About Us
A Timeline
2014
In 2014, the English Inspectorate, in conjunction with the Department for Pedagogical Affairs and the High School Division of the Ministry of Education, initiated the first inter-disciplinary five-point elective in which English is the medium of instruction, Diplomacy and International Communication in English.
The Curriculum Committee researched 21st Century skills, meaningful learning frameworks and innovative teaching methods, as well as the content areas of Intercultural Communication, Media Studies, and Diplomacy and International Relations.
2015
In 2015, there was a unique training opportunity for an expert group of teachers in the primary course, Communication Skills. These Lead Teachers trained in the subject areas and generated resource materials and contributed to the curriculum development with their high school students in mind. The overwhelmingly positive response from the Lead Teachers, in terms of their interest in the course of study and their contribution to it, demonstrated their understanding of and commitment to the program. In each of the schools these teachers represent, the halls buzzed with excitement about the active learning methods of study, the topics of study, and the opportunities for collaboration among students from schools all over the country and around the world.
2016-2017
In the 2016-2017 school year, over 1000 students in 39 high schools across Israel studied Diplomacy and International Communication in English as a major. Digital platforms for inter-class communication with schools abroad and other schools in Israel were used. The teachers were supported during the implementation through professional development courses and other opportunities that empowered them professionally to support their students. These efforts went far to inform the successful implementation of the new elective in other schools around the country in the coming year.
2017-2018
In the 2017-2018 school year, the Diplomacy major continued to expand to new schools; the major was offered in 61 schools across the country and across sectors. The first students to graduate sat for the first bagrut exam in International Communication! The challenging and stimulating exam allowed students to show what they knew. The students also completed internally assessed Performance Task Projects in Conflict Management or Portfolios in Translation Skills. The best projects from each school were presented on April 25, 2018, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Speak Mediate Celebrate event.
2018-2019
In the 2018-2019 school year, approximately 85 schools offered the major to about 2800 students. 2018 saw the continued growth of the major and the expanding impact these students could have on their schools and their communities. For the first time, 12th grade students served as guides at the 10th grade World Press Photo Exhibit Summit Day. Also, the Diplomacy major began a partnership with EcoPeace Middle East, as 12th graders took part in Water Tours in different regions of the country and learned about water issues in the region. In June, in preparation for their bagrut exam, the graduating 12th graders participated in the Diplomacy Marathon, a full day of active learning, held at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in which the students implemented all of the skills they had learned throughout the three years of the major.
2019-2020
In the 2019-2020 school year, we expanded all of the activities with increased participation in all national summit days and events, but it seemed COVID-19 had other plans for us. Following an amazing 10th grade summit day at the World Press Photo Exhibit, fully guided by 70 twelfth-grade Diplomacy students, we quickly switched gears to move the rest of the year’s summit days online. These online events included a virtual debate tournament, virtual Model United Nations conferences, virtual storytelling summit days, and a virtual Diplomacy Marathon, in which twelfth grade students held small group discussions with Israeli and American Diplomats.
2020-2021
The 2020-2021 school year was a challenging one, but Diplomacy teachers and students were not dismayed as we set forth with highly engaging interactive Diplomacy lessons in hybrid teaching classrooms. We not only had a year in which we managed to hold all of our regular summit days, but we actually had a year of growth and expansion, as we held virtual meetings with diplomats and partners all over the country and beyond.
2021-2022
As we slowly returned to face-to-face events, the 2021-2022 school year had much to offer Diplomacy students. We held down-sized meetings at summit days in carefully managed groups, while maintaining some of the supplemental virtual meetings we had held the previous year. By the end of the year, the 10th graders were again able to meet for Storytelling Summit Days, which were a great success.
2022-2023
This year we look forward to holding all our events in person again. Now in our eighth year, Diplomacy has grown to a size that all our events and summit days need to be divided up into regional events. Schools are creating partnerships with other Diplomacy classrooms around the country and abroad, and the major at every school is building up a reputation and influencing its school's culture.