Horizons to High Tech

The Need
Horizons to High Tech aims to address a critical need in Israel today – the dearth of qualified engineers and scientists that are needed to maintain the country's position at the forefront of science and technology industries. The main untapped reservoir of potential engineers and scientists can be found in the geographic and social periphery of Israel. There are thousands of bright young people who graduate from high school but for various reasons do not meet the admission criteria due to partial or low-quality matriculation.

About the Program

This program identifies high-potential post-army young adults and enables them to take a specially-designed extended pre-academic course (15 months long) which will prepare them for acceptance into competitive high-level studies. Successful graduates of the pre-academic course will continue on to degree programs in engineering and science within the framework of the program. Eventually, Horizons to High Tech aims to channel 1,500 students per year into industry-oriented academic studies in all Israel's leading universities.

The program is the initiative of Mr. Yehuda Zisapel (founder of the RAD Group) and the fruit of cooperation between the Society for the Advancement of Education, the Unit for Discharged Soldiers (of the Ministry of Defense), Gruss Fund, the Technion and Rashi – which has played a central role in realizing the program's implementation.

Status
The new Horizons to High Tech program is currently enabling hundreds of young adults who have completed army service to take an extended pre-academic course at Israel's most prestigious academic institutes.

The first cohort started at the Technion in November 2008, and a second one opened in Ben-Gurion and Tel Aviv during 2009. In May 2010, a third cohort began at the Technion, bringing the number of students in the program up to 416. As of March 2011, 98 students have completed the pre-academic course successfully. The next cohort is planned to start in July 2011.