Israeli Universities Open Amidst War, With Record Student Numbers
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Israel's academic year opened with a record 351,000 students, including over 70,000 reservists, despite ongoing security challenges. Student enrollment saw a 2.1% increase, with notable shifts away from computer science and towards law and education. Efforts to combat physician shortages are underway with increased medical student intake and new faculties. A new university was established in Kiryat Shmona to strengthen the northern region.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel's academic year began with a record 351,000 students, a 2.1% increase from last year.
- Approximately 70,000 students, or one in five, served in reserve duty during the past year.
- There was a 7.4% drop in students studying math, statistics, and computer science.
- Demand for law and education programs increased by 8.5% and 7.5% respectively.
- Tel-Hai College was transformed into Kiryat Shmona University in the Galilee.
- Over 4,000 reservists were admitted to higher education due to legislative changes.
Israel's academic year has commenced with a record number of approximately 351,000 students enrolled across 57 institutions, marking a 2.1% increase from the previous year. This expansion occurs despite the ongoing war and its associated security, economic, and social challenges. The Council for Higher Education (CHE) and the Planning and Budgeting Committee (PBC) reported that over 70,000 students, roughly one in five, served in reserve duty during the past year. To accommodate these reservists, a national framework was implemented, including extended deadlines, additional exam dates, and alternative assessment options. Furthermore, over 4,000 reservists were admitted to higher education institutions due to legislative changes prioritizing their admission.
The academic year also reveals shifts in student preferences. There has been a notable 7.4% decline in students pursuing mathematics, statistics, and computer science, while demand for law and education has surged by 8.5% and 7.5% respectively. The Ministry of Education attributes the decrease in tech-related fields partly to rapid changes in the high-tech industry. Conversely, fields like data science and artificial intelligence are seeing growth, with new accelerated programs being introduced.
Significant efforts are being made to address the national shortage of medical professionals. The number of students beginning medical studies has increased, with plans to reach approximately 1,700 new students by 2028. This expansion includes new medical faculties at Reichman University, the University of Haifa, and the Weizmann Institute of Science, alongside the introduction of a physician assistant training program. However, a key challenge remains increasing clinical training slots in hospitals.
In a significant development for the country's north, Tel-Hai College has been transformed into Kiryat Shmona University in the Galilee. This initiative aims to bolster the academic, research, and economic infrastructure in the region, which has been impacted by conflict and economic disruption. The new university has received approval for doctoral programs in education, biotechnology, psychology, and nutrition sciences.
The data also indicates continued growth in student numbers from diverse sectors of Israeli society, including the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) and Arab communities, as well as those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Women continue to form the majority of students, though their representation in technological fields remains lower than in others. Israel also ranks highly among OECD countries for on-time degree completion.
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