Academia+

The Academia+ program was designed to prevent students from dropping out of STEM studies, and has been active in academic faculties of computer sciences and information technology for the past six years. The program assists hundreds of students from all wakes of Israeli society in universities and colleges during their studies, supports them, and significantly improves success rates among undergraduate students.

Our goal is to realize the full academic potential of institutes and individuals pursuing academic degrees.

The Social Impact Bond (SIB) model used in this program was designed by Social Finance Israel (SFI), and the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation became a major partner in the program. This model assesses the socio-economical value that institutes can gain by incorporating interventions designed to reduce dropout rates, to encourage them to adopt the program for the long term. After proving the success of the SIB model, the program was adopted by Haifa University, which has implemented it this year for the first time, as envisioned by the program’s founders.

Objectives

Maximizing university and college students' potential during their studies.

Collaborating with institutes of higher education to maximize students' potential.

Drop-out rates

Dropping out of educational programs is a significant social problem, especially among undergraduate students from weaker socio-economic backgrounds, students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education, members of minority groups, residents of peripheral areas, etc. In addition to the social cost of an incomplete education, this phenomenon has negative financial impacts as well:

Students waste their tuition and time investment, and enter the work force with a sense of failure.

The academic institute loses future revenue from tuition and from the Planning and Budgeting Committee.

The economy loses taxes and GDP growth, and suffers a lack of skilled professionals.

Principles

Working with a coordinator who specializes in therapy or consultancy.

Understanding the unique challenges of the relevant academic field.

Mapping out the obstacles and challenges faced by each student, and assessing their risk of dropping out of the academic program they began.

Working proactively with students, and tailoring solutions to their needs.

Achievements

30%

Reducing drop out rates

1,000

participants and graduates.

80%

of our graduates work in the hi-tech industry.

Our Model

Intervention tool: Self-Motivated Assessment (SMA)

Self-Motivated Assessment (SMA)

We developed a tool for this program that identifies the student’s motivation level and tailors the intervention we offer to the cycle of change and the motivational approach. The tool has been tested and proven to accurately predict the risk of dropping out. The tool includes a questionnaire that is divided into eight categories, including internal motivation, external motivation, financial competence, importance of studies, etc. The weighted score for all these categories indicates where the student stands on the cycle of change, and provides an indication of how prepared they are for academic studies. A low score in any of the categories alludes to the relevant challenges the student faces and/or the risk of that student dropping out. The coordinator uses this tool while working with the students during their studies, and incorporates it in one-on-one conversations and interventions.

Measurement and performance management

An information system based on Sales Force was integrated to manage the program. This system is used to identify students at risk of dropping out, improving and upgrading the intervention program, and enhancing and validating the models used. At the beginning of each year, relevant background information is collected online to start getting to know the students, prioritize the intervention tools, and suit them to the individual needs of the students.

Target audience

Academic institutes with programs in which the drop out rates are over 20%.
Institutes interested in increasing the number of students who complete their studies, without compromising their academic levels.