Every Rosh Hashanah symbolizes a new path we can take. Within the education system, and academia in particular, this is even more true. The year 5772 will be the first academic year in ages not marked by significant budget cuts. The fact that the education system will be allocated funds to establish centers of research excellence portends a successful academic year. Still, we have to ask ourselves a few questions: The expansion of the higher education system in Israel has created competition for the hearts and minds of every prospective student. As long as this competition is based on quality instruction and a high level of academics, it's all good. But when we see master's programs that require almost no attendance on campus, are we on the right path? In addition, when the budget of public institutions is based on the number of students who graduate, university administrators feel pressured not to fail weak students, and that is a mistake. The decision to promote the integration of ultra-Orthodox and minority students into higher education is justified. Such a move is essential to developing our national economy. On the other hand, perhaps there are other sectors we should try to attract as well? For instance, candidates from development towns and new immigrants from Ethiopia. Another question is whether we should encourage the establishment of private academic institutions that don't receive government funds and are not vetted for quality when they are set up. There is no doubt that many private institutions in Israel are top-notch. At the same time, a number of institutions have been founded in recent years that effectively replace foreign satellite campuses and are of questionable quality. Shouldn't the public education system promote study of certain fields? For instance, educators already knew in 2002 that there would be a doctor shortage by 2010, but only started to address the problem in 2009. As a result, there is indeed now a serious dearth of doctors. As a country whose economy is based on knowledge industries, we will see, in the near future, a shortage of engineers and graduates with natural sciences degrees. Are we doing enough to encourage young people to study these subjects? Perhaps we should offer more scholarships to students who major in fields that are essential to the economy? Perhaps we should raise the student quota for institutions that seek to increase the number of students in these fields? At the same time, are we doing enough to strengthen humanities departments? After all, our country's cultural future depends on them. Finally, can the Israeli academy give up on Zionism, which is the basis of our existence? It is worrying that we have allowed groups to emerge within the academy who think that singing the national anthem and waving the flag -- Zionism at its core -- are superfluous phenomena or subject to debate. We need to find a way to remove these subjects from academic debate without undermining academic freedom. Alongside the issues I raised, we can look forward to 5772 with much hope as well. Our impressive achievements have allowed a small country lacking serious natural resources to develop into one of the world's most advanced economies. Our New Year's wish, in the words of the song, is, Everything we ask for, let it be. The writer is a professor and president of the Ariel University Center in Samaria.
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