Preparation for Successful Integration into Higher Education of Arab Students

The program to adapt preparatory programs to the needs of Israel’s Arab students is part of the multiannual plan of the Planning and Budgeting Committee of the Council for Higher Education to increase the Arab population’s successful integration into higher education.

In 2011/2012, the program was implemented as a pilot in four institutions and divided into two types: preparatory programs only for Arab students and mixed programs in which Arab students studied alongside other students. The programs includes an enriched pedagogic curriculum, language instruction in Hebrew and English, learning skills workshops, preparation for the psychometric exam, personal and academic mentoring, counseling, and efforts to enhance social integration.

In addition, the students in the Arab-only programs were eligible to receive a 90% reduction of their tuition fees, a monthly stipend and travel expenses if necessary. The institutions received a special budget for each Arab student in order to finance these additional elements.

This preliminary report examines the strategies employed in the implementation of the preparatory program, its success rates (program completion rates, and rates of admission to higher education), the students’ satisfaction with the program components and the perceived contributions of the program. In general, it was found that the students in the pilot programs completed the programs and enrolled in higher education at a higher rate than the average for all the preparatory programs. The general level of satisfaction and perceived contribution of the program were also high, although difficulties were identified with some of the program elements.

The study revealed several implementation strategies that could help improve this program as well as programs for other population groups:

  • Provision of all additional support as a structured, ongoing part of the  curriculum
  • Allowing flexibility in the provision of the elements and adjusting them to the students’ needs throughout the year
  • Extending the timeframe over a longer period of time
  • Introducing the preparatory program as the first year of a regular higher education program

The findings have been discussed with the staff of the Council for Higher Education and are serving as the basis for improving the existing program and determining future directions for developing and implementing the support programs for Arab students.

The study was initiated by the Council for Higher Education and funded with its assistance.

Citing suggestion: Ben-Rabi, D., & Hendin, A. (2013). Preparation for Successful Integration into Higher Education of Arab Students. RR-643-13. Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute. (Hebrew)