Some 100,000 students attend ORT Israel schools and colleges and, to date, the network has trained some 600,000 graduates.
With the dramatic increase in Jewish immigration from North Africa, Europe and the Middle East, new challenges in absorption and rehabilitation emerged.
Its beginnings were modest, with only short courses for discharged soldiers, in order to make it easier for them to integrate into the country's economy.
In 2003, Israel was World ORT's largest sphere of operation, with 90,000 students enrolled in 159 schools, colleges and institutions.
[3] Kadima Mada is investing NIS16 million to upgrade technology studies in 72 Jewish and non-Jewish schools in Israel.
[4] Since the turn of the century, the network has expanded considerably, making its main goal the cultivation of schools that define themselves as providing high-level science and technology education.
Every year the ORT R&D Center takes part in international science and technology projects and has a reputation for quality and innovation.
Teaching methods at ORT include a combination of online learning systems that use the internet and social media platforms.
In 1996, World ORT launched the "Science through Technology" in Israeli junior high schools (grade 7–9).
In the "Young Investigators" program for seventh graders, the students build LEGO models to explore scientific phenomenon.
[5] In 2008, Kadima Mada embarked on a project to build high-tech classrooms, equipping 60 rooms on six campuses with Interactive Whiteboards, wireless Internet and other technological aids.
[citation needed] Together with representatives from the Manufacturer's Association, ORT Israel heads a project of having schools adopted by industrial concerns to allow students to get to know them and gain hands-on experience while still studying.
In addition, ORT Israel operates a track in conjunction with the Ministry of Economics and Industry to place practical engineers in the country's key corporations.
It is part of the e-learning initiative in which 10 Mediterranean Basin countries are participating, and has been involved in a project of the British Council to make connections between academia and industry.