A Word from the CEO
The proportion of outstanding and gifted Arab students who participate in unique programs to help them integrate in academia and research while still in high school is very low compared to similar programs in the Jewish sector and around the world.
Moreover, excelling young people from the Arab community are severely underrepresented among the senior levels of science and engineering professions, such as academia staff and senior hi-tec employees. This phenomenon is due to many causes, among which the main ones are poorer command of soft skills in comparison to their Jewish peers, as well as lack of a relevant professional network. Army service gives Jewish young people an advantage in both these areas. Additionally, the educational system in the Arab community is more challenging, which leads to lower achievements among Israeli Arabs.
Decision makers are aware of the important role informal education plays in reducing gaps and creating equity in education. The MATEEN network offers several solutions, including programs that promote academic excellence in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM.) These programs focus on 21st century skills and abilities, as well as knowledge in science and engineering. These are solutions that help identify suitable candidates and form attitudes, enabling them to acquire tools for excellence and increasing their willingness to take part in meaningful scientific activity in the future.
The MATEEN network strives for excellence and aims to make science education a high priority for Israeli society, while giving as many outstanding Arab students as possible an opportunity that they do not receive in other, non-adjusted, academic programs offered to young people in Israel.
The MATEEN network emphasizes both the science and mathematics aspect and Hebrew language skills required to study in an academic setting. The goal of the network is to promote excellence in science and engineering, and academic readiness among students from the Arab community, as well as train a top team from the Arab community that would be admitted to and integrate in science, mathematics and engineering faculties in the future, and be able to successfully cope with the challenges that these programs set for students.
The network of programs meets all the above-mentioned needs by setting up a science education system in Israeli universities. The university environment allows participants to become exposed to science on the highest level, strengthen their soft skills and have meaningful encounters with role models and other excelling, Jewish and non-Jewish students, as part of a variety of activities.