EAST - Excellence Arab Students at the Technion

Arab citizens of Israel make up twenty percent of the country’s population, and as a minority group have traditionally been under-represented in Israeli universities. The Technion has made huge efforts to include greater numbers of Arab students by strengthening internal empowerment systems and has achieved such great success that the model is being rolled out nationwide. Through special coaching programs for prospective students, workshops run by high-achieving students from Arab society, and personal tutoring in social engagement, the Technion has been able to increase numbers of Arabic-speaking students and Arab female students by 200% and 350% respectively since 2004. The number of Arab students deemed ‘outstanding’ has risen by 1,800%, and the number of Arab graduate students by 120%. Dropout rates among our Arab students have fallen by 67%!

The Technion campus today is a thriving microcosm of Israeli society where Jewish, Arab, and other minorities study side by side encouraging diversity, interaction and vibrant social life.

The Technion established the scholarship fund EAST — Excellence for Arab Students at the Technion. Within this framework, annual scholarships are given to outstanding students from Arab society, based on academic excellence and socio-economic status. Each year faculties submit lists of outstanding Arab students who completed at least one year of studies to the Steering Committee, chaired by Professor Daud Bashouti and comprised of six additional members, including representatives of the donors and senior academic staff from various faculties. The Dean of Students Office also provides recommendations to the Streeting Committee, based on the candidates’ socio-economic eligibility.

The initial efforts of last academic year resulted in the allocation of six partial scholarships for outstanding female and male Arab students.

The number of scholarships awarded depends on the funds available each year and our goal for the upcoming year is to assist many more Arab female and male students.