In Miami, College President Explains Key to Flourishing Tech Scene

Approximately two-thirds (65%) of pupils entering primary school today will work in jobs that don’t yet exist, according to the World Economic Forum. But is the educational system adequately preparing them to function in a modern society and in a dynamic job market?

The answer is a resounding no, in the estimation of Prof. Ami Moyal, President of Afeka Academic College of Engineering in Tel Aviv

“We need to move from knowledge-based education on the whole educational continuum to competency-based education, in knowledge, skills, and ethics,” Prof. Moyal said last month at the Jerusalem Post Miami Summit, which brought together prominent diplomats, politicians, business leaders, and changemakers from across the globe.

In his presentation, titled “The Vital Role of Engineers in Israel’s Future,” Prof. Moyal stressed that Israel’s most valuable resource is its human capital and emphasized the crucial role that academia must play in educating and shaping the country’s future workforce.

Speaking to today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, he emphasized how the world around us is constantly changing, stating that “we are facing exponential technological breakthroughs in various fields” — the likes of which are altering every aspect of life, with major changes to the employment market to follow.

One major impending shift that Prof. Moyal anticipates in the coming years is the increased orientation of the job market toward STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills. As such, he noted the importance and responsibility of educators to train students in critical thinking, self-learning, multidisciplinary teamwork, effective communication, and the capacity to ask the right questions, especially as we move deeper into the AI era.

In recent years, Afeka College itself has aligned its institutional mission with the pedagogical changes necessitated by the changing landscape in the workforce. The college transformed the engineering education it provides its students by applying the same engineering design methodology used in the high-tech industry to develop products.

“I believe any education system should start by first defining the target, then change the process,” said Prof. Moyal. “Students do not want to sit for eight hours in class and hear their professors. That’s the past. They need to be actively participating in their learning process, especially through projects. We changed pedagogy, updated curricula, offered quite a large range of extracurricular activity, and completely renovated the physical campus.”

Prof. Moyal’s presentation also covered the importance of engineers to Israel’s economic prosperity, posing the question, “Who is going to develop the next Iron Dome?” Young engineers are the minds behind the next game-changing defense innovations such as that anti-missile system. At the same time these innovations offer benefits far beyond Israel. By applying the lessons learned from the pedagogical changes that Afeka has implemented, Prof. Moyal believes that academic institutions globally can ensure that they too are preparing students for tomorrow’s job market, today.

As for the state of Florida, it is fast-becoming one of the biggest sources of technological innovation in the U.S., as many high-tech companies have moved away from California due to high taxes and strict government regulations. Miami itself has become a promising city for startups to find new investors and be exposed to new markets. Tech founders and venture capitalists are now flocking to Miami to take advantage of lower living costs, burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem, business friendly taxes, and a supportive business environment.

“During my visits to Miami, I met with academic leaders, industry pioneers, and investors, establishing meaningful dialogue throughout the community," explained Prof. Moyal. "I was deeply moved by their genuine desire to see Israel succeed as a global leader in engineering and technology. This reflects the resilience and commitment of Florida's emerging tech community to strengthening bonds with Israel, even amidst global challenges."

Discussing the potential for collaboration between Florida and Israel, Prof. Moyal went on to state, "Afeka's dedication to advancing competency-based engineering education, alongside our responsibility to supply Israel's high-tech industry with exceptional engineers, holds immense potential for collaboration between the regions. This support has been especially meaningful in advancing our mission to ensure that students drafted into military reserves can continue their education and contribute to Israel's high-tech industry—an industry poised to foster significant collaboration with Miami's emerging tech scene.”