From vision to impact – our story
This is the story of an initiative that begin with a vision: to expand the circle of excellence in science and technology in Israel, promote equal opportunities, and position Israel as one of the top 15 countries in the world in the quality of scientific and technological education.
The TOP15 initiative (formerly known as 5×2 initiative) was established in 2013 in response to a significant decrease in the number of students in the field of science and technology, which posed a major national and social challenge. About 100 leading organizations from various sectors joined forces to bring about system change. Sheatufim organization was chosen to lead the initiative and outline the common path.
From its inception, the initiative operated with a collective impact approach – a strategy for addressing complex social issues through collaborative cross-sector action aimed at creating system change.
The first shared mission that was defined – increasing the number of students achieving a Level 5 in mathematics within five years – was achieved, along with a noticeable increase in the number of students achieving a Level 5 in physics and chemistry. In addition, the initiative put the issue of scientific excellence on the public agenda in Israel.
The next stage – TOP15
In 2021, the initiative's steering committee formulated a new mission, aimed to equip Israeli students with essential skills for excellence in the field of science and technology, and promote optimal integration into the military, academia, and employment. The mission focused on middle school students, peripheral regions, and the Arab society. In 2022, an additional focus was taken on – expanding future scientific-technological classes (AMAT) with a specific emphasis on peripheral areas and the Arab society.
Over the course of two years, the initiative operated through a diverse network of cross-sector partners and various action mechanisms, including a working group on skills and motivation, a working group on Arab society, a business coalition, and more.
These years were particularly challenging due to the political instability, the chaos caused by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and uncertainty that intensified following the October 7th war. All of these factors led to the decision to conclude the initiative's activities by the end of 2023.
This website provides an overview of the initiative's activities throughout its years of operation, knowledge developed, and its key outcomes. We believe that this knowledge is of value to all those involved in promoting scientific and technological excellence in education and leading cross-sector initiatives, in Israel and beyond.
For more information about the TOP15 initiative, please contact Sheatufim organization.