An earthquake in Israeli academia: the coveted degree is losing altitude

The CEO of the Open University, Meir Bing, warns of a sharp drop in demand for computer science studies, stemming from the impact of artificial intelligence on the high-tech job market. According to him, the decline is dramatic and requires budgetary adjustments at the institution, alongside changes in teaching and examination methods. Bing also notes the impact of the war on young people postponing their studies.

The CEO of the Open University, Meir Bing, warns of a sharp drop in demand for computer science studies, stemming from the impact of artificial intelligence on the high-tech job market. Bing said the university experienced years of growth driven by computer science, but now a third of the students who studied in this field are seeing a dramatic decline in demand. He stressed that AI is changing the number of workers and making it harder for juniors to find work, which directly affects demand for studies. Alongside this, Bing noted the impact of the war, which causes young people to postpone studies and think twice about the attractiveness of a degree in the modern world. The drop in the number of students affects the university's financial situation, since its budget depends on tuition income, and Bing made clear that adjustments in the institution's activity will be required. However, he stressed that the university continues to operate within a balanced budget framework and has opened new study programs. In addition, the university changed the way exams are held following technological developments, moving take-home exams to in-class exams. Bing also addressed the consequences of the war, with over 10,000 eligible persons, reservists and evacuated families affected.