BGU | Fundraising Handbook

Visiting international delegations pave the way to new collaborations, strategic partnerships, MoUs (memoranda of understanding), and joint initiatives. Courses open to the international community provide opportunities to share our researchers’ areas of expertise, expand BGU’s reach and sphere of influence, and raise our global profile. E-learning also opens up possibilities for joint degree programs with other universities and the ability to benefit from guest lecturers from the international community, who could also be invited to spend time at BGU as visiting scholars. Hosting international conferences and workshops and ensuring that our researchers and students have the opportunity to participate and present their research at top venues around the world is essential for advancing their research, forming new collaborations, and increasing awareness of BGU. Our internationalization efforts over the years have placed Beer-Sheva on the map in many fields of expertise and placed the University on the itinerary of hundreds of international delegations and visits by leaders from around the world. We must intensify our internationalization efforts to remain a destination of choice for these visitors while establishing ourselves as a magnet for top talent. BGU’s Commitment to Internationalization BGU’s faculty recruitment, research excellence, and more all depend on internationalization. Recognizing this, the University is committed to promoting internationalization, and the Office of the Vice President for Global Engagement and its BGU International program and Welcome Center are dedicated to supporting these efforts. Over the years, we have moved away from a separate parallel overseas program in English, preferring to utilize internationalization as an opportunity to add classes given in English into the regular curricula and to encourage interactions between international and Israeli students. We are committed to this approach, which benefits both Israeli and international students. As the number of international students increases, our graduate programs will move toward English tracks, as is the norm in, for example, the programs on the Sde Boker campus. Cultivating and Enhancing Academic Partnerships with Universities Worldwide At BGU, internationalization starts by opening our doors to students from around the world and ensuring that our students are able to study and perform postdoctoral

research at top institutions abroad. This derives from our commitment to providing opportunities for BGU students to engage in enriching educational experiences abroad and attracting international students to study at BGU, which represent two sides to internationalization. The Welcome Center at BGU International is actively engaged in enhancing services and support for our diverse international community. The Center serves as

a warm and welcoming environment for all international students, researchers, and their families. The Center’s “Welcome to BGU” kit for international students facilitates their transition to university life. The Center’s calendar of activities includes a wide range cultural and social events aimed at enriching the student experience, and its Buddy System Program pairs new international students with Israeli mentors to provide guidance and support throughout their academic journey. The Center has made a huge difference in the lives of our international students, helping them navigate the challenges of studying abroad and enhancing their experience at BGU. The Welcome Center is also a resource for Israeli students interested in student exchange programs and travel abroad as part of their BGU degree programs. The Center publicizes information about these exchange programs, hosts informational meetings, and supports students’ efforts to participate in such programs. The center also provides services to postdoctoral researchers, assisting them in all things administrative/ bureaucratic and enabling them to dedicate themselves more fully to their research and building their careers. Initiating new academic degree programs and courses offered in English dramatically improves our efforts to recruit international students, opening new markets and inspiring students to study at BGU. The importance of this was demonstrated with the 2021 inauguration of a new master’s degree program in African Studies offered

STUDENT ACCESS AND SUPPORT

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INTERNATIONALIZATION