The economic leadership of Israel, The Minister of Education and the Israel Sci-Tech Schools Network mark the success of one of the most exciting new philanthropic partnerships in Israel
Meeting Point is a unique and innovative partnership initiated by the Israel Sci-Tech Schools network and the leadership of Israel’s business community. Led by Izhar Shay, CEO and Partner in Canaan Partners Venture Capital, Meeting Point is modeled on the acclaimed Principal for a Day Project (PENCIL) launched by Dr. Lisa Belzberg in New York in 1995.
Started in Israel in 2009 with the participation of 17 leaders of business and industry, Meeting Point has now doubled in size, bringing a cross section of 35 CEO’s of leading Israeli corporations to partner with Israel Sci-Tech Schools across the country.
“Meeting Point” inspires innovation by creating partnerships between leaders of the Israeli business community and the Israel Sci-Tech Schools . These encounters lead to the integration of creative ideas and management skills from the world of business and the educational system. It enables the building of long term relationships between business and education.
On Sunday, May 16, 2010, the 35 participating CEOs, their partner principles and network leadership gathered at the prestigious Dan Hotel in Tel Aviv, in the presence of the Minister of Education Mr. Gideon Saar, to mark the successful second year of the project.
The event paid tribute to the growing partnership between business and education in Israel, and highlighted the special relationship developed between Bank Hapoalim, headed by its Chairman, Mr. Yair Seroussi, and Israel Sc-Tech Schools network. In his address, Seroussi called upon leaders of industry and commerce to become more involved in education.
Together with Chairman of the Board of Israel Sc-Tech Schools network Dr. Uzi Tsuk, Shmuel Eilin, a student at the Sci-Tech Educational Center in Kfar Saba, presented Mr. Seroussi with his artwork entitled “I Have Value”- a picture chosen from amongst hundreds of submissions.
The event highlighted examples of the growing partnerships between industry and education, including, the development of an academic program for electro-optic studies developed in collaboration with Elbit Systems Electro-Optics and Rafael, a project where engineers from the Given Imaging Company train students in the scientific-engineering track, and the partnership with Genzyme Company that brings students into the laboratory.
“Meeting Point” focuses on the personal involvement of CEOs and business leaders, which results in a better understanding of the needs of the education system. Partnering CEOs included: Mr. Motti Zisser-Chairman of Elbit Imagining , Mr. Amos Shapira - CEO of Cellcom, Mr. Zeev Bregman - CEO of NICE Technologies, Mr. Moshe Lichtman - Microsoft Corporate vice president, Israel R&D, Mr. Boaz Maoz - CEO of Cisco Systems and more.
The event offered the leadership of Israel Sci-Tech Schools networks an excellent opportunity to highlight to the business community the growing market of export of educational knowledge. Mr. Yoel Rothschild, head of the network Moshinsky Center for Research and Development, highlighted market developments and laid out network’s success in achieving its first multi million Euro sale of Nano-technology teaching to the European Union.