REHOVOT, Israelย โ Eighteen wounded Israel Defense Forces and security forces veterans, the majority of whom are living with post-traumatic stress disorder, have graduated from an innovative electronics engineering program designed to provide both professional training and long-term rehabilitation. Following 17 months of study at Israel Sci-Tech Schools Rehovot College, all graduates will now begin careers at Israel Aerospace Industries.
The initiative is a partnership between Israel Sci-Tech Schools Rehovot College, Israel Aerospace Industries and Atidim. Program organizers describe it as both an educational undertaking and a national commitment to supporting wounded veterans as they transition to civilian life.
According to the institutions involved, the graduates achieved some of the highest academic results recorded at the college in recent years despite facing significant physical and psychological challenges.
The program was established in response to the growing need to provide wounded veterans with meaningful employment opportunities and professional pathways following their military service. Organizers say it is grounded in the belief that those who sacrificed for the security of the State of Israel deserve opportunities for rehabilitation, growth, and long-term stability.
Education as a Tool for Rehabilitation
While the program was initially conceived as an employment initiative, faculty members say it quickly evolved into something much broader.
Many of the students arrived carrying both visible and invisible wounds resulting from their military service. Behind each student’s academic achievements was a personal story marked by sacrifice, loss, and the ongoing challenges associated with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Recognizing those realities, instructors adapted their approach to provide the additional sensitivity and support required throughout the 17-month training program.
Beyond acquiring professional qualifications, organizers say the educational experience became a critical component of the participants’ rehabilitation process.
The graduates leave the program not only with practical engineering credentials, but also with secure employment opportunities at one of Israel’s leading defense and aerospace companies.
Israel Aerospace Industries benefits from gaining highly trained and motivated personnel, while graduates are provided with the opportunity to build stable and meaningful civilian careers.
Building Israel’s Future
The success of the inaugural class has already led Israel Sci-Tech Schools Rehovot College to begin recruiting students for a second cohort.
Those involved in the initiative describe its expansion as evidence that combining technological excellence with social responsibility can produce meaningful outcomes for both individuals and Israeli society.
“At Israel Sci-Tech Schools Network, we believe that education is the driving force leading the society of tomorrow,” said Raz Frohlich, Chief Executive Officer of Israel Sci-Tech Schools Network.
“This means not only imparting knowledge and skills, but enabling every individual to build their own future, rehabilitate, develop, and find their place in Israeli society.”
Frohlich said the program represents the organization’s broader educational vision by combining advanced technological training with social responsibility.
“This program perfectly embodies our vision: bridging advanced technological education, social responsibility, and a deep belief in the human capacity to grow even out of crisis,” he said.
“The students who took part in it chose to press forward, acquire a profession, and build their future. In doing so, they are not only changing their own life stories, but they are also partners in building tomorrow’s society.”
Investing in Veterans and Society
The initiative reflects broader efforts throughout Israel to support wounded veterans through education, workforce integration, and mental health rehabilitation.
Programs that provide meaningful employment opportunities have increasingly been recognized as important components of long-term recovery for individuals living with PTSD and other service-related injuries.
By integrating professional training with employment guarantees, the program seeks to provide graduates with both economic security and a renewed sense of purpose.
Its success also highlights the role Israeli educational institutions and industry leaders can play in addressing complex social challenges through collaborative initiatives.
Israel’s Largest Educational Network
Founded in 1949, Israel Sci-Tech Schools is Israel’s largest independent charter school network. The organization educates approximately 100,000 students across 264 middle schools, high schools, vocational training centers, and colleges of practical engineering in 54 municipalities throughout Israel.
The network provides iSTEAM education encompassing innovation, science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to students from diverse religious, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, including Jewish students from secular and Haredi communities, as well as Muslim, Christian, Bedouin, and Druze students.
According to the organization, its educational mission focuses on preparing students for twenty-first-century careers while helping to reduce social and economic disparities through accessible, values-driven education.
For the eighteen graduates of the inaugural veterans program, that mission has translated into both personal rehabilitation and professional opportunity. Their success has already laid the foundation for future cohorts seeking to build new lives through education, resilience, and service to Israeli society.
