2011-08-02T10:15:06Z

Nikos Zygouritsas: /* Higher education in Qatar */

== Partners situated in Qatar==

None.

== Qatar in a nutshell ==
(sourced from Wikipedia)

'''Qatar''' (Arabic: قطر ‎) officially the '''State of Qatar''' (Arabic: دولة قطر transliterated as '''Dawlat Qatar'''), is an Arab emirate in Southwest Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the larger Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by [[Saudi Arabia]] to the south; otherwise the Persian Gulf surrounds the state. An oil rich nation, Qatar has the highest GDP per capita in the world.

[[Image:Qatar.gif|right|thumb|250px|Source : http://www.cia.gov]]
Sources say the name may derive from "Qatara", believed to refer to the Qatari town of Zubara, an important trading port and town in the region in ancient times.

In English-language broadcast media within Qatar — for example, television commercials for Qatar Airways and advertisements concerning economic development in Qatar — the name is pronounced "KA-tar", with a distinct differentiation between the syllables from the forming of the "t" sound.

In July 2007, the country had a growing population of approximately 900,000 people of whom approximately 350,000 were believed to be citizens. Of the citizen population, Sunni Muslims form a majority (almost all Qataris profess Islam), while the Shi'a Muslims count up to 10-13% of the population. The Wahhabi Muslims form the third group in size, probably no more than 10% of the population, to include the ruling dynasty and a large number of the elite families. The ancient Shia community of Qatar are historically related to the Shia majority in [[Bahrain]] and the al-Hasa coastal province of [[Saudi Arabia]].

Besides ethnic Arabs, much of the population migrated from various nations to work in the country’s oil industry. Arabic serves as the official language. However, English as well as many other languages like Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, and Persian are widely spoken in Qatar.

Expatriates form the majority of Qatar’s residents. The petrochemical industry has attracted people from all around the world. Most of the expatriates come from South Asia and from non-oil-rich Arab states. Because a large percentage of the expatriates are male, Qatar has a heavily skewed sex ratio, with 1.8528 males per female.

The majority of the estimated 800,000 non-citizens are individuals from South and South East Asian and Arab countries working on temporary employment contracts in most cases without their accompanying family members. They are of the following faiths: Sunni Muslims, Shi'a Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Bahá'ís.

Qatar has the world's largest per capita production and proven reserves of both oil and natural gas. In 2010, Qatar had the world's highest GDP per capita, while the economy grew by 19.40%, the fastest in the world. The main drivers for this rapid growth are attributed to ongoing increases in production and exports of liquefied natural gas, oil, petrochemicals and related industries. Qatar has the second-highest human development in the Arab World after the United Arab Emirates. In 2009, Qatar was the United States’ fifth-largest export market in the Middle East, trailing behind the U.A.E., Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. With a small citizen population of less than 300,000 people, Qatar relies heavily on foreign citizens, both for its protection and generating labour demand. Qatar has attracted an estimated $100 billion in investment, with approximately $60–70 billion coming from the U.S in the energy sector. It is estimated that Qatar will invest over $120 billion in the energy sector in the next ten years.

== Qatar education policy ==

Along with the country’s free health care to every citizen, every child has free education from kindergarten through high school.

The Supreme Education Council

Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani created, by decree number 37, the Supreme Education Council, which includes among its council members the Emir’s wife, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missnad. The council directs and controls education for all levels from the pre-school level through the university level, including the "Education for a New Era" Reform initiative.

Control of education is currently shared between the Ministry of Education and the Supreme Education council. Funding to the Ministry of Education has been reduced and many schools have been transferred to the Supreme Education Council. The Supreme Education Council is trying to improve the quality of secondary schools by creating Independent schools with greater control over their own affairs.

His Highness the Emir issued a decree in November 2002 that established three new institutions responsible for promoting excellence and innovation in primary, preparatory, and secondary schools in Qatar. The Supreme Education Council has overall responsibility for educational policy and for overseeing the reform. The Evaluation Institute is responsible for conducting periodic standardized assessment of students and providing information about school performance. The Education Institute develops and supports new Independent Schools and new curriculum standards to improve the quality of education.

== Qatar education system ==

Education is free in Qatar. Students in government schools are provided books and transportation to and from schools. The 12-year public school system consists of a six-year primary cycle followed by a three-year secondary cycle and then a three-year tertiary cycle, taking students up through the secondary level by Western educational standards.
Qatar follows a policy of compulsory education until the end of the elementary stage and free education to all citizens. Basic education consists of the following stages:
* Elementary Stage - Six years
* Preparatory Stage - Three years
* Secondary Stage - Three years

From having only a few Quranic schools for boys in the early 1900s, Qatar's system of education has evolved into the comprehensive educational infrastructure that exists today. Both private and government schools offer preschool and primary education. At the primary level, there are around 160 schools in operation, following the Qatari educational curricula, or in the case of private schools, following curricula that will meet the needs of the various expatriate communities in the country. British, French, Norwegian, American, Filipino, Japanese, Indian, Bangladeshi, and other communities have schools that serve the needs of their respective members. The majority of these private schools coordinate closely with educational authorities in the home countries of their constituents, and the standard of education in these private schools is generally high. The following is a sampling of private schools providing education at the preschool and/or primary levels: Al Hilal Kindergarten, Bright Future Pakistani School, Central English-Speaking Kindergarten, Gulf School, Doha Montessori, Ideal Indian School, Tinkerbell Nursery, French School, Iranian School, Phillipine School of Doha, and QAFCO Norwegian School. Not only do these schools cater to the expatriate community, but because many nationals choose to enroll their children in an English-language school so as to enhance their children's fluency in English, a substantial number of national students are served in the private schools of Qatar.

The secondary level of education in Qatar comprises—according to the national education classification system—the secondary and tertiary cycles, taking students up to the age of 18, equivalent to the completion of secondary education by Western standards. Both the secondary and tertiary cycles are three years in length, and by the time students complete these cycles they are ready for entry into the University of Qatar for further studies. There are about 34 secondary schools in Qatar, including government schools such as the Technical Institute, the Religious Institute, and the Secondary School of Commerce. There are also a number of private schools at the secondary level, for example, the Doha College, based on the British system of education up to the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and A-levels. The American School in Qatar offers an American curriculum at the secondary level. Other schools offering secondary-level schooling include the Pak Shama School (with the Pakistan Education Center), the Doha English Speaking School, the Jordanian School, the Middle East International School, the Park House English School, the Qatar Academy, and the Qatar International School.

International Schools

There is a large number of private and international schools. Most expatriates and some Qataris choose to send their children to these schools. These schools include Qatar Academy (IB World School), Doha College (UK curriculum), American School of Doha, The Gulf English School (UK / IB curriculum), Doha Academy, Doha English Speaking School (UK primary curriculum), The International School of Choueifat, The Cambridge School, Dukhan English School, Park House English School, Compass International School, Qatar International School (National Curriculum for England) and a few more.
Last but not the least, there is a Dutch university in Doha called Stenden University(Former CHN University of Professional Education). It has been around in Doha for about 10 years. It offers four year bachelor degrees (BBA) in International Hospitality Management, International Business & Management Studies, and Tourism Management. Its programs are fully accredited by the Ministry of Education, Qatar.

== Higher education in Qatar ==

Students graduating from high school today are entering an increasingly competitive, rapidly changing global society. To meet the new demands of the 21st century, students will need to develop a wide range of skills and knowledge. Increasingly, higher education will serve as the driving force for students to gain these skills and knowledge needed to succeed. The Supreme Education Council’s Higher Education Institute recognizes the fundamental role higher education will play in enabling Qatar’s youth and the entire nation to prosper.

Through a variety of scholarship programs, the Higher Education Institute is encouraging Qatar’s youth to pursue higher education and helping prepare them for the rigors they will face in applying to and attending the top colleges and universities around the world. It is working to help students advance their dreams, explore their interests and improve their abilities, while addressing the evolving needs of Qatar’s labor market.

=== Universities in Qatar ===

==== Qatar University ====

Qatar University was founded in 1973 - see http://www.qu.edu.qa/main/index.html

It is deployng a SunGard system for student administration - see http://www.qu.edu.qa/newsletters/tawasol/documents/Tawasol_Spring_07.pdf.

==== US universities ====

More recently, with the support of the Qatar Foundation, some major American universities have opened branch campuses in Education City, Qatar. These include Carnegie Mellon University, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Texas A&M University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Cornell University’s Weill Medical College. In addition, Northwestern University will offer undergraduate programs in communication and journalism starting in autumn 2008.

In 2004, Qatar established the Qatar Science & Technology Park at Education City to link those universities with industry.

==== Other foreign universities and colleges ====

Two Canadian institutions, the College of the North Atlantic and the University of Calgary, also operate campuses in Doha.

Moreover,Stenden University Qatar (Former CHN University of Professional Education) has been around in Doha for 8 years. It offers four year bachelor degree programmes (BBA) in International Hospitality Management, International Business & Management Studies, and Tourism Management. It is a Dutch university and its programs are fully accredited by Ministry of Education, Qatar.

===Polytechnics in Qatar ===

No information.

== Higher education reform ==

The Supreme Education Council directs and controls education for all ages from the pre-school level through the university level, including the “Education for a New Era” reform initiative - see http://www.english.education.gov.qa/

See also http://www.wes.org/ewenr/07may/feature.htm for more details.

The Emir’s second wife, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, has been instrumental in new education initiatives in Qatar. She chairs the Qatar Foundation, sits on the board of Qatar’s Supreme Education Council, and is a major driving force behind the importation of Western expertise into the education system, particularly at the college level.

=== The Bologna Process ===

== Administration and finance ==

== Quality assurance ==

== Qatar HEIs in the information society ==

=== Towards the information society ===

=== Information society strategy ===

Qatar has a modern Telecommunication system centered in Doha. Tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat. People can call to Qatar using their submarine cable, satellite or using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol); however, Qtel has interfered with VoIP systems in the past, and Skype's website has been blocked before. Following complaints from individuals, the website has been unblocked; and Paltalk has been permanently blocked.

Qtel’s ISP branch, Internet Qatar, uses SmartFilter to block websites they deem inappropriate to Qatari interests and morality.

Vodafone, in partnership with Qatar Foundation, has been announced to be opening in Qatar in mid 2008.

Al Jazeera (Arabic: الجزيرة‎, al-ğazīrä, [al.dʒaˈziː.ra], meaning “The Island”) is a television network headquartered in Doha, Qatar. Al Jazeera initially launched as an Arabic news and current affairs satellite TV channel of the same name, but has since expanded into a network of several specialty TV channels. Print media is going through expansion, with over 3 English dailies and Arabic titles. The magazine segment is dominated by Qatar Today, which is the country's only news, business monthly magazine. It is published by Oryx Advertising Co, which is the largest magazine publisher of the country. The group also brings out several titles like Qatar Al Youm, Qatar's only Arabic monthly business magazine, Woman Today, the only working women's magazine and GLAM, the only fashion title.

== Virtual initiatives in HE in Qatar ==

=== ictQATAR ===

[[ictQATAR]], The Supreme Council for Information and Communication Technology, is the policy making and regulatory body for information and communication technology in Qatar. ictQATAR’s mission is to promote the development of an advanced ICT society through infrastructure and human capital development, the delivery of e-services and the establishment of a regulatory environment that is conducive to sustainable growth and offers benefits all users.

ictQATAR and the Institute of Administration Development (IAD) launched the e-Learning Portal, a new online educational tool, in 2007. The e-Learning Portal gives Government employees, university students and the wider adult community access to 4000, cost-free, courses covering business and professional development, IT and computer software programs.

Courses are taught in Arabic, English or French using innovative multi-media materials with course accreditation from international institutes, such as the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Human resource managers and directors from Qatar’s public sector attended today’s portal unveiling, which has been spearheaded by ictQATAR to support economic development by connecting people to educational opportunities through information and communication technology.

However it seems that the focus is on schools.

=== University of Qatar ===

For e-learning at the University of Qatar see http://math.arizona.edu/~atp-mena/conference/proceedings/Yousif_Mediated_Learning.doc

== References ==

# ''Post-Secondary Education in Qatar: Employer Demand, Student Choice, and Options for Policy'', by Cathleen Stasz, Eric R. Eide, Francisco Martorell with Louay Constant, Charles A. Goldman, Joy S. Moini, Vazha Nadareishvili, Hanine Salem, at http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2007/RAND_MG644.pdf. Summary in ''Tawasol'' (the Qatar University Educational Reform Journal), at http://www.qu.edu.qa/newsletters/tawasol/documents/tawasol_spring_08_eng.pdf

----
> [[Countries]]

[[Category:Qatar| ]]
[[Category:Gulf Cooperative Countries]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Middle East]]

[[Category:Countries with Programmes]]

Qatar

2011-08-02T10:14:17Z

Nikos Zygouritsas: /* Qatar education system */

Qatar

2011-08-02T10:13:05Z

Nikos Zygouritsas: /* Qatar education system */

== Partners situated in Qatar==

None.

== Qatar in a nutshell ==
(sourced from Wikipedia)

'''Qatar''' (Arabic: قطر ‎) officially the '''State of Qatar''' (Arabic: دولة قطر transliterated as '''Dawlat Qatar'''), is an Arab emirate in Southwest Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the larger Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by [[Saudi Arabia]] to the south; otherwise the Persian Gulf surrounds the state. An oil rich nation, Qatar has the highest GDP per capita in the world.

[[Image:Qatar.gif|right|thumb|250px|Source : http://www.cia.gov]]
Sources say the name may derive from "Qatara", believed to refer to the Qatari town of Zubara, an important trading port and town in the region in ancient times.

In English-language broadcast media within Qatar — for example, television commercials for Qatar Airways and advertisements concerning economic development in Qatar — the name is pronounced "KA-tar", with a distinct differentiation between the syllables from the forming of the "t" sound.

In July 2007, the country had a growing population of approximately 900,000 people of whom approximately 350,000 were believed to be citizens. Of the citizen population, Sunni Muslims form a majority (almost all Qataris profess Islam), while the Shi'a Muslims count up to 10-13% of the population. The Wahhabi Muslims form the third group in size, probably no more than 10% of the population, to include the ruling dynasty and a large number of the elite families. The ancient Shia community of Qatar are historically related to the Shia majority in [[Bahrain]] and the al-Hasa coastal province of [[Saudi Arabia]].

Besides ethnic Arabs, much of the population migrated from various nations to work in the country’s oil industry. Arabic serves as the official language. However, English as well as many other languages like Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, and Persian are widely spoken in Qatar.

Expatriates form the majority of Qatar’s residents. The petrochemical industry has attracted people from all around the world. Most of the expatriates come from South Asia and from non-oil-rich Arab states. Because a large percentage of the expatriates are male, Qatar has a heavily skewed sex ratio, with 1.8528 males per female.

The majority of the estimated 800,000 non-citizens are individuals from South and South East Asian and Arab countries working on temporary employment contracts in most cases without their accompanying family members. They are of the following faiths: Sunni Muslims, Shi'a Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Bahá'ís.

Qatar has the world's largest per capita production and proven reserves of both oil and natural gas. In 2010, Qatar had the world's highest GDP per capita, while the economy grew by 19.40%, the fastest in the world. The main drivers for this rapid growth are attributed to ongoing increases in production and exports of liquefied natural gas, oil, petrochemicals and related industries. Qatar has the second-highest human development in the Arab World after the United Arab Emirates. In 2009, Qatar was the United States’ fifth-largest export market in the Middle East, trailing behind the U.A.E., Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. With a small citizen population of less than 300,000 people, Qatar relies heavily on foreign citizens, both for its protection and generating labour demand. Qatar has attracted an estimated $100 billion in investment, with approximately $60–70 billion coming from the U.S in the energy sector. It is estimated that Qatar will invest over $120 billion in the energy sector in the next ten years.

== Qatar education policy ==

Along with the country’s free health care to every citizen, every child has free education from kindergarten through high school.

The Supreme Education Council

Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani created, by decree number 37, the Supreme Education Council, which includes among its council members the Emir’s wife, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missnad. The council directs and controls education for all levels from the pre-school level through the university level, including the "Education for a New Era" Reform initiative.

Control of education is currently shared between the Ministry of Education and the Supreme Education council. Funding to the Ministry of Education has been reduced and many schools have been transferred to the Supreme Education Council. The Supreme Education Council is trying to improve the quality of secondary schools by creating Independent schools with greater control over their own affairs.

His Highness the Emir issued a decree in November 2002 that established three new institutions responsible for promoting excellence and innovation in primary, preparatory, and secondary schools in Qatar. The Supreme Education Council has overall responsibility for educational policy and for overseeing the reform. The Evaluation Institute is responsible for conducting periodic standardized assessment of students and providing information about school performance. The Education Institute develops and supports new Independent Schools and new curriculum standards to improve the quality of education.

== Qatar education system ==

Education is free in Qatar. Students in government schools are provided books and transportation to and from schools. The 12-year public school system consists of a six-year primary cycle followed by a three-year secondary cycle and then a three-year tertiary cycle, taking students up through the secondary level by Western educational standards.
Qatar follows a policy of compulsory education until the end of the elementary stage and free education to all citizens. Basic education consists of the following stages:
* Elementary Stage - Six years
* Preparatory Stage - Three years
* Secondary Stage - Three years

From having only a few Quranic schools for boys in the early 1900s, Qatar's system of education has evolved into the comprehensive educational infrastructure that exists today. Both private and government schools offer preschool and primary education. At the primary level, there are around 160 schools in operation, following the Qatari educational curricula, or in the case of private schools, following curricula that will meet the needs of the various expatriate communities in the country. British, French, Norwegian, American, Filipino, Japanese, Indian, Bangladeshi, and other communities have schools that serve the needs of their respective members. The majority of these private schools coordinate closely with educational authorities in the home countries of their constituents, and the standard of education in these private schools is generally high. The following is a sampling of private schools providing education at the preschool and/or primary levels: Al Hilal Kindergarten, Bright Future Pakistani School, Central English-Speaking Kindergarten, Gulf School, Doha Montessori, Ideal Indian School, Tinkerbell Nursery, French School, Iranian School, Phillipine School of Doha, and QAFCO Norwegian School. Not only do these schools cater to the expatriate community, but because many nationals choose to enroll their children in an English-language school so as to enhance their children's fluency in English, a substantial number of national students are served in the private schools of Qatar.

The secondary level of education in Qatar comprises—according to the national education classification system—the secondary and tertiary cycles, taking students up to the age of 18, equivalent to the completion of secondary education by Western standards. Both the secondary and tertiary cycles are three years in length, and by the time students complete these cycles they are ready for entry into the University of Qatar for further studies. There are about 34 secondary schools in Qatar, including government schools such as the Technical Institute, the Religious Institute, and the Secondary School of Commerce. There are also a number of private schools at the secondary level, for example, the Doha College, based on the British system of education up to the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and A-levels. The American School in Qatar offers an American curriculum at the secondary level. Other schools offering secondary-level schooling include the Pak Shama School (with the Pakistan Education Center), the Doha English Speaking School, the Jordanian School, the Middle East International School, the Park House English School, the Qatar Academy, and the Qatar International School.

Students graduating from high school today are entering an increasingly competitive, rapidly changing global society. To meet the new demands of the 21st century, students will need to develop a wide range of skills and knowledge. Increasingly, higher education will serve as the driving force for students to gain these skills and knowledge needed to succeed. The Supreme Education Council’s Higher Education Institute recognizes the fundamental role higher education will play in enabling Qatar’s youth and the entire nation to prosper.

Through a variety of scholarship programs, the Higher Education Institute is encouraging Qatar’s youth to pursue higher education and helping prepare them for the rigors they will face in applying to and attending the top colleges and universities around the world. It is working to help students advance their dreams, explore their interests and improve their abilities, while addressing the evolving needs of Qatar’s labor market.

International Schools

There is a large number of private and international schools. Most expatriates and some Qataris choose to send their children to these schools. These schools include Qatar Academy (IB World School), Doha College (UK curriculum), American School of Doha, The Gulf English School (UK / IB curriculum), Doha Academy, Doha English Speaking School (UK primary curriculum), The International School of Choueifat, The Cambridge School, Dukhan English School, Park House English School, Compass International School, Qatar International School (National Curriculum for England) and a few more.
Last but not the least, there is a Dutch university in Doha called Stenden University(Former CHN University of Professional Education). It has been around in Doha for about 10 years. It offers four year bachelor degrees (BBA) in International Hospitality Management, International Business & Management Studies, and Tourism Management. Its programs are fully accredited by the Ministry of Education, Qatar.

== Higher education in Qatar ==

See below for details.

=== Universities in Qatar ===

==== Qatar University ====

Qatar University was founded in 1973 - see http://www.qu.edu.qa/main/index.html

It is deployng a SunGard system for student administration - see http://www.qu.edu.qa/newsletters/tawasol/documents/Tawasol_Spring_07.pdf.

==== US universities ====

More recently, with the support of the Qatar Foundation, some major American universities have opened branch campuses in Education City, Qatar. These include Carnegie Mellon University, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Texas A&M University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Cornell University’s Weill Medical College. In addition, Northwestern University will offer undergraduate programs in communication and journalism starting in autumn 2008.

In 2004, Qatar established the Qatar Science & Technology Park at Education City to link those universities with industry.

==== Other foreign universities and colleges ====

Two Canadian institutions, the College of the North Atlantic and the University of Calgary, also operate campuses in Doha.

Moreover,Stenden University Qatar (Former CHN University of Professional Education) has been around in Doha for 8 years. It offers four year bachelor degree programmes (BBA) in International Hospitality Management, International Business & Management Studies, and Tourism Management. It is a Dutch university and its programs are fully accredited by Ministry of Education, Qatar.

===Polytechnics in Qatar ===

No information.

== Higher education reform ==

The Supreme Education Council directs and controls education for all ages from the pre-school level through the university level, including the “Education for a New Era” reform initiative - see http://www.english.education.gov.qa/

See also http://www.wes.org/ewenr/07may/feature.htm for more details.

The Emir’s second wife, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, has been instrumental in new education initiatives in Qatar. She chairs the Qatar Foundation, sits on the board of Qatar’s Supreme Education Council, and is a major driving force behind the importation of Western expertise into the education system, particularly at the college level.

=== The Bologna Process ===

== Administration and finance ==

== Quality assurance ==

== Qatar HEIs in the information society ==

=== Towards the information society ===

=== Information society strategy ===

Qatar has a modern Telecommunication system centered in Doha. Tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat. People can call to Qatar using their submarine cable, satellite or using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol); however, Qtel has interfered with VoIP systems in the past, and Skype's website has been blocked before. Following complaints from individuals, the website has been unblocked; and Paltalk has been permanently blocked.

Qtel’s ISP branch, Internet Qatar, uses SmartFilter to block websites they deem inappropriate to Qatari interests and morality.

Vodafone, in partnership with Qatar Foundation, has been announced to be opening in Qatar in mid 2008.

Al Jazeera (Arabic: الجزيرة‎, al-ğazīrä, [al.dʒaˈziː.ra], meaning “The Island”) is a television network headquartered in Doha, Qatar. Al Jazeera initially launched as an Arabic news and current affairs satellite TV channel of the same name, but has since expanded into a network of several specialty TV channels. Print media is going through expansion, with over 3 English dailies and Arabic titles. The magazine segment is dominated by Qatar Today, which is the country's only news, business monthly magazine. It is published by Oryx Advertising Co, which is the largest magazine publisher of the country. The group also brings out several titles like Qatar Al Youm, Qatar's only Arabic monthly business magazine, Woman Today, the only working women's magazine and GLAM, the only fashion title.

== Virtual initiatives in HE in Qatar ==

=== ictQATAR ===

[[ictQATAR]], The Supreme Council for Information and Communication Technology, is the policy making and regulatory body for information and communication technology in Qatar. ictQATAR’s mission is to promote the development of an advanced ICT society through infrastructure and human capital development, the delivery of e-services and the establishment of a regulatory environment that is conducive to sustainable growth and offers benefits all users.

ictQATAR and the Institute of Administration Development (IAD) launched the e-Learning Portal, a new online educational tool, in 2007. The e-Learning Portal gives Government employees, university students and the wider adult community access to 4000, cost-free, courses covering business and professional development, IT and computer software programs.

Courses are taught in Arabic, English or French using innovative multi-media materials with course accreditation from international institutes, such as the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Human resource managers and directors from Qatar’s public sector attended today’s portal unveiling, which has been spearheaded by ictQATAR to support economic development by connecting people to educational opportunities through information and communication technology.

However it seems that the focus is on schools.

=== University of Qatar ===

For e-learning at the University of Qatar see http://math.arizona.edu/~atp-mena/conference/proceedings/Yousif_Mediated_Learning.doc

== References ==

# ''Post-Secondary Education in Qatar: Employer Demand, Student Choice, and Options for Policy'', by Cathleen Stasz, Eric R. Eide, Francisco Martorell with Louay Constant, Charles A. Goldman, Joy S. Moini, Vazha Nadareishvili, Hanine Salem, at http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2007/RAND_MG644.pdf. Summary in ''Tawasol'' (the Qatar University Educational Reform Journal), at http://www.qu.edu.qa/newsletters/tawasol/documents/tawasol_spring_08_eng.pdf

----
> [[Countries]]

[[Category:Qatar| ]]
[[Category:Gulf Cooperative Countries]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Middle East]]

[[Category:Countries with Programmes]]

Qatar

2011-08-02T10:11:55Z

Nikos Zygouritsas: /* Qatar education policy */

Nikos Zygouritsas: /* Lebanon education system */

== Partners situated in Lebanon ==

None.

== Lebanon in a nutshell ==

''Lebanon'' (Arabic: لبنان '''Lubnān'''), officially the '''Republic of Lebanon''' or '''Lebanese Republic''' (الجمهورية اللبنانية), is a country in Western Asia, on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by [[Syria]] to the north and east, and [[Israel]] to the south. Due to its sectarian diversity, Lebanon established a unique political system in 1942, known as confessionalism, based on a community-based power-sharing mechanism. It was created when the ruling French mandatory powers expanded the borders of the former autonomous Ottoman Mount Lebanon district that was mostly populated by Maronite Catholics and Druze.

[[Image:Lebanon.gif|right|thumb|400px|Source : http://www.cia.gov]]
Lebanon is the historic home of the Phoenicians, a maritime culture which are beleived to have flourished for more than 3,000 years (3700-450 BC).

Before the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), the country enjoyed a period of relative calm and prosperity, driven by tourism, agriculture, and banking. It is considered one of the banking capitals of Western Asia, and during its heyday was known to some as the "[[Switzerland]] of the East" due to its financial power and diversity at the time. Lebanon also attracted large numbers of tourists[8] to the point that the capital Beirut became widely referred to as the "self-proclaimed Paris of the East." Immediately following the end of the war, there were extensive efforts to revive the economy and rebuild national infrastructure.

Until July 2006, a considerable degree of stability had been achieved throughout much of the country, Beirut's reconstruction was almost complete, and an increasing number of foreign tourists were pouring into Lebanon's resorts. This was until the one month long 2006 Lebanon War, between the Israeli military and Hezbollah, which caused significant civilian death and serious damage to Lebanon's civil infrastructure. The conflict lasted from 12 July 2006 until a cessation of hostilities call, by the UN Security Council, went into effect on 14 August 2006. After some turbulent political times, Lebanon was again able to revive and restablize its economy and government. Lebanon is once again flourishing as one of the main tourist and banking destinations in the Middle East.

Lebanon is a parliamentary democratic republic, which implements a special system known as confessionalism.[50] This system is intended to ensure that sectarian conflict is kept at bay and attempts to fairly represent the demographic distribution of the 18 recognized religious groups in the governing body. High-ranking offices are reserved for members of specific religious groups. The President, for example, has to be a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim and the Speaker of the Parliament a Shi’a Muslim.

Lebanon's national legislature is the unicameral Parliament of Lebanon. Its 128 seats are divided equally between Muslims and Christians, proportionately between the different denominations and proportionately between regions.[55] Prior to 1990, the ratio stood at 6:5 in favor of Christians; however, the Taif Accord, which put an end to the 1975-1990 civil war, adjusted the ratio to grant equal representation to followers of the two religions. The Parliament is elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage although the civil war precluded the exercise of this right.

The Grand Serail, the government headquarters in downtown BeirutThe executive branch constitute of the President, the head of state, and the Prime Minister, the head of government. The parliament elects the president for a non-renewable six-year term by a two-third majority. The president appoints the Prime Minister.[56] Following consultations with the parliament and the President, the Prime Minister forms the Cabinet, which must also adhere to the sectarian distribution set out by confessionalism.

Lebanon's judicial system is a mixture of Ottoman law, Napoleonic code, canon law and civil law. The Lebanese court system consists of three levels: courts of first instance, courts of appeal, and the court of cassation. The Constitutional Council rules on constitutionality of laws and electoral frauds. There also is a system of religious courts having jurisdiction over personal status matters within their own communities, with rules on matters such as marriage and inheritance.

'''Districts'''

Lebanon is divided into six governorates (mohaafazaat, Arabic: محافظات —‎;singular mohafazah, Arabic: محافظة‎) which are further subdivided into twenty-five districts (aqdya — singular: qadaa). The districts themselves are also divided into several municipalities, each enclosing a group of cities or villages.

== Lebanon education policy ==
Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) regulates all education institutes in the public sector through a regional education system. The education system in Lebanon is centralized, and this regulation is not direct. The education system is managed through regional education bureaus. Public schools are monitored by the regional education bureaus in the governorates. The regional education bureau serves as liaisons between the public school and the directorates of education at the ministry’s headquarters. Private schools have their own organization, but private schools are still subject to the authority of the MOEHE.

The Center for Educational Research and Development (CERD) is an autonomous staff organization under the trusteeship of the MOEHE. CERD’s tasks are 1) to draft curricula of academic and vocational education for the pre-university education stage, 2) to revise and modify the curricula according to the necessity, 3) to prepare all means and ways for applying these curricula, 4) to do educational research, 5) to secure training for pre-university teachers, 6) to prepare the curricula in all subject areas, 7) to provide teacher training, 8) to write textbooks, and 9) to conduct evaluations, etc.

== Lebanon education system ==

All Lebanese schools are required to follow a prescribed curriculum designed by the Ministry of Education.

''Private schools, approximately 1,400 in all, may also add more courses to their curriculum with approval from the Ministry of Education''.

The main subjects taught are mathematics, sciences, history, civics, geography, Arabic, and at least one secondary language (either French or English). The subjects gradually increase in difficulty and in number. Students in Grade 11, for example, study up to eighteen different subjects.

The government introduces a mild form of selectivity into the curriculum by giving 11th graders choice between two "concentrations": sciences, humanities, and 12th graders choose between four concentrations: life sciences, general sciences, sociology and economics, and humanities and literature. The choices in concentration do not include major changes in the number of subjects taken (if at all). However, subjects that fall out of the concentration are given less weight in grading and are less rigorous, while subjects that fall within the concentration are more challenging and contribute significantly to the final grade.

Students go through three academic phases:
# elementary - 6 years
# intermediate = 3 years
# secondary - 3 years

These three phases are provided free to all students and the first eight years are, by law, compulsory. Nevertheless, this requirement currently falls short of being fully enforced.

'''Pre-Primary Education'''

According to the World Bank database, gross enrollment rate of pre-primary education is 67.1 percent for male, 65.6 percent for female, and 66.4 percent for total in 2007. Pre-primary education aims to initiate children into the school environment. The goal of pre-primary education is 1) to create a favorable climate for the children to communicate with others, 2) to develop their physical capacities, limb control and coordination of their movements, and 3) to educate their senses. Pre-primary education also takes into account physiological moral and intellectual development of children. According to the World Bank database, private enrollment share for pre-primary education is 80.3 percent in 2008.

'''Basic Education'''

Elementary Level According to the World Bank database, gross enrollment rate of elementary level of basic education is for 96.8 percent for male, 93.9 percent for female, and 95.4 percent for total in 2007. Private enrollment share in elementary level is 67.6 percent in 2007.

'''Intermediate Level'''

According to the World Bank database, gross enrollment rate of intermediate level is 83.2 percent for male, 90.7 percent for female, and 86.9 percent for total in 2007. (The World Bank Edstats) Primary completion rate of Lebanon (US$6,000 GNI per capita in 2007) is lower than that of Tunisia, Jordan, Iran, Algeria, West Bank and Egypt (all of which have lower GNI per capita). Primary completion rates have not improved during the period 1995/96 to 2003/04. In 2007, Primary completion rate is 79.8 percent for male, 83.3 percent for female, and 81.5 percent for total. According to UIS database, technical and vocational enrollment as percent of total enrollment in intermediate level is 5.1 percent in 2008. Private enrollment share of general education in intermediate level is 60.2 percent and that of technical and vocational education is 56.8 percent in 2008.

'''Secondary Education'''

Secondary education is three years education, and composes of general education (humanities, economics, life sciences, science) and technical education (about 55 different fields of study). School principals decide students’ path based on students’ aptitude as shown by the Brevet examination results. When students complete three years education, they take official Lebanese Baccalaureate exams in their respective tracks (four in all). Students who finish examinations successfully obtain the Lebanese Baccalaureate Certificate of Secondary Education (Shahaadat Al-Bakaalouriya al Lubnaaniya l’il-ta ‘liim al-Thaanawi) or the Technical Baccalaureate (Al-Bakaalouriya al-Finniya).
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have limited access to public secondary education. Most of them are not able to afford the high cost of private secondary education. UNRWA operates three secondary schools in Beirut, Saida and Tyre. School operated by UNRWA partially offset the absence of available educational opportunities at the secondary school level.” (UNRWA website) According to the World Bank database, gross enrollment rate of secondary education is 69.8 percent for male, 80.2 percent for female, and 74.9 percent for total. According to UIS database, technical and vocational enrollment as percent of total enrollment in secondary level is 27.8 percent in 2008. Private enrollment share of general education in intermediate level is 49.8 percent and that of technical and vocational education is 56.9 percent in 2008.

== Higher education ==

Following secondary school, Lebanese students may choose to study at a university, a college, or a vocational training institute. The number of years to complete each program varies. While the Lebanese educational system offer a very high quality and international class of education, the local employment market lacks of enough opportunities, thus encouraging many of the young educated to travel abroad.

Lebanon has 41 nationally accredited universities, several of which are internationally recognized.

The American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Université Saint-Joseph (USJ) were the first Anglophone and the first Francophone universities to open in Lebanon, respectively.

The universities, both public and private, largely operate in French or English.[78]

At the English universities, students who have graduated from an American-style high school program enter at the freshman level to earn their baccalaureate equivalence from the Lebanese Ministry of Higher Education. This qualifies them to continue studying at the higher levels. Such students are required to have already taken the SAT I and the SAT II upon applying to college, in lieu of the official exams. On the other hand, students who have graduated from a school that follows the Lebanese educational system are directly admitted to the sophomore year. These students are still required to take the SAT I, but not the SAT II. The university academic degrees for the first stage are the Bachelor or the Licence, for the second stage are the Master or the DEA and the third stage is the doctorate.

The United Nations assigned Lebanon an education index of 0.871 in 2008.

=== Universities in Lebanon ===
(source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_in_Lebanon)

This is a list of universities in Lebanon.

# Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (ALBA)
# American University of Beirut (AUB)
# Antonine University (UPA)
# American University College of Technology (AUT)
# American University of Science and Technology (AUST)
# [[Arab Open University]] ([[AOU]])
# Business and Computer University College (BCU)
# Beirut Arab University (BAU)
# [[Beirut University Online]]
# C&E American University(C&E AU)
# Ecole Superieure des Affaires (ESA
# Global University
# Haigazian University
# Hariri Canadian University
# Hawaii University
# Honolulu University
# Islamic University of Lebanon
# Al Jinan University
# Lebanese American University (LAU)
# Lebanese Canadian University (LCU)
# Lebanese International University (LIU)
# Lebanese University (UL) (French)
# Manar University of Tripoli (MUT)
# Matn University
# Middle East University
# Near East School of Theology
# Notre Dame University - Louaize (NDU)
# Université de la Sagesse
# Université Saint-Joseph (USJ)
# Université Saint-Esprit de Kaslik (USEK)
# University of Balamand
# PRINCELY International University

=== Polytechnics in Lebanon ===

No details.

== Higher education reform ==

=== The Bologna Process ===

== Administration and finance ==
According to the World Bank database, public education expenditure as percentage of GDP is 2.7 in 2007 and public education expenditure as percent of government spending is 9.6 in 2007. Public schools are financed by the Ministry of Education and private schools are financed by students’ fees. The processes involved curricula draft and modification, and teacher training are mainly financed by nongovernment funds such as private companies or international bodies which include the World Bank and the UNDP.

== Quality assurance ==

== Lebanon's HEIs in the information society ==

=== Towards the information society ===

=== Information society strategy ===

== Virtual Campuses in HE ==

=== Interesting Virtual Campus Initiatives ===

==== Beirut University Online ====

[[Beirut University Online]] - BUonline - claims to be the first Distance Learning academic institution in the Middle East, starting online activity in 1998. Its mission is "to bring quality education to the Arab World".

It is a private institution, sponsored by the Institute for Higher Education, a non-profit organization registered in Lebanon, in accordance with the Civil Code of Lebanon, article 844, issued on April 11, 1932.

Beirut University Online's main office is in Beirut, Lebanon. It also operates an internship centre in the Lebanon Mountains, where students, faculty and staff spend parts of the summer attending required academic and professional internship programmes.

The Beirut University Online web site is at http://www.buonline.edu.lb

Founded in 1994, the University limited its academic activities to research and consultations. During 1998, "Distance Learning" academic programs were added to BUonline's academic activities, covering the areas of business administration, computer sciences, health sciences and environment studies. The University emphasizes scholarly pursuits that encourage self-motivation, freedom of thought and social responsibility.

The academic program is fully online, computer-driven, internet-hosted instructional procedure. In addition, periodic residency sessions are held for all registered students.

The relationship to Beirut University is not clear but it is presumed to be a Virtual Campus outgrowth of that university.

==== Arab Open University ====

There is also a Lebanon campus of the [[Arab Open University]].

=== Interesting Programmes ===

=== Re.ViCa Case-study ===

None.

== Lessons learnt ==

== References ==

----
> [[Countries]]
 
>> [[Main Page]]

[[Category:Lebanon| ]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Middle East]]

[[Category:Countries with Programmes]]

Lebanon

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Nikos Zygouritsas: /* Kuwait education policy */

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Jordan

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Nikos Zygouritsas: /* Jordan education policy */

ORT Aviv Virtual School

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Nikos Zygouritsas: New page: The ORT Aviv Virtual School, established together with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1997, is a pioneering attempt to harness new information technologies in an effort to enrich an...

The ORT Aviv Virtual School, established together with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1997, is a pioneering attempt to harness new information technologies in an effort to enrich and improve the way in which children learn. This is done through the introduction of internet-based curricular modules (“virtual courses”) into the conventional classroom.

From computer labs in member schools or from home, students access specially designed courses on the web and carry out designated activities and assignments. Each course is supported by a site coordinator who manages the web components of the course, trains classroom teachers in the use of the materials, and provides assistance to teachers and students during the running of the course.

The use of the internet in the classroom expands learning possibilities by utilizing the almost unlimited sources of information available on the web and stimulating interaction with other learners from diverse geographical, religious and ethnic backgrounds.

Classroom teachers are encouraged to modify their traditional role as information providers and become facilitators of the learning process, aiding and guiding students as they carry out projects and assignments on the computer.

Teachers in Aviv also join their own learning community, in which they can assist and support each other. The ultimate goal of the Aviv Virtual School is to prepare students for the kind of independent learning and teamwork that will be expected of them as productive workers and citizens of the 21st century.

Through the use of modern telecommunications, this opportunity can be offered to schools across the country, irrespective of their proximity to the major economic and cultural centers.

[[Category: Israel]]
[[Category:Virtual colleges]]
[[Category:Virtual schools]]

Israel

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== Partners situated in Israel ==

None.

== Israel in a nutshell ==

''Israel'' (Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל‎, Yisra'el; Arabic: إِسْرَائِيلُ‎, Isrā'īl) officially the '''State of Israel''' ( מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, Medinat Yisra'el; Arabic: دَوْلَةُ إِسْرَائِيلَ‎, Dawlat Isrā'īl), is a country in the Middle East located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders [[Lebanon]] in the north, [[Syria]] in the northeast, [[Jordan]] in the east, and [[Egypt]] on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area. Also adjacent are two areas of [[Palestine]] - the West Bank to the east and Gaza Strip to the southwest.

[[Image:Israel.gif|right|thumb|400px|Source : http://www.cia.gov]]
Israel is the world's only Jewish state, with a population of about 7.37 million, of whom about 5.57 million are Jewish. It is also home to other ethnic groups, including most numerously Arab citizens of Israel, as well as many religious groups including Muslims, Christians, Druze, Samaritans and others.

Israel operates under a parliamentary system as a democratic country with universal suffrage. The President of Israel is the head of state, but his duties are largely ceremonial. A Parliament Member supported by a majority in parliament becomes the Prime Minister, usually the chairman of the largest party. The Prime Minister is the head of government and head of the Cabinet. Israel is governed by a 120-member parliament, known as the Knesset. Membership in the Knesset is based on proportional representation of political parties, with a 2% electoral threshold, which commonly results in coalition governments. Parliamentary elections are scheduled every four years, but unstable coalitions or a no-confidence vote by the Knesset often dissolves governments earlier. The Basic Laws of Israel function as an unwritten constitution. In 2003, the Knesset began to draft an official constitution based on these laws.

The State of Israel is divided into six main administrative districts, known as mehozot (מחוזות; singular: mahoz) – Center, Haifa, Jerusalem, North, Southern, and Tel Aviv Districts. Districts are further divided into fifteen sub-districts known as nafot (נפות; singular: nafa), which are themselves partitioned into fifty natural regions.

For statistical purposes, the country is divided into three metropolitan areas: Tel Aviv and Gush Dan (population 3,150,000), Haifa (population 996,000), and Beersheba (population 531,600). Israel's largest city, both in population and area, is Jerusalem with 732,100 residents in an area of 126 square kilometers (49 sq mi). Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Rishon LeZion rank as Israel's next most populous cities, with populations of 384,600, 267,000, and 222,300 respectively.

Israel has two official languages, Hebrew and Arabic. Hebrew is the primary language of the state and spoken by the majority of the population. Arabic is spoken by the Arab minority and Jews who immigrated to Israel from Arab lands. Most Israelis can communicate reasonably well in English, as many television programs are in English and many schools begin to teach English in the early grades. As a country of immigrants, dozens of languages can be heard on the streets of Israel. A large influx of people from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia have made Russian and Amharic widely spoken in Israel.

Israel was established as a homeland for the Jewish people and is often referred to as the Jewish state. The country's Law of Return grants all Jews and those of Jewish lineage the right to Israeli citizenship. Just over three quarters, or 75.5%, of the population are Jews from a diversity of Jewish backgrounds. Approximately 68% of Israeli Jews are Israeli-born, 22% are immigrants from Europe and the Americas, and 10% are immigrants from Asia and Africa (including the Arab World). The religious affiliation of Israeli Jews varies widely: 55% say they are "traditional," while 20% consider themselves "secular Jews," 17% define themselves as "Orthodox Jews"; the final 8% define themselves as "Haredi Jews."

up 16.2% of the population, Muslims constitute Israel's largest religious minority. About 2% of the population are Christian and 1.5% are Druze.

== Israel education policy ==
Israeli schools are divided into four tracks: state (Mamlachti), state-religious (Mamlachti dati), Independent (Haredi) schools (Chinuch Atzmai) and Arab. There are also private schools which reflect the philosophies of specific groups of parents (Democratic Schools) or are based on a curriculum of a foreign country (e.g. The American School). The majority of Israeli children attend state schools. State-religious schools, catering to youngsters from the Orthodox sector (mainly Religious Zionist / Modern Orthodox), offer intensive Jewish studies programs and emphasize tradition and observance. The Chinuch Atzmai schools focus almost entirely on Torah study and offer very little in terms of secular subjects. Schools in the Arab sector teach in Arabic and offer a curriculum that emphasizes Arab history, religion and culture.

Education is compulsory in Israel for children between the ages of three and eighteen.[192][193] Schooling is divided into three tiers:
# primary school (grades 1–6)
# middle school (grades 7–9)
# high school (grades 10–12
– culminating with Bagrut matriculation exams. Proficiency in core subjects such as mathematics, Bible, Hebrew language, Hebrew and general literature, English, history, and civics is necessary to receive a Bagrut certificate.

In Arab, Christian and Druze schools, the exam on Biblical studies is replaced by an exam in Islam, Christianity or Druze heritage.

In 2003, over half of all Israeli twelfth graders earned a matriculation certificate.

Israel's eight public universities are subsidized by the state.

== Israel education system ==
School system

School attendance is mandatory and free from age 6 to 18. Formal education starts in primary school (grades 1-6) and continues with intermediate school (grades 7-9) and secondary school (grades 10-12). About nine percent of the post-primary school population attend boarding schools.
The multi-cultural nature of Israel's society is accommodated within the framework of the education system. Accordingly, schools are divided into four groups: state schools, attended by the majority of pupils; state religious schools, which emphasize Jewish studies, tradition, and observance; Arab and Druze schools, with instruction in Arabic and special focus on Arab and Druze history, religion, and culture; and private schools, which operate under various religious and international auspices.
In recent years, with the growing concern of parents over the orientation of their children's education, some new schools have been founded, which reflect the philosophies and beliefs of specific groups of parents and educators.

Curriculum

Most hours of the school day are devoted to compulsory academic studies. While the subject matter to be covered is uniform throughout the system, each school may choose from a wide range of study units and teaching materials, provided by the Ministry of Education, which best suit the needs of its faculty and pupil population.
With the aim of enhancing pupils' understanding of their society, each year a special topic of national importance is studied in depth. Themes have included democratic values, the Hebrew language, immigration, Jerusalem, peace, and industry.

Secondary education

The majority of secondary schools offer academic curricula in science and in the humanities leading to a matriculation certificate and higher education. Certain secondary schools offer specialized curricula, which lead to a matriculation certificate and/or vocational diploma.
Technological schools train technicians and practical engineers on three levels, with some preparing for higher education, some studying towards a vocational diploma, and others acquiring practical skills.
Agricultural schools, usually in a residential setting, supplement basic studies with subjects relating to agronomy.
Military preparatory schools train future career personnel and technicians in specific fields required by the Israel Defense Forces.
Yeshiva high schools, mainly boarding schools, with separate frameworks for boys and girls, complement their secular curricula with intensive religious studies and promote observance of tradition and a Jewish way of life.
Comprehensive schools offer studies in a variety of vocations, ranging from bookkeeping to mechanics, electronics, hotel trades, graphic design, and more.

Youth not attending one of the above schools are subject to the Apprenticeship Law, requiring them to study for a trade at an approved vocational school. Apprenticeship programs are provided by the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor in schools affiliated with vocational networks. Lasting three to four years, these programs consist of two years of classroom study followed by one/two years during which students study three days a week and work at their chosen trade on the other days. Trades range from hairstyling and cooking to mechanics and word processing.

Administration and Structure
The Ministry of Education is responsible for school curricula, educational standards, supervision of teaching personnel, and construction of school buildings. Local authorities are charged with school maintenance as well as with acquisition of equipment and supplies. Teaching personnel at the kindergarten and primary school level are ministry employees, while those in the upper grades are employed by local authorities, which receive funding from the ministry according to the size of the school population. The government and local authorities finance 80 percent of education, while the rest comes from other sources.

Educational Television (ETV), a unit of the Ministry of Education, produces and broadcasts scholastic programs for use in school classrooms and educational programs for the entire population. In addition, ETV collaborates with education professionals at universities and teachers' seminars in developing new teaching methods.
Dedicated to providing lifetime learning, ETV gears its production to people of all ages through enrichment programs for preschoolers, entertainment programs for youth, educational courses for adults, and news broadcasts for all.

Education for Exceptional Children

Gifted children, who rank in the top 3 percent of their class and have passed qualifying tests, participate in enrichment programs, ranging from full-time special schools to extracurricular courses. A classroom for the gifted is characterized by the level of its students and its studies, with emphasis not only on imparting knowledge and understanding, but also on apply ng the concepts mastered to other disciplines. Children in these programs learn to research and handle new material independently.
Children with physical, mental, or learning disabilities are placed in appropriate frameworks according to the nature of their handicap, to help them eventually achieve maximum integration into the social and vocational life of their community. Thus some are taken care of in special settings, while others attend regular schools, where they may be assigned to self-contained groups or to mainstream classes with supplementary tutoring.
Responsibility for their wellbeing is shared by health-care personnel, psychologists, social workers, and special education professionals, as well as by the family and various community support groups. A committee constituted by law and appointed by the minister of education determines the eligibility of handicapped children for special education programs and facilities, which are free from age 3 to 21.

== Higher education ==

Higher education plays a pivotal role in the economic and social development of the country. Almost a quarter of a century before the state came into being, the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa was opened (1924) to train engineers and architects and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was founded (1925) as a center of higher learning for youth in the Land of Israel and to attract Jewish students and scholars from abroad. When Israel attained independence (1948), enrollment at the two universities totaled about 1,600. In 2009-2010 some 280,000 students attended the country's institutions of higher learning. Of these, 38 percent attend universities and 41 percent are enrolled in colleges, while 21 percent participate in courses through the Open University.

Accorded full academic and administrative freedom, Israel's institutions of higher education are open to all those who meet their academic standards. New immigrants and students lacking the necessary qualifications may attend a special preparatory program, which upon successful completion enables them to apply for admission.

'''Council for Higher Education'''

Institutions of higher education operate under the authority of the Council for Higher Education, which is headed by the minister of education, and includes academics, community representatives, and a student representative. It grants accreditation, authorizes the awarding of academic degrees, and advises the government on the development and financing of higher education and scientific research.

The Planning and Grants Committee, composed of four senior academics from different fields and two public figures from the business or industrial sectors, is the intermediary body between the government and the institutions of higher education regarding financial matters, submitting budget proposals to both bodies and allocating the approved budget. Public funds provide 70 percent of the budget for higher education, 20 percent derives from tuition, and the rest from various private sources. The committee also promotes cooperation among the various institutions.

Students

Most Israeli students are over age 21 when they begin their studies, after three years' compulsory military service for men and two years for women. Until the early 1960s, students pursued higher education mainly to acquire knowledge, while in recent years they have been more career-oriented, with larger numbers enrolled in the wide range of professional studies now offered. At present, well over half of Israelis in the 20-24 age group are enrolled in one of the country's institutions of postsecondary or higher education.

Universities

Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (est. 1924, Haifa) has graduated a high proportion of the country's engineers, architects, and town planners. In recent decades, faculties for medicine and the life sciences were added. The Technion serves as a center of basic and applied research in the sciences and engineering to advance the country's industrial development.

* The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (est. 1925) comprises faculties which cover nearly all areas of scholarship, from art history to zoology, and houses Israel's National Library. Since its inception, Hebrew University scientists have been actively involved in every phase of Israel's national development, and its Jewish studies departments rank among the most comprehensive in the world.

* Weizmann Institute of Science (est. 1934, Rehovot), originally founded as the Sieff Institute, was expanded in 1949 and named after Dr. Chaim Weizmann, Israel's first president and a renowned chemist. Today, it is a recognized post-graduate center of research in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and the life sciences. Its researchers are engaged in projects designed to accelerate the development of industry and the establishment of new science-based enterprises. The institute includes a department for science teaching, which prepares curricula for use in high schools.

* Bar Ilan University (est. 1955, Ramat Gan) embodies a unique integrative approach which combines enrichment programs in Jewish heritage with a liberal education in a wide range of disciplines, particularly in the social sciences. Blending tradition with modern technologies, it houses research institutes in physics, medicinal chemistry, mathematics, economics, strategic studies, developmental psychology, musicology, Bible, Talmud, Jewish law, and more.

* Tel Aviv University (est. 1956) was founded by incorporating three existing institutions to meet the need for a university in the Tel Aviv area, the country's most populous region. Today it is Israel's largest university, offering a wide spectrum of disciplines and placing considerable emphasis on both basic and applied research. The university houses specialized institutes which focus on strategic studies, health systems management, technological forecasting and energy studies.

* The University of Haifa (est. 1963), which serves as a center of higher education in the northern part of the country, offers opportunities for interdisciplinary studies; its interdepartmental centers, institutes, and overall architectural plan are structured to facilitate this approach. The university includes a unit for the study of the kibbutz as a social and economic entity, as well as a center dedicated to the advancement of understanding and cooperation between Jews and Arabs in Israel.

* Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (est. 1967, Be'er Sheva) was established to serve the residents of southern Israel and to encourage the social and scientific development of the country's desert region. It has made major contributions in arid zone research, and its medical school has pioneered community-oriented medicine in the country. The university's campus at Kibbutz Sde Boker houses a research center for the study of the historical and political aspects of the life and times of David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister.

* The Open University (est. 1974), patterned on the British model, offers distinctive, non-traditional higher education opportunities toward a bachelor's degree by utilizing flexible methods based primarily on self-study textbooks and guides, supplemented by structured assignments and periodic tutorials, with final examinations.

Colleges

Regional colleges offer academic courses. A number of these colleges operate under the auspices of one of the universities, making it possible for students to begin studying for a degree near their home and complete it at the university's main campus.

Some specialized institutes provide various disciplines in art, music, dance, fashion, nursing, rehabilitation therapies, teaching, and sports. Several private degreegranting colleges offer subjects in great demand such as business administration, law, computers, economics, and related topics. At some, additional tracks are available, leading to certificates or vocational diplomas in a variety of subjects ranging from technology and agriculture to marketing and hotel trades.
=== Universities in Israel ===

The eight official universities are listed below, with the acronymus commonly used in English:

# Bar-Ilan University (BIU)
# Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU)
# University of Haifa (HU)
# Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI)
# [[Open University of Israel]] (OPENU; OUI)
# Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (IIT)
# Tel Aviv University (TAU)
# Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS)

Israel's seven research universities (excluding the [[Open University of Israel]]) have been ranked in the top 500 in the world.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel's oldest university, houses the Jewish National and University Library, the world's largest repository of books on Jewish subjects

=== Polytechnics in Israel ===

In addition to the universities, there are a around 30 colleges and other institutes of higher learning, as well as about a dozen foreign university extensions. All are academically supervised by the [http://www.che.org.il/english/ Council for Higher Education in Israel (CHEI)]. The main difference between a university and a college in Israel is that only a university can issue doctorate degrees. Theoretically, a college can apply to the CHEI to upgrade its status to university.

'''Teacher training colleges'''

There are also over 20 teacher training colleges or seminaries, most of which can award only a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree. The teacher training seminaries include:

# Ahva College of Education, Ahva
# Arab College for Education , Haifa
# Beit Berl College, Beit Berl
# College of Technology Education , Tel Aviv
# David Yellin College of Education, Jerusalem
# Efrata College of Education, Jerusalem
# Emuna College of Education, Jerusalem
# Givat Washington College of Education, Givat Washington
# Gordon College of Education, Haifa
# Hemdat College of Education, Netivot
# Jerusalem College Michlala, Jerusalem
# Kaye Academic College of Education, Beersheba
# Kibbutzim College of Education, Tel Aviv
# Levinsky College of Education, Tel Aviv
# Lifshiz Religious College of Education, Jerusalem
# Mofet, Consortium of Colleges of Education
# Moreshet Yaakov Religious College of Education, Rehovot
# Ohalo College, Katzrin (Golan Heights)
# Oranim Academic College of Education, Oranim
# Ort College for Teachers of Technology, Tel Aviv
# Shaanan Religious College of Education, Haifa
# Talpiot College of Education, Tel Aviv
# Wizo College of Design and Education, Haifa

== Higher education reform ==

=== The Bologna Process ===

It is reported in the Wikipedia article on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bologna_process#Israel Bologna Process] that Israel is not eligible to participate:

: Israel is not a party to the European Cultural Convention of the Council of Europe, although it has observer status. Hence, Israel participates in the meetings of the Council of Europe's Steering Committees under the European Cultural Convention – such as the CDESR – as an observer. While Israel is not a part of geographical Europe, it is a part of the UNESCO Europe Region. Israel is also a signatory party to the Lisbon Recognition Convention. Under the criteria defined in the Berlin Communiqué, it seems clear that Israel is not eligible for access to the Bologna Process.

Be that as it may, there are discussions within Israel on the issue. After all, several countries well outside Europe are aligning their offerings with the Bologna Process. The report [http://www.kas.de/proj/home/pub/24/2/year-2006/dokument_id-9764/index.html EU-Israel: "The Sky is the limit"] noted in 2006:

* Israel has a high quality of education based on research. Thus this discussion is highly relevant, with the atmosphere favoring the Bologna Process.
* In order to be attractive to the Bologna process Israel should emphasize the field of science, and the relations with the European academy will have to be based on the quality level.
* The questions that should be asked regarding the government-university relationships: What does it mean? How far should the government go? Where does it lead? What can the Bologna Process do to save universities from governmental abuse? Additional questions may be: How does the European education attract students? How do we make Europe more attractive to Israeli students?

== Administration and finance ==

The Planning and Budgeting Committee - a permanent subcommittee of the Council for Higher Education - submits the ordinary and development budgets for higher education to the government. It also:

# allocates the global approved ordinary and development budgets provided by the government
# proposes plans for the development of higher education, including financing
# ensures that the budgets of the institutions are balanced
# encourages efficiency in higher education institutions and coordinates between them.

== Quality assurance ==

The [[Council for Higher Education]] is the licensing and accrediting authority for higher education in Israel. It is an independent statutory body composed of 19-25 members appointed by the President of the state, on the recommendation of the government.

The Council is empowered by law to advise the government on the development and financing of higher education and scientific research. Its Planning and Budgeting Committee (a permanent subcommittee) submits the ordinary and development budgets for higher education to the government; allocates the global approved ordinary and development budgets provided by the government; proposes plans for the development of higher education, including financing; and ensures that the budgets of the institutions are balanced. In addition, it encourages efficiency in higher education institutions and coordinates between them.

=== Quality Assessment Unit ===

In June 2003 the Council for Higher Education decided to establish a system for quality assessment of Israeli higher education with the aim of:
# Improving the quality of higher education in Israel.
# Strengthening the awareness to the quality assessment process and developing internal mechanisms in the institutions of higher education, that would continually evaluate the academic quality.
# Ensuring the continual integration of the Israeli academic system within the global academic systems.

The four stages in the model for quality assessment determined by the Council for Higher Education are:
# A self-evaluation process at the institutions being examined, accompanied by the preparation of a self-study report
# Quality assessment of the study program at the institutions being examined, carried out by an external committee appointed by the CHE, whose work will be based on the self-evaluation reports and visits to the institutions. , At the conclusion of the evaluation process, the committee will present a summary report to the CHE.
# Discussion and decision-making by the CHE.
# Publication of the CHE's decisions.

''The Council also decided that for the first years of its operation the Quality Assessment Unit will only evaluate study-programmess and disciplines, postponing assessment at the institutional level until a future date.''

== Israel's HEIs in the information society ==

=== Towards the information society ===

=== Information society strategy ===

== Virtual Campuses in HE ==

=== Interesting Virtual Campus Initiatives ===

'''[[Open University of Israel]]'''

: "Students are required to study on their own, practice at home, actively participate in group learning activities, and meet course deadlines and requirements. Since 1996, the Open University has offered programs of study leading to a Master's degree: initially an M.Sc. in Computer Science, and since then, an M.A. in Democracy Studies, Biological Thought, a Master of Business Administration - MBA, and an M.A. in Education - Learning Technologies and Learning Systems. In contrast to the open admission policy for undergraduate studies, admission to graduate studies is contingent on fulfilment of certain requirements."
: ''Source:'' [http://www-e.openu.ac.il/geninfor/111.html General info]

: "Agreements for bridges to other universities have been reached with the universities after they examined the OUI's study materials, and compared the programs of study in both institutions, and after seeing the high level of courses and the quality of assessment at the Open University." : ''Source:'' [http://www-e.openu.ac.il/academic/234.html Bridges to Other Universities]

: ''Relevant web page:'' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_University_of_Israel Wikipedia entry on the OU of Israel]

'''HighLearn'''

Fox education edition (HighLearn) from [http://www.britannica-ks.com/index.asp Britannica Knowledge Systems] is a web-based learning content management system (LCMS) that has been designed for higher education and professional development needs. HighLearn is designed to assist institutions in effectively managing all aspects of their campus-wide e-learning. HighLearn was chosen by the [[Council for Higher Education]] in Israel (CHEI) as the infrastructure for the nationwide e-learning initiative. Since the beginning of project six years ago, HighLearn has been implemented at six of Israel’s eight leading universities, numerous colleges and more than twenty teacher training colleges. Thousands of faculty members have developed more than 10,000 blended courses, in which more than 150,000 students participate.

For more details see http://www.britannica-ks.com/Solutions/Education.asp

=== Interesting Programmes ===

The '''Center for Educational Technology''' (CET) is an Israeli, non denominational NGO, dedicated to the advancement of the education system in Israel, in the Jewish world and around the globe. In its 37 years of activity, CET has invested significant resources in carrying out its social mission, and has established its expertise and reputation as a content developer, introducer of advanced technologies and the leader of next generation learning.

CET is also the developer of the "Virtual Campus", Israel’s online campus for teachers, which offers a range of courses in all subjects. Through the virtual campus, teachers can view lectures and share their professional knowledge at any time, and from anywhere. The campus was adopted by the Ministry of Education and now hosts more than 70,000 teachers.

For more see http://www3.cet.ac.il/English/pages/Home.aspx. There appear to be strong similarities with [[Becta]] including use of the phrase [http://www3.cet.ac.il/English/pages/LNGL.aspx Next Generation Learning].

'''ORT Aviv Virtual School'''

The [ORT Aviv Virtual School], established together with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1997, is a pioneering attempt to harness new information technologies in an effort to enrich and improve the way in which children learn. This is done through the introduction of internet-based curricular modules (“virtual courses”) into the conventional classroom.

From computer labs in member schools or from home, students access specially designed courses on the web and carry out designated activities and assignments. Each course is supported by a site coordinator who manages the web components of the course, trains classroom teachers in the use of the materials, and provides assistance to teachers and students during the running of the course.

=== Re.ViCa Case-study ===

None.

== Lessons learnt ==

None.

== References ==

A very useful survey paper is ''THE E-LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN ISRAEL HIGHER EDUCATION: CURRENT STATUS AND CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE'', by Gila Kurtz et al - http://www.biu.ac.il/bar-e-learn/article_Kurtz.doc

This could be drawn on for an expanded version of this country report.

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