Team:Technion-Israel/Inclusion
Overview
At the beginning of this iGEM season, an Israeli meetup was arranged by TAU Israel team, with the aim of getting to know one another and cooperatively brainstorm over the different manners in which we can utilize the iGEM platform to influence others and make an impact on society.
Following the rise of Black Lives Matters, we have decided to do our part and join the iGEM foundation in the work against systemic racism in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). We looked and asked around only to realize that the issue of the underrepresentation of minorities in STEM (especially in academia) has never been clearer and upsetting.
“Some believe that academia and STEM exist in a vacuum, that the pursuit of scientific knowledge operates independently of societal context. That is simply not true. We recognize that the same types of discrimination that affect larger society apply to academia and STEM too. The fact that it should take a conscious effort for universities and corporations to achieve racial parity at all is telling.”
From the iGEM website - Diversity - Black Lives Matters June 19 statement
Out of this realization, “The Israeli Academic Inclusivity Video Project Collaboration” was born. All the teams were assigned with the task of interviewing people from academia and STEM. Not just any people, but rather find representatives from 3 minority sectors in Israel who can inspire others to join this world. To make the youth from those sectors realize that the world of academia and STEM is available to them as much as to anybody else.
As was mentioned, we chose to focus on 3 indisputably underrepresented sectors of our society: Arabs, Ultra-Orthodox Jews, and Ethiopians.
The figure shown above demonstrates the likelihood of obtaining a bachelor’s degree, by ethnic group and gender in Israel. In the past decade, the rate of those receiving a bachelor’s degree from the Arab, Ultra-Orthodox and Ethiopian Jewish populations is significantly lower than the rate of bachelor’s degree recipients among Jews (the majority sector) and the overall population.
We worked together and made a video series in which we ask each interviewee questions about their past, path and obstacles they had to overcome due to their origins, beliefs or skin color. We also collected statistical information regarding this matter for each of the sectors. This information is eye opening and objectively demonstrates the magnitude of this issue.
The videos were uploaded to our iGEM websites, Youtube channels and all the social networks. The main goal is to make sure that the videos will reach their recipients, that is to say the minority youth that we hope to inspire. The use of a video platform, being both accessible and attractive, allows us to connect to the world of youths and stimulate their thirst for knowledge. Therefore, the videos were also sent to each interviewee with the hope that they could spread the message even better than us. If our project will manage to encourage even one child to pursue their dream despite the prejudice and social pressure, we will consider it a win.
Due to the COVID-19 situation, some of the interviews were conducted via Zoom. All frontal interviews were conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health in Israel at the time.
The videos and statistical information can be found in the other tabs of this page (by scrolling down or clicking on the menu to on your left).
For their patience, sincerity and time, we would like to thank:
Dr. Orna Sharabani-Yosef, Dr. Daniel Raday, Dr. Hadas Malada, Dr. Samah Samaan, Raouf Nseir, Avraham Fridman, Mya Beitsch, and Sason Mekonen.
iGEM teams: Technion, TAU, and BGU
Arab Population
Statistics on the Arabic society in Israel
The following data was extracted from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).[1].[2].
On the eve of 2020, Israel's population is estimated at over 9.1 million residents. At this time, Arabs (Muslims, Christians, and Druze) represented 21% of Israel’s total population[3].
The Arabic population in higher education
According to the most recent CBS academic related report, in the recent academic year (2018/19) 21.2% of the university applicants and 23.0% of the college applicants were Arabs. But less than 13% of the high degree recipients in Israel were Arabs (1.3K out of 79.6K) that year.
In detail, Arabs represented 13.5% of bachelor’s (1st) degree recipients, 12.1% among master’s (2nd) degree recipients and only 5.7% of PhD (3rd degree) recipients . To emphasize the magnitude of the issue, it is worth clarifying that only 94 out of 1,600 PhD’s were granted to Arabs that year (and only 5.1% the year before).
When considering the Arab population in STEM academic disciplines, they represented 8.7% of bachelor’s degree recipients in natural sciences, mathematics, and agriculture. Also, they represented only 6.5% of the recipients in different engineering disciplines and architecture.
Out of the total population, 11.1% of the bachelor’s degree recipients studied in the fields of natural sciences, mathematics, and agriculture. 13.4% studied different engineering disciplines and architecture.
The Arab population represented 6.7% of master’s degree recipients in natural sciences, mathematics, and agriculture and only 3.7% in different engineering disciplines and architecture.
Out of the total population, 7.4% of the master’s degree recipients studied in the fields of natural sciences, mathematics, and agriculture. 4.8% studied different engineering disciplines and architecture.
The academic disciplines that are mostly sought out by Arabs (meaning over two thirds of the applicants were Arabs) are: arts & culture, Arabic – language & literature and English – language & literature.
Arabic as underrepresented group in STEM
As described above, the Arab population is the biggest minority in Israel Nevertheless, their representation in STEM subjects is not proportional to their percentage in the society.
One of the main reasons that might explain this gap is the language barrier. Most of the academic studies in Israel are performed in Hebrew. Although the Arabic population study Hebrew in their pre-academic education, most of them do not reach the level of native speakers (sometimes their English is better than their Hebrew). For this reason, they have difficulties keeping up with the Hebrew lectures.
another difficulty that stands in the way of this population is the gap in core studies in the pre-academic education. Those two reasons are probably the main cause that leads to the high rates of academic dropouts.
Alongside the educational gap, there is an economical gap that makes it difficult for them to choose the academic path. The social economic status of a lot of the Arabic families does not allow them to afford academic studies.
Another gap is the cultural perception about academic studies among the Arabs in Israel. It is less common to choose STEM field as an occupation in this sector of society. Therefore, the percentage of Arabs in STEM fields is one of the lowest in the academic studies comparing to other academic fields[4].
Despite all that, it is important to mention that within a decade, the number of Arab students doubled (as shown in the graph below, provided by the Council for Higher Education)[5]. According to data in the academic year of 2007/8, the number of Arab undergraduate students was only 21,534. Which is approximately 10% of the total number of undergraduates in Israel. A decade later, in 2017/8, 39,160 Arab students managed to achieve their bachelor’s degrees in Israel, accounting for 17% of the total number of undergraduate students[6]. One of the reasons for this tendency is that Israel makes vast efforts to close the gap between the populations. In this project we are joining to this effort.
Ultra-Orthodox Population
The following data was extracted from statistical reports of The Israel Democracy Institute which were published in 2019.
Today, the ultra-Orthodox (known also as Haredi) make up 12% of Israel’s total population. If this community continues to grow at its current rate, it will double every 16 years[7].
The Ultra-Orthodox and Higher Education
Over the past decade, the number of Haredi men and women studying towards an academic degree increased by 150%, with an average annual increase of 12.5%. In the 2018-2019 academic school year, approximately 12,000 Haredi students studied in higher education frameworks, and made up 3.8% of the general student population in Israel. 70% of the Haredi students were women and 84% of the Haredi students studied towards a bachelor's degree[7]. Of all ultra-Orthodox students, 18% studied towards master’s or doctoral degrees, compared with 27% in the general populace[8].
A large majority of ultra-Orthodox undergraduate students studied in academic colleges (55%) and in colleges of education (28%) in the 2017/18 school year, but only a minority of them studied in universities (17%). In the general population, in contrast, 39% percent of bachelor’s students studied in universities.
The percentages of Haredi students studying towards bachelor’s degrees in fields such as education, para-medical professions, and business management, are higher than those among other Jewish students (35% vs. 18%, 12% vs. 6%, 12% vs. 10%, respectively). In contrast, there are fields such as engineering that are rarely studied by Haredi students (9% vs. 21%). This is apparently because the Haredi students - especially men - lack the prior education essential for studying these fields[7].
Ultra-Orthodox as an underrepresented group in STEM
In the past few years, there has been an impressive growth in the number of Haredi students in higher education, but their dropout rates, especially those of Haredi men are particularly high, with only half of them actually graduating. The majority of Haredi drop-outs study in colleges (primarily on Haredi campuses) where admission requirements are considerably more lenient, and at the Open University, where academic requirements are high, but registration is open to all. The majority of Haredi students are admitted to academic studies without a matriculation diploma (bagrut) or psychometric exam score, and in many of cases, without even attending a pre-academic preparatory program (mechina). This leniency in the admission of Haredi students is a relatively new phenomenon and the result of a policy aimed at making academic studies more accessible to young Haredim. Moreover, the fact that the majority of male Haredi students do not study core curriculum in high school substantially hinders their ability to complete an academic degree. It appears that without a change in their basic education, their dropout rates will remain high. Compared to non-Haredi students, their level of English (as a second language) is particularly low (an average gap of 20 points out of 100 on the psychometric exam)[9].
Ethiopian Population
The Ethiopian Population in Israel - Students in the education system[10]
In primary and post-primary education, 2017/18 (32,137 students of Ethiopian descent) studied in the 2017/18 school year.
About 2.4% of all students in Hebrew education.
Higher education
The number of Ethiopian students in institutions of higher education 18 has been on the rise in recent years, from 2,372 in 2011/12 to 3,417 in 2018/19. The numbers also increased in relation to the total population (percentage of Ethiopians out of all students) in those years - From 0.9% to 1.3% - Despite the above, the relative chance of Ethiopians entering higher education is still 70% of the chance of natives, especially the relative chance of men of Ethiopian descent entering education.
Undergraduate students
In 2009, the number of Ethiopian undergraduate students was 2,989 1.5% (of all students.)
A high percentage of Ethiopians studied the fields: Business and Management Sciences, 2.9% (Medical Auxiliary Professions) 2.3% (and Social Sciences), 2.0% (and a low percentage studied the fields: Agriculture, 0.47% (Medicine), 0.5% (Natural Sciences), And 0.44% in mathematics. In the same year, Ethiopians studied mainly in academic colleges - 57.8% (compared to 47.5% among all students) and less in universities 28.3% (compared to 38.2% among all students) and in college education 14.0% -14.4% (among all students.)
Graduates and PhD students in 2009/10
391 Ethiopian students studied for a master's degree and 24 students studied for a PhD.
The main Ethiopians in their master's degree studies were: Business and Management Sciences, 29.2% (Social Sciences) 23.5%.
Ethiopian Jews as an Underrepresented Group in STEM
At the end of 2018, the population of Ethiopian origin in Israel numbered 151.8 thousand residents – 86.9 thousand natives Ethiopians and 64.9 thousand that were born in Israel and whose father was born in Ethiopia.
In 2018, 208 people arrived in Israel (56 of them in immigrant status and 152 in other status - most of them in the Union Families).
In primary and post-primary education, in the 2017/18 school year (32,137 students of Ethiopian origin), which are about 2.4% of all students in Hebrew education. The rate of those taking the matriculation exams among twelfth-grade students from Ethiopia reached 92.4% in 2018 Between 95% among all Hebrew education. The number of Ethiopian students in institutions of higher education 2 has been on the rise in recent years 2018/19.
In 2018, about 33,000 Ethiopian immigrants were registered with the Ministry of Labor, Welfare and Social Services, a rate of about 376 per 1,000 people. In contrast, among Jews and others born abroad there was a registered rate of 180 of all 1,000 people.
Discrimination based on skin color and origin[11]
The Israeli authorities, aware of the plight of members of African communities in other Western countries, have launched various projects to prevent the development of patterns of ethnic discrimination. The internal challenges of the community members have become more complex due to racist attitudes that have arisen over the years from certain elements in Israeli society and the official establishment. Manifestations of racism, or prejudice, still occasionally occur in Israel towards members of the community, especially in places where there are high concentrations of them.
In 2002, it was announced that the immigrant population includes descendants of converted slaves and that people from the Beta Israel community are prohibited from marrying them in Israel as well.
A survey published in the winter of 2004 showed that 75% of non-Ethiopian Israelis are willing for their children to study with Ethiopian children, 55% are willing to live next door to Ethiopians and 26% are willing for their children to marry an Ethiopian. In Israel, the rate of Ethiopians marrying members of other ethnic groups is about 12%. About eight years later, a survey published in the summer of 2012 indicates that opinions among the general public towards Ethiopian Israelis have worsened: only 24% of non-Ethiopian Israelis are willing for their children to marry Ethiopians, 23% of them are willing to live next door to Ethiopians and 47% of respondents They will agree that their children will study with children of Ethiopian descent in the same class.
- “Recipients of Academic Degrees (2018/19) Selected Data on the Occasion of the End of the Academic Year”. Israel Center Bureau of Statistics.
- “Applications to First Degree Studies at Universities and Academic Colleges (2018/19)”. Israel Center Bureau of Statistics.
- “Population of Israel on the Eve of 2020 - 9.1 Million”. Israel Center Bureau of Statistics.
- Ali N. Representation of Arab Citizens in the Institutions of Higher Education In Israel. Sikkuy – The Association for The Advancement of Civic Equality. 2013.
- Higher Education Accessible to Arab Students. Council For Higher Education. 2018
- Making Higher Education Accessible to Arab Society. Council For Higher Education. 2019
- 2019 Statistical Report on Ultra-Orthodox Society in Israel: Highlights. The Israel Democracy Institute.
- G. Malach and L. Cahaner. The Yearbook of Ultra-Orthodox Society in Israel 2019 - Hebrew version. 2019.
- Regev E. The Challenges of Integrating Haredim into Academic Studies. State of the Nation Report: Society, Economy and Policy in Israel , 2016.
- Recipients of Academic Degrees (2017/18) Selected Data on the Occasion of the End of the Academic Year”. Israel Center Bureau of Statistics.
- “The population of Ethiopian Origin in Israel”. Israel Center Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved May 5, 2020
