Higher Education Accessible to Arab Students

High Tech Revolution in the Arab Sector

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.