016/17
2017/18
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Increase in Number of Senior Academic Faculty at Colleges Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

The CHE’s data indicates a significant improvement in the ratio between senior faculty members at budgeted Facts and Figures
colleges and the number of students, which is expressed in small class sizes and an improvement in instructional
quality.

According to the data from the past 6 years, 500 senior faculty members were added to colleges, constituting
an increase of approximately 40%. As a result of this increase, the ratio between senior faculty and students
decreased from 1:43 in 2010 to 1:33 in 2017.

Increase in Number of Senior faculty at Colleges ,

,,
,,
,,
,,

2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 Expected Council for Higher Education
The goal is in relation to the number of students in colleges as of the 2017/18 academic year.
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Doubling the Number of Arab Students Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 The multiyear plan for the 2016/17-2021/22 set goals for expanding the representation of the Arabs in higher
education commensurate with their share of the population. The targets that were set for 2022 have already
been achieved in 2019.

• Bachelor’s Degree – 17% (according to the target)

• Master’s Degree – 14% (exceeds the established target of 12%)

• Doctoral Degree – 6.7% (close to the target which was 7%)

From the data, it emerges that in 2008, 22,543 Arab students were enrolled in academic institutions in Israel, for
all degree levels. Thanks to the broad support system provided, their number doubled within a decade, and there
were 48,627 Arab students studying in Israel in 2018. The sharp increase means that CHE was able to meet the
goals set for making higher education accessible to Arab students during the current academic year, three years
before originally planned.

The increase in the integration of Arab students is the result of a comprehensive holistic program implemented by
the PBC starting in high school and through advanced degree studies.

The Rowad Program operates in 45 towns and provides exposure, information, advice, and direction to academia
as well as support for relevant courses (such as psychometric exam prep). There are special support programs
for Arab students in pre-academic preparatory programs and those studying for bachelor’s degrees, including
language enrichment in Hebrew and English, and academic, economic, and social support.

Additionally, dedicated career centers were established for Arab students at institutions of higher education, and
during their studies an Irteka Scholarship is awarded to 800 students each cycle. The students are selected on the
basis of their socioeconomic condition and enrollment in preferred fields of study. The scholarship is granted for
the entire degree program.

The percentage refers to the percentage of Arab students out of all those enrolled at the same degree level.

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1958-2018

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Number of Arab Students (including the Open University) Access to Higher Education

2006/07 Council for Higher Education
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16
2016/17
2017/18

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1958-2018

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Scholarships for Advanced Degrees and Hiring Outstanding Faculty Members

The PBC supports encouraging excellence and grants scholarships for excellence in advanced degrees to Arab
students. Scholarships are awarded to master’s degree students, doctoral students, as well as postdoctoral
students.

Similarly, the PBC provides support for hiring outstanding Arab faculty members by means of Ma’of
Scholarships designated for outstanding young scientists. Their purpose is to enable recipients to be
accepted to universities and colleges financed by the PBC. The institutions commit to accepting scholarship
recipients as full-time staff members at the end of the scholarship. From 2009 and until 2019, the PBC
granted 51 Ma’of Scholarships to a total of approximately NIS 50,000,000 to outstanding Arab academic
faculty members.

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 The “Gateway to Academia” Program to Integrate Bedouin Students From
the Negev into Higher Education

The “Gateway to Academia” Program operated over three years as a pilot program at the Sapir Academic
College and, following its success, was expanded during the 2018/19 academic year to four additional academic
institutions operating in the Negev: Ben Gurion University, the Open University, Achva Academic College,
Ashkelon College. For this purpose, more than NIS 200 million was allocated to three cycles, most of the money
from the PBC’s budget and the rest from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Education.

“Gateway to Academia” provides a holistic response to the unique needs of Bedouin students in the Negev. The
holistic response includes a preparatory year which provides practical experience along with academic studies
and extensive assistance in quality integration into bachelor’s degree studies in a variety of preferential fields of
study. Similarly, extensive linguistic, academic, cultural, and economic assistance is provided in order to ease the
integration of Bedouin students into academia and help them complete their studies successfully.

In the framework of the “Gateway to Academia” program, a goal was set to increase the number of first year
bachelor’s degree Bedouin students by 75% such that their numbers would increase to at least 1500 in the
2021/22 academic year as compared to 854 first year students in 2015/16.

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Doubling the Number of Arab Students Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

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of the CHE

Increasing Access to Higher Education for Arab Residents of East Jerusalem Access to Higher Education

Further to the government’s decision on the matter, the PBC set a goal for the next five years to double the
number of students, residents of East Jerusalem, who are starting first year bachelor’s degree studies from 300
students in 2016/17 to 600 students in 2022/23. Additionally, an increase of approximately 75% is expected in
the number of preparatory students, from 400 students in 2016/17 to 700 students in 2022/23. Currently, most
students from East Jerusalem study teaching and education, and the goal is to open additional avenues of study
to them including STEM subjects. The multiyear budget approved for implementation of the plan is estimated at
approximately NIS 260 million of which approximately NIS 170 million is from the PBC budget and NIS 90 million
from the Ministry of Finance.

The Number of Druze Students Has Doubled in the Past Decade

The number of Druze students has doubled in the past decade and in the 2017/18 academic year, reached
4865 students, compared to 2300 students in the 2007/08 academic year. 3806 were enrolled in bachelor’s
degree programs, 963 in master’s degree programs, 66 in doctoral programs, and 30 in certificate programs.
Approximately 42% of Druze students are enrolled in universities, 43% in academic colleges, and 14% in colleges
of education. The number of female Druze students in the 2017/18 academic year was approximately two-thirds
compared to representing 60% of the general population.

Council for Higher Education

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Fostering Academic Excellence Among Ethiopian Students Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 The multiyear plan set a goal to increase the number of Ethiopian students enrolled in bachelor’s degree
programs such that the percentage of such students would be approximately 1.7% by the end of the multiyear
plan, commensurate with their percentage of the population. This goal means an increase of approximately 40%
of the number of bachelor’s degree students from 2500 at the start of the five-year period to approximately 3500
within five years.

The program will provide a framework for preparatory students and bachelor’s degree students of Ethiopian
descent which will include preparation for entrance exams, academic reinforcement, dormitory and travel
financing, etc. Similarly, the number of “Hesegim” Program coordinators will be increased to make higher
education accessible to youth from the periphery and they will work in the ten leading towns in terms of the size
of the population of Ethiopian descent. The coordinators’ role will be to identify suitable youth and guide them
toward academic studies as well as assist them in choosing their field of study.

At the same time and as a central element, the Steering Committee is promoting excellence and leadership
in an approach which includes support and encouragement for excelling students throughout all degrees,
from bachelor’s degrees through master’s research degrees, doctorates, and all the way to hiring academic staff
members of Ethiopian descent in institutions of higher education. The program will enable the community of
persons of Ethiopian descent to advance toward excellence and realization of the social and academic potential
of the students.

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Increasing Access to Higher Education for Ultra-Orthodox Jews Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

The CHE and the PBC dedicate significant efforts and resources toward making higher education accessible Access to Higher Education
to the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish population and integrating it into the Israeli workplace and society. These efforts
rely on two guiding principles: 1. Recognizing the unique characteristics of the Ultra-Orthodox population and Council for Higher Education
integrating them into academia while respecting their way of life. 2. Recognizing the educational gaps in this
population compared to non-Ultra-Orthodox populations, primarily as the result of the failure to learn core
curriculum studies.

The Ultra-Orthodox Centers Program to expand accessibility to higher education for the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish
population commenced in 2011. In the framework of the program, 15 dedicated academic centers were
established for the Ultra-Orthodox population, spread out all over the country with a wide variety of fields of
study.

Between the 2014/15 and 2016/17 academic years, PBC/CHE acted to formulate a multiyear policy for the
2016/17-2021/22 academic years with regard to expanding accessibility of higher education to the Ultra-
Orthodox population. This new policy was approved by the CHE in the month of May 2017. This policy continues
the development of existing Ultra-Orthodox Centers alongside opening integration possibilities on ordinary
campuses, in separate classrooms or within ordinary classrooms. Approximately a year ago, the first pilot was
launched to examine the separated classroom track in a number of academic institutions. Similarly, emphasis was
placed in the program on those fields required in the marketplace and among the Ultra-Orthodox, including
high-tech fields as well as training teachers for the Ultra-Orthodox population, particularly in core curriculum
subjects. The total number of Ultra-Orthodox students enrolled in institutions of higher education in 2017/18
was more than 13,000 students: approximately 10,000 bachelor’s degree students, approximately 1600 master’s
degree students, and approximately 2000 preparatory students, compared to a total of 6000 Ultra-Orthodox
students enrolled in all degree programs in the 2010/11 academic year. The target for the 2021/22 academic
year is 19,000 students. The total budget designated to the multiyear (6 years) program is approximately NIS 1.2
billion.

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Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

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of the CHE

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018

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Women Constitute Approximately 60% of Students in Academia Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

Women Constitute Approximately 60% of Students in Academia Access to Higher Education

Women are currently the majority in each degree level: Bachelor’s degrees – 58%, master’s degrees – 63%,
and doctoral degrees – 53%. The percentage of women among those enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs
has continued to increase in the past few years, primarily as the result of an increase in the percentage of
women in academic colleges: From 49% in the 2009/10 academic year to 57% in the 2017/18 academic year.
In universities, the percentage of women decreased from 55% in the 2009/10 academic year to 53% in the
2017/18 academic year.

There has also been an impressive increase over the years in the participation of women in advanced degree
studies. In the 1989/90 academic year, the percentage of women among those studying for a master’s degree
surpassed 50%. In the 2017/18 academic year, the percentage of women enrolled in a master’s degree program
in colleges was 65% compared to 58% in the universities and, on average, the percentage of women enrolled
in a master’s degree program was 63% of all students. The percentage of women among students enrolled in
a doctoral program increased for the first time above 50% at the end of the 1990s and in the past few years has
stabilized at approximately 53%.

Multiyear View – An Increase in the Percentage of Women in Academia

53.6 54.8 58.1 58.4 62.7
50.3
1989/90 52.7 52.8
99/2000 41.3 Council for Higher Education
2009/10
2016/17

‫ תש"ן‬2017/18
‫תש"ס‬

‫תש"ע‬
‫תשע"ז‬
‫תשע"ח‬

Bach‫ן‬e‫שו‬lo‫א‬r’s‫ר‬d‫ר‬e‫א‬g‫ו‬r‫ת‬ee Ma‫י‬s‫נ‬t‫ש‬er’‫ר‬s ‫א‬de‫תו‬gree ‫שי‬D‫י‬o‫ל‬c‫ש‬to‫ר‬ra‫א‬te‫תו‬ 21

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Women in STEM Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

In STEM (science and high-tech) fields, the integration of women in bachelor’s degrees and, as a result, advanced
degree programs, is insufficient. CHE data shows that despite half of those taking five study unit matriculation
exams being women, in academic studies, the percentage of women studying high-tech subjects is lower and in
the 2017/18 academic year reached an average of 27%. As a result, the percentage of women employed in the
high-tech industry is only 26%.

In light of this, the PBC allocated a line of incentives designed to encourage female students to enter these fields.

The P(einrcPenertacgenetoafgFese)mPaelreceSntutadgeenstsoAf Scctuodrdeinntgs tboyFFiieellddo–f 2S0t1u7d/y18– 2018

Total Bachelor’s
Degree
58.1

Paramedical Studies 82.2

Teacher Education and Training 79.6

Social Sciences 69.1

Biological Sciences 68.7

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 Architecture 67.5

Humanities 63.3

Medicine 60.1

Business Administration 59.8

Law 52.5

Agriculture 51.7

Physical Sciences 38.5

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science 33

22 Engineering 28.5

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Increasing the Number of Female Academic Staff Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

The PBC and the CHE are acting to increase awareness of gender equality in institutions of higher education Access to Higher Education
as well as to increase female representation among the academic staff and as senior management at these
institutions. To this end, the CHE and the PBC relied on the relevant reports by Prof. Rivka Carmi from 2011 and
the report by Prof. Ruth Arnon from 2013.

To reach this goal, the following incentives were provided:

• Scholarships for outstanding female postdoctoral students in the sum of up to $80,000 (for two years)
• Scholarships for female doctoral students in high-tech fields in the sum of NIS 150,000 (for three years) and

scholarships for female master’s degree students in high-tech fields in the sum of NIS 80,000 (for two years)
• Prizes in the sum of approximately 1 million shekels per year to institutions which excel in promoting and

implementing gender equality
• Dedicated budget for activities by advisors to the president on gender equality in institutions of higher

education

Female Senior Faculty Members (Percentages and Absolute Numbers)

Council for Higher Education

2002/03 23
2003/04
2004/05 Seventh
2005/06 Annual
2006/07 Conference
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16

Access to Higher Education in the Periphery: Launch of the New Campus
Over 47,000 Students Come from Towns that are Located in Low 1958-2018
Socioeconomic Clusters.
60th Anniversary
of the CHE

The sharp increase in the number of students in the past several decades is also expressed in significant
achievements in expanding accessibility to higher education among the population living in the periphery and
among weak population groups.

Data shows that in the 2017/18 academic year, more than 47,000 bachelor’s degree students, 29% of the total
number of bachelor’s degree students, came from towns located in low socioeconomic clusters (Clusters 1-4).
In colleges that are budgeted by the PBC, the percentage of students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs
coming from these towns was higher than other institutions and stood at 33.4%

Making Higher Education Accessible to the Periphery

‫ון‬T‫ש‬o‫א‬ta‫ר‬l -‫ר‬B‫א‬a‫תו‬ch‫ל‬e‫ם‬lo‫טי‬r’s‫דנ‬d‫ו‬e‫ט‬g‫ס‬re‫כ‬e"‫סה‬
‫ם‬U‫יי‬n‫ש‬iv‫א‬e‫ר‬rs‫ם‬iti‫י‬e‫ס‬s‫פו‬- ‫מ‬M‫ק‬ai-n‫ת‬c‫ו‬a‫א‬m‫ט‬p‫סי‬u‫ר‬s‫אוניב‬
‫ת‬C"o‫ת‬m‫י ו‬p"‫ע‬re‫ת‬h‫ו‬e‫ב‬n‫צ‬s‫ק‬iv‫ו‬e‫מת‬co‫ת‬lle‫לו‬g‫ל‬e‫כ‬s‫ &מ‬Academies
‫ת‬P‫ו‬r‫י‬i‫ב‬v‫י‬a‫צ‬t‫ק‬e‫ת‬co‫ץ‬ll‫ו‬e‫ח‬g‫ת‬es‫מכללו‬
40.00%
45.00%

43.60%

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 25.20% 31.30%
22.00%
21.10%
19.80% 30.80%
22.70%
23.70%
19.60%

7.90% 2.70%
7.00% 3.40%
1.90%
9.70% 2.50%
7.20%

1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10
‫קמפוסים ראשיים‬So- c‫ת‬i‫ו‬o‫טא‬e‫י‬c‫ס‬o‫בר‬n‫י‬o‫אונ‬mic Clu‫ת‬s"t‫ת‬e‫ו‬rs‫מכללות מתוקצבות ע"י‬
‫סה"כ סטודנטים לתואר ראשון‬ ‫מכללות חוץ תקציביות‬

24

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Significant Increase in the Number of Students in Academic Institutions in Launch of the New Campus
the Southern and Northern Districts 1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

In the 2017/18 academic year, we witnessed a significant achievement: 24% of bachelor’s degree students Access to Higher Education
enrolled in institutions located in the northern and southern districts. 9.8% studying in the north and 14.5% in the
south. This is a significant change that developed over almost three decades. In the 1989/1990 academic year,
only 9% of bachelor’s degree students studied in the southern area while the northern areas did not offer any
academic studies whatsoever.

This change is a key factor in developing the periphery in the State of Israel and is a result of the college revolution
and the care taken to ensure that the colleges are spread throughout the State of Israel, from Tel Hai in the north
to Eilat in the south.

Bachelor’s Degree Students According to the District of the Institution (in Percentages)
Bachelor’s Degree Students According to Districts of Institution (Percentages)

Total – Absolute 1989/90 1999/2000 2009/10 2016/17 2017/18 Council for Higher Education
Nos.
55,250 126,900 178,740 191,240 189,845
Total – Percentages 100 100 100 100 100
Jerusalem 22.7 15.5 13.4 13.7 13.7
North .. 5.3 9.2 9.7 9.8
Haifa 21.7 17.9 13.9 13.4 12.4
Center 4.1 15.9 17.4 17.6 17.8
Tel Aviv 42.8 31.5 30.8 31.2 31.8
South 8.7 13.9 15.3 14.3 14.5

25

Seventh
Annual
Conference

High-Tech Revolution – For the First Time: Launch of the New Campus
Engineering is the Largest Program of Studies in Israel 1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 An impressive achievement in implementation of the national plan to reinforce engineering and high-tech
professions: From the 2017/18 data, we see that for the first time, engineering studies have achieved the highest
enrollment in Israel in bachelor’s degree programs (34,660 students constituting approximately 18.3% of all
bachelor’s degree students).

Engineering studies have thus surpassed social sciences (34,030 students constituting 17.9% of all bachelor’s
degree students) which, throughout the years, were considered the most popular courses of study in Israel.
An increase of approximately 50% was also noted in the study of mathematics and computer science, 15,553
students in the 2017/18 academic year as compared to 10,434 students in the 2011/12 academic year. Thus, one
out of every four students in Israel in the past year studied engineering or computer science (50,214 students out
of a total of 189,845 bachelor’s degree students).

In the framework of the multiyear high-tech reinforcement plan and in light of the government’s decision on the
matter, the PBC allocated incentives of hundreds of millions of shekels to academic institutions in order to absorb
students, hire academic staff, and build and upgrade research and teaching infrastructures.

Data shows that there is a sharp decrease in courses of study such as law and business administration which
were very popular at the start of the decade. According to data, the study of law has decreased from 16,446
students in 2011/12 to 13,168 students in 2017/18. Business administration studies has decreased from 22,654
students in 2011/12 to 18,401 students in 2017/18.

26

Seventh
Annual
Conference

High-Tech Revolution – For the First Time: Launch of the New Campus High-Tech and the Humanities
Engineering is the Largest Program of Studies in Israel 1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

Multiyear Perspective – Distribution of Bachelor’s Degree Students According to Field of Study
Multiyear View – Breakdown of bachelor’s degree Students by Discipline

Total – Percentages 1986/87 2016/17 2017/18 Council for Higher Education
Engineering 100 100 100
16.6 18.1 18.3
Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science 4.7 7.3 8.2
Humanities 9.5 5.8 5.9
14.4 17 17
Teacher Education and Training 2.8 3.1 3.1
Art and Design 21.4 18.6 17.9
9.3 9.8 9.7
Social Sciences 9.4 7.2 6.9
Business Administration 0.9 1.1 1.1
4.7 6.5 6.5
Law 1.8 1.4 1.4
Medicine 3.2 2.6 2.5
Paramedical Studies 0.5 0.6 0.5
Physical Sciences 0.9 1 1
Biological Sciences
Agriculture
Architecture

The data does not include those enrolled in the Open University. 27
Engineering studies include the following fields: Electrical engineering and electronics, computer engineering and programming,
information system engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical and material engineering, industrial engineering and Seventh
Annual
management, and other forms of engineering. Conference

Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018

28

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Comprehensive Multiyear Plan to Reinforce the Humanities Launch of the New Campus High-Tech and the Humanities
in the Amount of NIS 100 Million 1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

Comprehensive Multiyear Plan to Reinforce the Humanities
in the Amount of NIS 100 Million

The downward trend in the number of students studying the humanities continues. CHE is expected, in the
near future, to adopt a comprehensive multiyear plan to promote the humanities at academic institutions with
a budget of approximately NIS 100 million. These budgets are intended, inter alia, to reinforce research, develop
new study programs, and leverage dual major degrees integrating the humanities with other disciplines including
high-tech courses of study, life sciences, and social sciences.

Humanities Students (Bachelor’s Degree)

2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18

19,379 19,179 19,100 19,591 19,551 18,663 18,013 17,189 16,978

Council for Higher Education

29

Seventh
Annual
Conference

The New Campus Vision Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 The New Campus is the flagship program of the Council for Higher Education’s current six-year plan (2017-
2022). The launch of the New Campus is the result of a review of the entire higher education system followed
30 by an understanding that alongside impressive achievements, the system must also address changes in the
world of higher education and adapt to them. Central among these changes is the internet revolution, which
Seventh has a tremendous impact on education at every stage, as well as on research methods, and on employment.
Annual This revolution has led to the disappearance of certain professions, and to the birth of new ones, to a global shift
Conference toward life-long-learning, and to greater inter-disciplinarity and a broader exchange of knowledge between
institutions in Israel and abroad.

The New Campus addresses these elements, all of which together create the vision of a modern campus, one
which is adapted to the 21st century, and which encourages openness and entrepreneurship while removing
barriers between staff and students, between the different disciplines, and between academia and industry.

Digital Learning – Innovative Teaching, Accessible to All

The Internet allows one to reach realms of knowledge using digital tools without the need to be physically
present in class. In order to maximize the potential of digital learning online academic courses are
being developed. These courses are an efficient means of improving teaching quality and the learning
experience, while making higher education more accessible.

Through this initiative, state-of-the-art academic online courses are being produced, which offer lecturers a variety
of tools and options, such as interactive presentations and videos, that help improve the transfer of knowledge
and enhance the students’ learning experience,

Online courses are free, open, and accessible to all, and therefore help reduce societal gaps while allowing
potential students and the public at large to freely sample a variety of subjects and disciplines and to make
informed decisions about what to study and where.

In order to connect to the global digital learning revolution, the State of Israel has joined the international edX
platform established by Harvard University and MIT. This permits local academic institutions to offer courses on
the platform, which appear under the caption IsraelX. Additionally, edX assisted in establishing an Israeli platform,
Campus, on which courses offered by academic institutions in Israel are also made accessible.

The Council for Higher Education promotes the production of online courses through a series of calls for
proposals, which offer financial support. The headquarters for this national initiative – Digital Israel – in the Ministry
for Social Equality is a partner in this process.

The New Campus Vision Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

New Campus – Digital InstructionNew Campus – Digital Teaching The New Campus Vision

Israeli Online Instruction International
Campus
IsraelX

Expansion Advanc- Collaboration Connection to the
of ing Digital Israel - Knowledge

Accessibil- Teaching/ Ministry of Revolution – Import
ity Instruc- Social Equality and Export of
PBC - CHE - Education
tion Academic Knowledge
26 Elective and Core Courses
Two (2) Calls to Two (2) Calls to Council for Higher Education
Action in High-tech Subjects Action
on the National and
Were Issued to International Platforms. Were Issued to
Finance Win by a Consortium to Put Out Finance

60 a Call to Action 19
in Digital Learning in the Field
Courses for the Courses for the
International Platform of High-Tech International
Platform

31

Seventh
Annual
Conference

The New Campus Vision Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

The Start-Up Nation Meets Academia

Israel as a country is characterized by its entrepreneurial nature and has become a leader in innovation.
Until recently though, academic institutions did not see entrepreneurship and innovation as part of their
mission. The New Campus Vision aims to expose students and faculty from all disciplines to the world of
entrepreneurship and innovation, as is the practice in leading institutions around the world.

The development of an entrepreneurial culture on campus by means of workshops, contests, hackathons
and “meet-ups” is central to this process. These types of events create interest amongst students and
researchers and enable them to exchange ideas, learn, gain in-depth knowledge, and hopefully also find
partners for their projects.

Furthermore, the New Campus will enable students to become active learners, and hopefully help
transform academic institutions into spaces that encourage groundbreaking innovation. For this purpose,
entrepreneurship and innovation centers will be established on campuses, where students from all parts
of campus will receive training in entrepreneurship and will work together with lecturers and researchers
as well as with professional mentors to create meaningful projects which aim to impact society. The
entrepreneurship centers will thus assist in turning the campus into an entrepreneurial ecosystem that
encourages innovation and creativity, removes barriers, and strengthens academia-industry collaboration.

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 Converting Libraries to Centers of Knowledge and Social Centers

The unique environment offered by the academic libraries, as well as academia in its entirety, must deal with the
challenges of adjustment to the New Campus. The transfer from books, catalogues, and journals to knowledge
which for the most part is located on digital media, as well as the transfer from individual learning in a quiet space
during limited hours to an ecosystem of cooperative team learning at all hours of the day, requires changes to be
made to academic libraries.

32

Seventh
Annual
Conference

The New Campus Vision Launch of the New Campus
To Develop Ideas 1958-2018

That Will Do Good in the World 60th Anniversary
of the CHE

The New Campus Vision

Council for Higher Education

33

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Internationalization in the Israeli Higher Education System Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 Strengthening Internationalization is intended to increase the competitive level of Israeli academia by accepting
outstanding students from abroad and strengthening the international reputation of Israeli institutions. In addition
promotion of Internationalization in higher education is extremely important not just from academic standpoint,
but also from political (diplomatic ties with foreign countries), social and economic standpoints.

The percentage of international students studying in Israel currently stands at approximately 1.4%.
This percentage is significantly lower than the average in OECD countries, which currently stands at
approximately 6%. This stems, inter alia, from language difficulties as most instruction at institutions of
higher education in Israel is offered in Hebrew. Similarly, there are political obstacles such as visas and work
permits for spouses which hinder the ability to open the gates of these institutions to international students.
Currently, the staff of the CHE/PBC are working to remove obstacles vis-à-vis the relevant entities within
various governmental ministries.

In the framework of this program, quantitative goals have been set for international student enrolment such
that: In 2022, it is expected that approximately 24,000 international students will study in Israel as opposed to
approximately 11,000 international students in 2017.

According to these quantitative targets, between 2017-2022, there will be an expected increase of 120% (from
1043 to 2300) in the percentage of international postdoctoral students and an increase of 60% (from 791 to
1265) in the number of international doctoral students accepted in institutions in Israel. Similarly, during the same
years, we will double (from 1462 to 3000) the number of international master’s degree students and expect an
increase of 30% (from 1933 to 2500) in the number of international bachelor’s degree students. The goals set
by the CHE and the PBC also address the expected increase of 150% (from 6000 to 15,000) in the number of
international students enrolled in short programs (such as summer courses, semester abroad, and so forth).

34

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Internationalization in the Israeli Higher Education System Launch of the New Campus InternationalizatioTnheinNtehwe HCaigmhpeur Es dVuisciaotnion System
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

Full Degrees: Multiyear Goal – General Increase of 118%

Chart Title

‫תואר ראשון‬ (‫תואר שני )ללא תיזה‬ ‫דוקטורט‬ ‫פוסט דוקטורט‬ Percent
of
growth

3,000 105%

1,933 2,500 30%
1,462 2,300 120%
1,043
60%
791
1,265

‫ז‬2"0‫ע‬1‫ש‬6/‫ת‬17 ‫ח‬20"‫ע‬17‫ש‬/1‫ת‬8 ‫ט‬20"‫ע‬18‫ש‬/1‫ת‬9 2‫פ‬0"1‫ש‬9/‫ת‬20 ‫א‬20"‫פ‬20‫ש‬/2‫ת‬1 2‫ב‬0"2‫פ‬1‫ש‬/2‫ת‬2 Council for Higher Education

Bachelor’s degree
Master’s degree
Doctorate
Post Doctorate

35

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Budgeting for Research Foundations Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

The research foundations that are budgeted [financed] by the PBC are the backbone of basic competitive
research in the State of Israel. In the multiyear plan for the years 2017/18-2021/22, there has been a
significant increase in the budgets for the research foundations provided by the PBC, with the goal of allowing
researchers to reach significant achievements and promote Israel’s scientific standing around the world. In
this context, we emphasize that according to the Shanghai rankings (2018), the Hebrew University and the
Technion are ranked among the 100 best universities in the world. Similarly, Israeli research universities also
lead in other international rankings.

Research Funds Budget (millions NIS)

2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19

772 897 970.3 1,017

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018

36

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Incremental Increase of 50% in the Israel Science Foundation Budget Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

The multiyear plan to reinforce research infrastructures includes an incremental increase of 50% in the Israel Academic Research
Science Foundation budget. The core budget of the fund in 2021/22 will be, at the end of the multiyear plan,
approximately NIS 570 million per year and the entire budget will be approximately NIS 700 million per year.
These budgetary supplements are intended, inter alia, to increase the number of grants and amount of the
research grants, as well as to expand the incentives they include, such as: Encouragement of research with
international partners and special research programs, including: personalized medicine, quantum medicine, etc.
We note that more than 95% of the Foundation’s activities are financed from PBC funds.

The Israel Science Foundation – Multiyear Budget (millions NIS)

696.4 ‫ב‬2"0‫פ‬2‫ש‬1‫ת‬/22 Council for Higher Education
659.2
622.1 ‫א‬2"0‫פ‬2‫ש‬0‫ת‬/21
573.54
543.87 ‫פ‬2"0‫ש‬1‫ת‬9/20
497.88
463.24 ‫ט‬2"0‫ע‬1‫ש‬8‫ת‬/19
419.74 ‫ח‬2"0‫ע‬1‫ש‬6/‫ת‬17
383.95 ‫ז‬2"0‫ע‬1‫ש‬5‫ת‬/16
364.07 ‫ו‬2"‫ע‬0‫ש‬14‫ת‬/15
337.9 ‫תשע"ה‬
319.26 2013/14
281.97 ‫תשע"ד‬
‫ג‬2"0‫ע‬1‫ש‬2‫ת‬/13
700 600 500 400 300 200 100 ‫ב‬2"0‫ע‬1‫ש‬1/‫ת‬12
‫א‬2"0‫ע‬1‫ש‬0‫ת‬/11
2‫ע‬0"‫ש‬09‫ת‬/10

0

37

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Increase in the BSF-NSF Program Budget Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

The BSF-NSF Program began operating in 2013 with the purpose of encouraging research collaborations
between Israeli researchers and American researchers. This is a prestigious program for grants in a line of areas
of research, including: exact sciences, engineering and computer science, natural and life sciences, earth and
environmental sciences, economics, psychology, etc.

In the coming years, we expect an incremental increase of approximately 60% in the budget for the BSF-
NSF Program such that at the end of the multiyear plan (2021/22), it will stand at NIS 38 million per year. The
program’s budget will make it possible to significantly increase the number of research grants financed by the
Foundation, expand the variety of areas of research, and reinforce the collaboration between American and
Israeli scientists.

Multiyear Budget – The BSF-NMultiyear Budget – BSF-NSF ProgramSF Program

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 BSF-NSF 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Cumulative
5.7 24.5 33.7 35.5 36.4 37.5 38.3 Supplement

171.7

38

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Increase in the Horizon 2020 Budget Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

In 2014, the EU’s Horizon 2020 Program commenced and will continue until 2020. The program’s scope is Academic Research
expected to stand NIS 77 billion for the duration of the 7 year program . Israel’s share in the European R&D
programs was determined according to the ratio of the Israeli GDP to the total European GDP (including Israel)
and is financed in the following manner: PBC – 50%; Ministry of the Economy – 35%; Ministry of Science – 10%;
other relevant ministries – 5%.

In the past few years, there has been an increase in the Israeli GDP in relation to the total European GDP.
Additionally, the scope of the European program has been expanded. As a result, the State has been required to
significantly increase its participation in the program which translates into an increase in the participation of the
financing entities. Accordingly, the PBC’s share of the financing of the program increased from approximately NIS
330 million in 2015/16 (actual) to approximately NIS 520 million in 2018/19 (budgeted).

The Horizon 2020 Program Budget

Participation of the State of Israel in millions of NIS
Participation of the PBC (50%) in NIS millions

1,098

606 Council for Higher Education
549

303

2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 39

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Establishing and Upgrading Research Infrastuctures Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 The ability to conduct quality research that is at the forefront of global science is dependent on the development
of research infrastructures. In the multiyear program for 2017-2022, the issue of research infrastructures has been
marked as a central goal and dedicated budgetary supplements have been allocated to this issue in the sum of
NIS 870 million, as specified below:

The multiyear plan includes dedicated budgets to establish and upgrade research infrastructures at research
universities in the scope of approximately NIS 460 million, including:

• Equipment grants for new researchers employed at universities for less than three years.

• Equipment grants for mid-career researchers with 10-20 years seniority in the university system.
The program will assist outstanding researchers at this level of seniority in renewing their laboratories and
maximizing scientific potential.

• Institutional equipment grants – Expensive equipment serving the research needs of a wide range of users,
and managed at the institutional level.

• Participation grants for hiring and employing professional staff to operate institutional research
infrastructures.

• Research grants to make infrastructure centers accessible to researchers in order to assist researchers in
financing the use of these infrastructures, where the cost of using them exceeds existing financing options
available through research grants commonly provided in Israel.

The teaching and research infrastructures upgrades in institutions of higher education plan is in the sum of
approximately NIS 410 million: The universities’ share of this budget is estimated at approximately NIS 230 million
and the colleges’ share of this budget is estimated at approximately NIS 180 million.

40

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Establishing and Upgrading Research Infrastuctures Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

Budgets for the Establishment and Upgrading of Research Infrastructures Plan Academic Research
Budgets of the Program for Establishment and Upgrading of Research Infrastructures

PBC Participation:
2018-2022

Millions Millions
NIS USD

PBC Sources Designated for Research Infrastructures 460 128

New Budgets in the Multiyear Plan 260 72

Existing Budgets Executed Through the ISF 200 56

Recommended Plans 459 127

Research Equipment Grants to New Researchers 152 42

Research Equipment Grants to Mid-Career Researchers 65 18

Institutional Research Equipment Grants 194 54

Assistance in Hiring and Employing Professional Staff to Operate Research Equipment 29 8

Making Research Infrastructures Accessible 18 5 Council for Higher Education

*According to an exchange rate of NIS 3.6 to the dollar.

41

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Flagship Research Programs: Launch of the New Campus
Placing Israel at the Forefront of Global Know-How 1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 Personalized Medicine

42 Personalized medicine is an innovative approach in Israel and around the world for preventing and treating
diseases that takes into account genetic, biological, behavioral, and environmental differences between
Seventh individuals. Extensive experience over the years in research laboratories, and at medical institutions, demonstrates
Annual significant differences between patients suffering from the same disease. For example, cancerous growths from
Conference the same tissue source (such as breast cancer or prostate cancer) may have very different expressions in different
patients in terms of their malignancy, and their responsiveness to various treatment protocols. Similar dissimilarity
has been observed in a wide variety of human diseases, and in most cases, the causes of this dissimilarity are
unknown. This makes it difficult to develop medications and treatment protocols that are optimally tailored to
each individual patient.

The Israel Personalized Medicine Initiative (IPMP) will permit Israeli researchers to conduct broad studies based on
big data located in the databases of Israeli hospitals and HMOs, which are considered particularly rich and reliable.
Making this clinical data available and examining them together with the genomic sequences of volunteers will
assist in accelerating the rate of discoveries and the implementation potential of new treatments, and will establish
Israel at the forefront of research in the field of personalized medicine.

Quantum Science and Technology

Significant and consistent investment at the national level in developing the field of quantum science and
technology is expected to constitute a significant upgrade of Israel’s research abilities and its status as a key player
in this field.

The development of quantum science and technology is based on an understanding of the interaction
between individual degrees of freedom of the system (for example, photons and individual atoms) and the
development of the technology required to control them. These abilities hold the promise, and in part already
allow, the construction of infinitely more powerful computers than those that exist today, alongside encrypted
communication that is impervious to eavesdropping, the simulation of systems too complex to calculate using
existing computers, sensors far more sensitive than those commonly available, the development of materials with
unique characteristics, and more.

The total PBC resources allocated are NIS 200 million, and it is working to mobilize additional resources for the
development of this field.

Flagship Research Programs: Launch of the New Campus
Placing Israel at the Forefront of Global Know-How 1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

Data Science Academic Research

Data science refers to the collection, management, processing, analysis, and visualization of data associated
with a wide range of academic disciplines and commercial applications. In the last several years, the field
has experienced increased and accelerated growth, and has benefited from greater investments, both by
industry, universities and private research institutes. The reasons for the development of data science are
connected to a number of factors: a significant increase in the quantity and availability of data generated
around the world, the continual development of methods, algorithms and technologies for processing and
analyzing big and varied datasets, and the development of advanced storage solutions.

Data science can help advance research in practically all academic fields and has the potential to be
innovative and groundbreaking not only in the exact sciences, but also in the social sciences and the
humanities. There is no doubt that advances in this field will result in a leap forward in in terms of research
and teaching in a large number of disciplines, and will contribute to Israel’s economic resilience.

Council for Higher Education

43

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Significant Increase in Awards of Research grants Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

In the past decade, there has been a sharp increase of approximately 125% in the total winnings of competitive
research grants. The absolute majority of winnings (approximately 80%) relates to awards of grants by the
Israel Science Foundation and the European R&D Fund, as compared to a slight increase only in awards of
research grants from other sources. The highest total number of wins is in medical and life sciences fields and it
has been maintained over time. However, the most significant increase in terms of percentages is in the fields of
engineering, mathematics, and computer sciences, where the total winnings have increased 3.5 fold since 2004.

Awards of Competitive and Other Research grants at Research Universities
$M = Competitive grants – Average Wins
$M - Other grants – Average Wins

60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018

44

Seventh
Annual
Conference

Increase in Academic Publications Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

The number of academic publications by researchers at research universities increased by approximately 18% in Academic Research
the past decade where, after a number of years of decreasing numbers of publications, we now see an opposite
trend and accelerated increase over the past several years. The number of “weighted” publications, meaning,
the relative weight of the researcher in the writing of the article out of the total partners in its writing, which
demonstrates the collaboration between researchers from different departments and different institutions,
has also risen, albeit at a slower rate. On average, approximately a quarter of academic publications by Israeli
researchers are in collaboration with other researchers from overseas. This trend has been more or less fixed in the
past five years.

Academic Publications at

“Gross” publications
Weighted publications

Research Universities Council for Higher Education

“Gross” Publications – Number of Publications Where at Least One Israeli Researcher Was Involved in Its Drafting. 45

“Weighted” publications – The relative weight of the researcher in the article out of the total partners in its writing, which demonstrates the Seventh
level of collaboration between researchers from different departments and different institutions – in Israel and abroad. Annual
Conference

Council for Higher Education (CHE( Launch of the New Campus
and Planning and Budgeting Committee (PBC) Members 1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

List of Members of the 13th CHE Members of the PBC

Mr. Naftali Bennett – Minister of Education Prof. Yaffa Zilbershats – Chair of the PBC
and Chair of the CHE Dr. Rivka Wadmany (Shauman)
Zvi Hauser, Esq.
Prof. Ido Perlman – Deputy Chair of the CHE Prof. Ishaiahu Talmon
Mr. Shimon Yitzchaki
Dr. Leah Boehm Prof. Eli Pollak Prof. Mouna Maroun
Prof. Israel Gilad Prof. Ronnie Friedman Prof. Yossi Shain
Prof. Ilana Gozes Prof. Aaron Kellerman
Prof. Rivka Gilat Prof. Shifra Sagi CHE/PBC Management
Prof. Hanna Dodiuk Prof. Dudi Schwartz
Dr. Ofir Haivry Mr. Ram Shefa Mr. Matanyahu Engelman - CEO of the
Mr. Moshe Vigdor Prof. Sa’ad Tapuchi CHE/PBC
Dr. Rivka Wadmany (Shauman) Mr. Israel Tik Ms. Dana Aharon - Deputy Director for
Prof. Yaffa Zilbershats Administration and Human Resources
60th Anniversary of the CHE 1958-2018 Dr. Samer Hajj Yihye CPA Avital Blauses - Senior Accountant
Prof. Asaid Khateb Dr. Varda Ben Shaul - Deputy Director for
Prof. Aviva Halamish Quality Assessment and Assurance
Prof. Haim Teitelbaum Yael Tur Caspa, Esq. - Legal Counsel
Ms. Adi Mishnayot Ms. Shira Navon - Deputy Director for
Prof. Haviva Pedaya Finance
Ms. Michal Neumann - Deputy Director for
46 Academic Affairs and CHE Secretary
Ms. Merav Shaviv - Deputy Director for
Seventh Planning and Policy
Annual Mr. Tomer Velmer - CHE Spokesperson
Conference

List of Academic Institutions Launch of the New Campus
1958-2018

60th Anniversary
of the CHE

Universities Budgeted Academic Colleges of Education/
»» Tel Aviv University Colleges Teacher Colleges
»» Ben Gurion University of
»» Afeka Academic College of »» Al-Qasemi Education College
the Negev Engineering - Tel Aviv »» Emunah-Efrata - College of Art and
»» Bar Ilan University
»» Haifa University »» Bezalel Academy of Arts and Education
»» Hebrew University in Jerusalem Design - Jerusalem »» Beit Berl Academic College
»» The Technion - Israel Institute »» Shaanan Religious Academic
»» Jerusalem Academy of Music
of Technology and Dance College of Education
»» Weizmann Institute of Science »» Arab Academic College for
»» Ariel University »» Achva Academic College
»» Ashkelon Academic College Education - Haifa
»» The Open University
»» Western Galilee Academic College »» The Academic College at Wingate
Non-Budgeted Academic
Colleges »» Hadassah Jerusalem Academic »» Talpiot College of Education Council for Higher Education
College »» College of Education Givat
»» Academic College of Arts
and Society »» Kinneret Academic College - Jordan Washington
Valley »» Ohalo College of Education and
»» The Israel Academic College in
Ramat Gan »» Sami Shimon College Of Sport - Katzrin
Engineering »» David Yellin College of Education
»» Netanya Academic College »» Kaye Academic College of
»» College of Management Academic »» Sapir Academic College
»» The Max Stern Academic College Education
Studies Program »» Gordon College of Education
»» College of Law and Business of Emek Yezreel »» WIZO Haifa Academy of Design
»» Peres Academic Center »» Safed Academic College
»» Academic Center for Law and »» The Academic College of Tel Aviv- and Education
»» Hemdat Hadarom Academic
Science Yaffo
»» Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya »» Tel-Hai Academic College College of Education
»» Center for Academic Studies -
»» Jerusalem College of Technology »» Orot Israel College of Education
Or Yehuda
»» Ono Academic College »» Ruppin Academic Center »» Oranim Academic College
»» Schechter Institute of Jewish
»» Holon Institute of Technology »» Jerusalem College
Studies
»» Shalem Center »» ORT Braude College of Engineering »» Herzog College

»» Azrieli College of Engineering »» Levinsky College of Education 47
- Jerusalem »» Sakhnin - Academic Teacher
Seventh
»» Shenkar College of Engineering,d Training College Annual
Design and Art »» Kibbutzim College of Education, Conference

Technology, and the Arts