Collaboration between ORT Israel education network and the education sector in Philippines was established in 2018, when a delegation of educators from Davao, Philippines, embarked on a transformative journey to Israel. The mission? To immerse themselves in the cutting-edge iSTEAM method developed by the ORT network’s Administration for R&D and Training.
Initiated by Israel’s ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Efi Ben Matityahu, and Mr. Shmuel Weiss, president of the Pass-It-Forward philanthropic foundation, the collaboration aimed to introduce innovative study programs to the educators of Davao. The visit was further elevated by the presence of Mr. David Rosenberg and Mr. Sagi Ben Best, key figures in ORT’s Research and Development and training sectors, who later reciprocated the visit to the Philippines to explore potential cooperation in scientific and technological education.
Visit of the ORT team in Philippines, 2018.
The visit was significantly enhanced when the President of the Philippines, accompanied by Sara Duterte, city Mayor of Davao, visited the ORT Aviation and Space School in Ma’ale Adumim, Israel, showing keen interest in the innovative work being conducted at the institution.
Meeting between Mrs. Sara Z. Duterte, Mayor of the city of Davao and Mr. Effie Ben Matityau, Ambassador of Israel in Philippines. 2018.
CEO of ORT Israel Network, Tzvi Peleg, highlighted Israel’s leading role in exporting advanced technologies and emphasized ORT’s pioneering efforts in exporting educational innovation. The iSTEAM seminar provided a comprehensive overview of ORT’s interdisciplinary study programs, including iSTEAM, Neuroscience, ORT Medical Program, MAKERS and other unique education programs which were designed by ORT, focusing on innovative learning methodologies and ‘soft’ skills development.
The delegation’s two-week visit included visits to ORT network schools, where they observed advanced learning spaces and experienced innovative study programs firsthand. The visit culminated in a heartfelt thank you from the Philippine Ambassador to Israel, Ambassador Imperial, underscoring the importance of science and technology for the Philippines’ development.
Faye Pasmonte, a member of the delegation, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from ORT’s rich experience, describing the visit as eye-opening and inspiring. CEO Tzvi Peleg reiterated ORT’s commitment to sharing its capabilities with the Philippines, emphasizing the importance of science and technology studies for personal and societal development.
Summary of Seminar Daily Activities:
First day of visit (19.11.2018): Opening event and overview of Israeli education system.
Second day of visit (20.11.2018): Reverse-engineering workshop and experiencing iSTEAM program.
Third day of visit (21.11.2018): Workshops on analogies in science, Makers workshop, and workshop focused on a mobile phone usage as an education tool.
Fourth day of visit (22.11.2018): Visits to Ort Greenberg Tivon and Ort Kiryat Motzkin, followed by a tour of the city of old Acko.
Seventh day of visit (25.11.2018): Workshops on the heart of the matter program, gamification, and neuroscience.
Eighth day of visit (26.11.2018): Philosophical inquiry workshop, biomimicry presentation, and visit to ORT Modi’in.
Ninth day of visit (27.11.2018): Makers workshop activities and overview of skills acquired in Makers course.
Tenth day of visit (28.11.2018): Visit to ORT Kfar Galim, Webster Biosense Medical Company, exploring collaboration between ORT education network and high tech ecosystem of Israel and a tour of the city of Nazareth.
While COVID-19 temporarily halted collaboration efforts, ORT and the embassies of Israel in the Philippines and the Philippines in Israel are currently exploring new and exciting collaboration opportunities, reaffirming their commitment to innovative education.
ORT Israel hosting a round table which was organized by the Israel-Asia chamber of commerce and was dedicated to business in Philippines. 2024.
Read more about recent development between ORT and Philippines in our recent blogs:
ORT Philippines Visit: Building Educational Bridges and Igniting Innovation