BGU | Fundraising Handbook

families neither parent has obtained a college degree; without academic role models, children in those families are statistically much less likely to pursue academic degrees than their peers from families in which one or both parents have an academic degree. This deepens Israel’s long-entrenched social gaps which developed due to many factors, including limited investment in the periphery, systemic bias, and the many demands on the national budget. These gaps are likely to widen – the significant financial costs of the war resulting in major budget cuts to educational institutions and social services, causing weakened populations and those in the periphery to suffer, and expanding the social divide. This social inequality means that many individuals, and even entire regions, neighborhoods, and segments of the population, will have limited access to high-quality education, curtailing their social mobility and decreasing their chances for a brighter future. Increasing access to higher education among all segments of Israel’s population is critical. In addition to fueling the country’s advancement, increased access to academia reduces social gaps and fuels social mobility, opening the door to opportunity among those who forge an academic path, contributing to their personal growth, professional development, improved socio-economic status, and more. The challenges facing Israel in the years to come are great, and the solutions required to effectively address them demand the input and involvement of educated and informed people across Israel’s population. Academia serves as a platform from which everyone can become part of the social discourse and leadership, to effect change, create and implement solutions, and drive Israel forward. BGU’s Commitment to Increasing Access to Academia BGU is Israel’s only university in the vast Negev region. It is home to nearly 20,000 students, and its 150,000 alumni contribute to all aspects of Israel’s development. Its three campuses in Beer-Sheva, Sde Boker, and Eilat put higher education within reach of people across the Negev, and its six academic faculties educate students in disciplines ranging from computer science, medicine, social work, Middle Eastern studies, sustainability, cybersecurity, education, and management. BGU’s researchers perform cutting-edge research, building and disseminating

knowledge in diverse fields and contributing to the development of solutions needed to address local and global challenges. In addition to its traditional role in higher education, when founded, BGU was tasked with advancing the Negev and serving as a catalyst for the growth of the region, and thus the country. BGU was also tasked with producing engineers for critical Negev industries, and doctors and nurses to serve the Negev population and address the region’s special healthcare needs. Today, a third of Israel’s engineers hold degrees from BGU, and many of the region’s healthcare professionals were trained at the University, a testament to BGU’s longstanding commitment to increasing access to academia. Realizing Students’ Potential At BGU, undergraduate scholarships are need-based, and the University strives to provide scholarships to as many undergraduates in need as possible. Many BGU students come from peripheral towns or villages, in many cases with low socio-economic backgrounds. Scholarships make the dream of higher education a reality for those who would otherwise be deprived of this transformative experience. In addition to opening the door to academia to these students and helping them succeed academically, support of undergraduate scholarships at BGU also contributes to the development of the Negev. The growing pool of talented undergraduates and young job seekers encourages the establishment of industries in the region, ultimately creating new job opportunities in the South. Undergraduate scholarships at BGU also play an important role in community outreach. At BGU, scholarship recipients are required to participate in community service projects, and their meaningful involvement in the community improves the welfare of Negev residents specifically and Israeli society in general. The skills and experiences gained in these activities continue to impact the participating students long after their graduation from BGU. The social awareness acquired increases their sensitivity to the needs and perspectives of their fellow citizens and fuels their ongoing community involvement and commitment to improving Israeli society.

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STUDENT ACCESS AND SUPPORT

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS