On December 9, 2009, the Israel Sci-Tech Schools network in collaboration with IDigital's Apple Education Division, opened the first Apple Regional Training Center (RTC) in Israel. IDigital is Israel’s official representative of Apple technology products.
Israel Sci-Tech Schools will conduct in-service courses at the Apple training center to provide teachers with tools that integrate advanced technology into teaching.
Participating in the opening ceremony were: Chemi Peres, a graduate of the network’s Givataim school and a member of Friends of Israel Sci-Tech Schools;Eran Tor, general manager of iDigital; Duncan Kemp, director of World Apple's European/Middle Eastern Unit; Prof. Bracha Rager, President of Israel Sci-Tech Schools ; Adv. Joshua Ne'eman, -- Israel Sci-Tech Schools Board member; Zvi Peleg, Director General of Israel Sci-Tech Schools; Yoel Rothschild, Director of Research & Development;guests from the Ministry of Education, teachers and others.
The ceremony was chaired by Dr. Eli Eisenberg, Sci-Tech’s Senior Deputy Director General and head of its Research, Development and Training Center. Dr. Eisenberg thanked iDigital for its investment in education and its willingness to be active in the important area of teacher training.
Chemi Peres welcomed the launching of this center and noted that he himself was a proud graduate of the Israel Sci-Tech network: "I am totally aware of the important part that Sci-Tech plays as a leader of education in Israel. When I recently visited my school in Givataim, and saw the enthusiastic pupils and spoke to them, I witnessed with my own eyes the importance of developing new ways of learning and integrating technology when teaching future generations. This is something that the Sci-Tech network system drives home in its own schools. These pupils are our most important resource and we must invest in them."
Eran Tor, CEO of iDigital also congratulated the conference attendees: "We could not have found a better partner than Israel Sci-Tech Schools . They are daring pioneers in the field of technological innovation. Without their courage and desire to change, we would not have considered opening such a center in Israel, even though such centers exist around the world. This center will enable teachers in Israel to develop innovative teaching skills suitable for today's pupils”.