Israeli Higher Education Sees Slow Growth Amid Shifting Student Preferences

Israel's higher education system is experiencing moderate growth, with a projected 2.1% increase in student numbers for the upcoming academic year, totaling approximately 350,900 students across 57 institutions. This figure represents a slowdown compared to the previous year's 2.8% growth. The trend shows a decline in university enrollment, with most growth occurring in non-subsidized colleges, which saw a 9.7% rise in registrations, contrasting with a mere 1% increase at universities.

The primary driver of student growth is an increase in bachelor's degree applications, particularly in education, law, social sciences, and humanities. Conversely, there has been a decrease in enrollment for computer science, mathematics, and statistics programs. Engineering fields have maintained stable student numbers. Reflecting the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), six new undergraduate programs in AI and data science have been launched this year, expecting to enroll around 800 students.

High demand persists for medicine, dentistry, health professions, architecture, and engineering. While computer science applications have dropped, other engineering disciplines like electrical and electronics, civil, and mechanical engineering have seen increased interest. This indicates a continued demand for technological studies, though the specific areas of focus are adapting to the evolving high-tech industry and job market.

Social sciences remain the largest field of study for bachelor's degrees, with 37,711 students (17.4%), closely followed by engineering with 37,596 students (17.3%). Professor Dudi Schwartz, Vice Chairman of the Council for Higher Education (CHE), stated that the CHE's approach is to foster autonomy and initiative within academic institutions, removing barriers to research and development. He highlighted initiatives such as a professional-applied doctorate track, allowing degrees in any language via remote learning and AI, and granting colleges the authority to award professorial ranks.

Schwartz also mentioned the expansion of the "First Academic Semester" program in high schools, reaching tens of thousands of students, especially from peripheral areas. Future challenges include advancing research and integrating AI into teaching and research. The CHE is also preparing to transfer quality assessment responsibilities to the institutions themselves. Additionally, the CHE approved the opening of medical studies at Ariel University and stipulated that universities cannot promote political struggles.