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Training Science Professionals

Submitted by eranmatis on Thu, 25/07/2013 - 11:15

When it comes to employment in science-based industries, the region surrounding the Achva Academic College is trailing far behind the more central regions of the nearby Dan region which has the Tel-Aviv metropolitan area in its hub. Although quite a few companies have their headquarters in this region, they mostly draw their workforce from other regions. The main reason for that is the lack of scientifically qualified candidates in the major towns of this region which suffer from an inadequate educational system that fails to produce eligible candidates for academic studies in the scientific disciplines.

Being one of the major academic institutions in the region, Achva Academic College, regards as an important part of its mission the encouragement of young people residing in its vicinity to take-up degree studies in one of the scientific subjects. In the last couple of years the college has opened degree courses in the Life Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Applied Chemistry. Other subjects will be added in the near future.

Achva is offering 25 students from the Ashkelon sub-district (major towns included in this area include Ashdod, Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Malachi and Sderot), a scholarship covering 2/3 of the fees payable for their B.Sc studies. In return, students awarded the scholarships are required to excel in their studies and to participate in job placement workshops aimed at helping them integrate into the science-based industry.

Project Title	Training Science Professionals
Partners
Duration of the project	36 months (renewable)
Objectives	Increasing the number of students studying towards a B.Sc degree at Achva. Increasing the number of Achva B.Sc graduates placed in jobs in science-based industries.
Target group(s)	25 students annually who study towards am Achva B.Sc degree and whose permanent place is within the Ashkelon sub-district (nafa). Priority will be given to those residing within the natural regions (ezorim) of Malachi and Lakhish.
Final beneficiaries	The 450,000 residents of the Ashkelon sub-district, and in particular the 50,000 residents of the Malachi and Lakhish regions. The science-based industries in the Ashkelon sub-district.
Estimated outputs	25 scholarships allocated annually as follows: in the first year of studies 100% of tuition fees, in the second and third years 50% of tuition fees. At least 15 of the scholars placed in jobs in science-based industries within a year of their graduation.
Main activities	Eligible candidates must be enrolled to an Achva B.Sc degree. The program committee will comprise senior faculty from all scientific disciplines taught at Achva and representatives of science based industries. Continuation in this program to the second and the third year is conditional on the comple-tion of all the requirements of the study program, an average annual grade no lower than 90. In the second semester of the third year scholars will be required to participate in job place-ment workshops and interviews organized by the program committee.