Abstract
This study examines how far the establishment of an ultra-orthodox (Haredi) women-only curriculum and learning environment crafted for their needs, such as supplementary Biblical studies, fosters students’ enrollment and achievement in STEM. The methodology utilizes interviews with administrators accompanied by a Google questionnaire surveying students in order to compare the secular Azrieli College of Engineering with its new ultra-orthodox branch, Tmura Seminary, which aims to promote the acquisition by ultra-orthodox Jewish women of an engineering diploma so that they can find employment in the job market. This objective is significant because the ultra-orthodox community in Israel represents a unique family setting in which the men devote most of their workday to Judaic studies while the women are the breadwinners. The findings of the current study show that addressing the higher education gender gap by purposeful efforts to include ultra-orthodox women is indeed feasible. Still, it remains a challenging endeavor because besides being first-generation students subject to religious constraints, Haredi students are insufficiently prepared in mathematics and English before arriving at the campus, which requires that they participate in an intensive pre-academic preparatory program. The analysis of results showed differences between ultra-orthodox and secular students in their motivation for study, sources of information about suitable education institutions, balancing work and family life priorities, financial need for scholarships, and career path, which is directed toward finding a job in the high-tech industry rather than continuing after graduation to pursue a Master-level degree.
Highlights
IntroductionAs part of an attempt to increase religiously diverse populations on university cam‐
Introduction tral with regard to jurisdictionalAs part of an attempt to increase religiously diverse populations on university cam‐puses, ultra‐orthodox students have started receiving long‐overdue scholarly attention [1,2,3]
For many ultra‐orthodox students who received little or no exposure to the outside world, such as external media outlets (TV, radio, etc.), and are filtered or entirely blocked by their community since childhood to prevent non‐conforming behavior, enrolling in college signifies a milestone to adulthood, where they are confronted with debates about their real purpose in life, which has the potential to become a turning point in their faith development [37]
Summary
As part of an attempt to increase religiously diverse populations on university cam‐. Puses, ultra‐orthodox students have started receiving long‐overdue scholarly attention [1,2,3]. The unique challenges facing ultra‐orthodox women who hail from fundamentalist denominations, minority groups, and sectarian religious communities require a rigorous investigation to comprehend their motivations, identify obstacles, and unveil achieve‐. Israel’s colleges and universities are not producing engineering alumni at the pace the high‐tech industry needs. Over 60% of Israeli tech start‐ups complain about the strug‐. Gle to recruit employees for their R&D departments, as reported by the 2020 High‐Tech. Human Capital Report from the Israel Innovation Authority and Start‐Up Nation Central [4]. The report highlights vacancies for 13,000 tech job openings in Israel. Ultra‐orthodox claims in published maps and institu‐
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