Education Sessions at the Annual Conferences of 2025 and 2026

For over thirty years, the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) has hosted an influential annual conference focused on the pressing challenges facing Israeli society and its economy, ranging from fiscal and labor issues, to transportation, health, environment, and welfare. The conference brings together government ministers and officials, business leaders, and practitioners from civil society to engage in profound and candid dialogue. Each session is thoughtfully designed around research and prepared papers, led by a research team, headed by Karnit Flug, former Governor of the Bank of Israel. These studies ensure that the discussions are well-informed.

Several years ago, we proposed that the IDI include a dedicated session on education in their agenda. Prior to that, education topics were mentioned only occasionally, and the Ministry of Education’s participation was very limited and partial. Over the years, and with continued support from the foundation, IDI conducted various studies on education issues, which set the stage for a dedicated session at the conferences. The issues studied and presented included a deep dive into the reform of the five-unit mathematics track, the need to upgrade the curriculum in alignment with the PISA framework, and longitudinal research focusing on the skills needed in high-tech and the conditions that support reducing socio-economic gaps.

Ahead of the 2025 and 2026 conference cycles, IDI approached the foundation once again. They plan to initiate an arsenal of studies from which they will select the content for the education sessions at the conferences. The studies include:

1. Analyzing the results of an international skills test for adults (PIAAC) and comparing them with individualized data on education, employment and wages, particularly regarding the skills needed for high-tech;
2. Identifying the conditions that drive economic mobility of individuals in Israel’s social periphery compared to those who are not fulfilling their potential;
3. Exploring the reasons for the growing mismatch in the Arab society between increased education outcomes and low participation in the high-tech industry;
4. Assessing the effects of recent events on trends in the talent brain drain from Israel, relocation within Israel, and early retirement.

The findings of these studies will be prepared in the form of a digital report and, in consultation with the foundation, will be used to inform the education sessions at the 2025 and 2026 conferences.

* The text above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors / Grant 590