Plan Sketch

Plan Sketch

Framework for The Strategic Plan

Beyond defining the objectives and paths toward their attainment, the Institute will take action already in the near future in all relevant fields (academic, management, infrastructure and resources) in order to ensure its continued activity and functioning at an adequate academic standard, and its ability to keep facing considerable challenges. These actions should bring about greater efficiency in the Institute's academic and administrative activity, guarantee its economic stability, and establish it as a leading Institution in the Israeli higher education system.

The Institute's objectives delineated in the strategic plan:

01

Developing and maintaining study programs that are attractive, up-todate and relevant

The Institute will seek to promote and inculcate academic and technological excellence among its students, equipping them with an adequate and comprehensive 'toolbox' – a comprehensive and substantial theoretical background, together with applied, up-to-date proficiency in new technologies, and development of original and critical thinking, the ability for self-regulated learning, and the values of social responsibility and technological leadership.

02

Hiring excellent new faculty members, while fostering and promoting the existing staff

The level and reputation of an institute for higher education is largely determined by the academic level and reputation of its faculty. In the past, the Institute used to hire outstanding faculty members, who contributed to the Institute's level and reputation by publishing their research in leading international journals, attending international conferences, and winning research scholarships from competitive international academic and business foundations.

03

Increasing the number of students, while emphasizing hiring those with a potential for academic excellence

The quantity and quality of students currently attending the Institute are crucial factors for its subsistence and prospering. Hence, in order to enhance its academic and financial viability, the Institute must establish a dynamic system, which will constantly succeed in enticing good students in creative ways, as mandated by the fierce competition in recent years in the market of higher education – a competition that may be expected to become even worse over coming years. For this purpose, the Institute must market itself to candidates, and especially to the more promising candidates, as an appealing institution which, while not a university, is not just another college, and which provides its graduates with a strong background of fundamental, applied and up-to-date knowledge, required for their success in the business world and/or continued study towards advanced degrees.

04

Promoting women at the Institute

Promoting gender equality at institutions of higher education has been described by CHE as a primary objective over the coming years, both for reasons of justice and fairness and for reasons of enhancing academic excellence and realizing human capital. The Institute sees itself as committed to promoting gender equality and fair representation of women, while at the same time maintaining a level of excellence both among faculty, administrative staff and students.

05

Improving relations with businesses and academia by founding advanced programs for applied research and instruction

Collaboration between the Institute and businesses and academic institutions in Israel and abroad is a crucial factor for the Institute's continued existence and development. The Institute is interested in improving existing collaborative relations and creating new ones, especially with different businesses, out of a desire to respond to the growing shortage of experienced manpower in Israeli businesses and the economy. The Institute's geographic location, in the heart of Holon, gives it a competitive advantage in easy access to the new hi-tech industry centers in Holon, Rishon Letsion and the vicinity. As stated above, the Institute recently joined with the city of Holon to found the 'Academia-Business' forum, which will broaden and fortify the bond between academics, business, and local government. This collaboration will help further innovative academic-technological initiatives, such as development of new study programs, building innovative technological infrastructures, organizing conferences and seminars and integrating faculty members and students into commercial developments in the urban environment.

06

Founding cutting edge centers for multi-disciplinary applied research, with the collaboration of academia, businesses, and other organizations

As an academic institution committed to promoting applied research in Israel, the Institute has recently begun establishing multi-disciplinary applied research centers, with the collaboration of academia, businesses, government and other organizations. These research centers will seek to promote innovative new centers for research of subjects which have not yet been properly addressed by Israeli academia, and will group together researchers from different disciplines, as well as high-achieving students from the Institute and elsewhere.

07

Developing physical infrastructure for expanding the Institute

Developing the Institute academically also calls for a broad consideration of infrastructure issues, namely how the existing physical infrastructure can be expanded and upgraded, as well as how new infrastructure can be constructed. This will include classrooms, research and instruction labs, faculty offices, and different zones that will service the students. As of today, buildings stand on 22,000 square meters of the campus, and can be potentially expanded to cover 84,000 square meters.

08

Anchoring the Institute in its urban setting, while improving and expanding collaboration with municipal authorities

Thanks to the extensive work of the city council of Holon in the fields of education, culture and leisure, the city of Holon is now recognized nationally as a city of culture and education, which features unique institutions such as the Children's Museum, Mediatheque, Museum of Design, Story Gardens and more. The promotion of the Institute to university status would allow Holon to market itself as a university city on the national and international levels. As is the case in other cities in Israel and abroad which host universities, the Institute could contribute much to Holon's development and prospering.

09

Improving the Institute's contribution to Israeli society in making higher education more accessible

As part of the CHE/PBC program for expanding academia access to different segments of Israeli society (ultra-orthodox Jews, Druze, Circassians, Arabs, Ethiopian immigrants, and other new immigrants), the Institute will create academic and pre-academic study frameworks for these different groups, in hopes of helping support this important national task.

10

Improving the Institute's brand name and reaching relevant target audiences

Rebranding the Institute and exposing its advantages as a dynamic academic institution and leader in the fields of technology and creativity could have a great effect in drawing good potential students, hiring high-quality academic faculty and improving its reputation.

11

Converting the External Studies Program at the Institute to a leading associate degree school

HIT's School of Associate Degree Studies will operate mostly in fields overlapping with those taught in the Institute's other academic programs. In courses offered at the school, students will become acquainted with useful information and subjects pertaining to the contemporary world's needs. The courses will offer concentrated versions of subjects taught in different faculties. Likewise, the school will offer associate degrees or continued education for graduate students, providing them with "personal and applied growth," while broadening their opportunities to find a place in today's challenging work environment.

12

Formulating an ethical code for the Institute regarding instruction, research, administration, and daily life

Ethical codes are designed to state firmly a set of moral principles for the Institute as an Israeli institution of higher education, so that these may guide the faculty and administration members in their daily work. The ethical code will proclaim what is expected of them in instruction, research, advertising and running the Institute, and will be used to settle disputes and contradictions which inevitably arise in complicated systems. Similarly, the ethical code is meant to indicate to students, various government, commercial, or other parties, as well as the public at large, the nature of the Institute's activity, in relation to its objectives, goals, and constitutive values, so that they may understand the Institute when they relate to it as consumers, or when they attempt to influence its activity as interested parties.

13

Fundraising for further development of the Institution's teaching, research, and infrastructure

Fundraising in Israel and abroad is crucial for the continued development and prospering of the Institute in teaching, research and production. The Institute will devote a maximum effort, and make use of its different strengths to increase the rate of fundraising in Israel and abroad. Donations will be used to build labs and unique research centers, construct new buildings and renovate existing structures, provide needy and high-achieving students with scholarships, organize national and international conferences and seminars, and encourage research and production at the Institute.