Israeli Industry Experts Call for Shift to Skills-Focused AI Education in Academia

At a recent conference on the future of industry hosted by Calcalist and Holon Institute of Technology (HIT), AI expert Dr. Nava Shaked emphasized the need to integrate more practical skills and critical thinking into academic curricula. Drawing on her 20 years in industry and current academic role, she advocated for stronger collaboration between academia and industry to ensure students learn relevant, applied knowledge. Dr. Shaked highlighted that while theoretical knowledge remains important, the educational model must evolve to meet industry demands.

Panelists including Avi Salmon, Intel Israel's Innovation Manager; Yaniv Yankovitz, Senior Development Manager at SAP Israel; and Sigal Gilmore, HR VP at Check Point, discussed the changing landscape of tech education amid AI advancements. Gilmore noted that Check Point now prioritizes hiring curious, self-learning individuals with broad critical thinking skills over junior hires with traditional knowledge. She stated, "Today, we need 80% skills and 20% knowledge," reversing the previous balance.

Salmon reflected on the relevance of computer science education in the AI era, sharing insights from a recent hackathon where curiosity and self-driven learning distinguished top performers. He stressed that despite AI tools like ChatGPT, deep professional understanding and philosophical knowledge remain crucial. Yankovitz added that SAP trains employees to rapidly acquire new knowledge, master prompt engineering, and maintain critical thinking, warning against overreliance on AI-generated answers.

Dr. Shaked described HIT’s approach of team-based problem solving and community projects, including work with schools for students with learning disabilities and local hospitals, to foster human-centric skills. Salmon called for multidisciplinary collaboration between academia and industry to innovate education and economic growth. Gilmore concluded that academia must graduate students ready to contribute at senior levels, urging a fundamental shift toward skill development and independent learning to meet industry expectations.