More than 500 leaders and professionals from high-tech, industry, academia, education, the public sector, and the defense establishment gathered for the Skills & Tech Conference 2026. Held on June 23rd, the event was a joint initiative of the Afeka Academic College of Engineering, TheMarker, and the Trump Philanthropic Fund.

Now in its fourth consecutive year, the conference has established itself as one of Israel’s premier platforms for discussing the future of work, human capital, and the far-reaching impact of the AI revolution. This year, the discussions centered on one of the most critical questions facing the Israeli economy today: How do we prepare the next generation for a reality where technologies evolve overnight, professions are constantly redefined, and the ability to learn and adapt becomes just as crucial as technical expertise itself?

The prestigious lineup of speakers included Prof. Yossi Rosenwaks, President of Afeka College; Amit Krig, Senior VP at NVIDIA; Natalie Kramer, Chief Product Officer at Check Point; Merav Bahat, former CEO of Dazz; Alan Feld, Founder and Managing Partner Emeritus of Vintage Investment Partners; Dr. Sharon Yalov Handzel, Head of the M.Sc. Program in Intelligent Systems (AI) at Afeka; Dr. Gal Zohar, Head of Research and Policy Research at the Israeli Employment Service; and Dr. Avital Gereshi, Senior VP and Head of the MP&E Division at Rafael, alongside other prominent executives from industry, education, defense, and the public sector.

Opening the conference, Prof. Yossi Rosenwaks, President of Afeka College, emphasized that alongside rapid technological advancements, Israel's core challenge lies in developing the human capital capable of leading the economy in the decades to come: "The key to navigating a volatile labor market is moving toward interdisciplinarity and skills-driven development. Today's engineers will need to be lifelong learners, develop critical thinking, work across multidisciplinary teams, and effectively communicate complex ideas and solutions. The AI era presents higher education with a unique opportunity to drive necessary changes and optimally prepare students for the future workforce."

A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of the 2026 Skills Index, a comprehensive study conducted jointly by Afeka, TheMarker, and the Trump Philanthropic Fund. The index highlights a shifting paradigm, revealing that executives in both technology and traditional industries are placing a significantly higher premium on core competencies such as proactivity, independent learning, complex problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and cross-functional teamwork. Concurrently, the demand for proficiency with AI tools continues to surge, particularly within tech companies.

Throughout the day, panel discussions explored the deep implications of AI across the workforce, K-12 education, higher education, and industry. Panelists addressed the strategic challenges of integrating AI within organizations, the structural shifts required in training and educational models, and the emerging opportunities for employees, companies, and educational institutions alike.

Dr. Sharon Yalov Handzel, Head of the M.Sc. Program in Intelligent Systems (AI) at Afeka, addressed the profound shifts AI is introducing to the worlds of knowledge and learning:

"The capacity for autonomous learning, identifying macro-trends, and swiftly adapting to change will be among the most vital skill sets in the coming years. Today’s students are expected to pivot through multiple professional transitions over the course of their careers. Therefore, our responsibility is to prepare them not just for their first job, but to continually evolve and reinvent themselves throughout their entire professional lives."

The resounding takeaway from the conference was that in the age of Artificial Intelligence, the question is no longer just what we teach, but how we teach. Alongside rigorous engineering and scientific knowledge, today's graduates must possess a mindset of continuous upskilling, critical thinking, cognitive flexibility, and the agility to thrive in a professional landscape changing at an unprecedented pace.

At Afeka College, this vision is already embedded across all academic programs, seamlessly blending academic excellence, personal and professional skills development, multidisciplinary learning, and deep industry integration. Through this approach, the college continues to spearhead the national dialogue surrounding the competencies required for the engineers of tomorrow, shaping the next generation of Israel's technological leadership.