BGU | Fundraising Handbook

Location refers to the lab’s location at the heart of the campus where it will serve as a hub for research, inclusion, and collaboration. The lab will be inviting and thoughtfully planned to convey messages of partnership and collaboration. It will provide a physical location for student and faculty communities promoting shared space, training by the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, training for organizations, and a student diversity hub, providing a casual drop-in space fostering cross-cultural connections. Ambassadors for Shared Life The 2023-24 academic year saw the launch of a new leadership program aimed at promoting relationships between students from different communities on campus and creating ambassadors of shared life. The first cohort of the program included 20 students (10 Arabs and 10 Jews) from all of BGU’s academic faculties, with diverse representation from different groups in Israeli society. This year another 18 students are participating (8 Arabs and 10 Jews) in the program. Each student receives a scholarship to support their participation in the program and their efforts to acquire the skills, knowledge, and tools to become ambassadors of shared life. In the program, students receive training in three areas: partnership, entrepreneurship, and leadership. They address questions of campus belonging, common good, and understanding the perspectives of students from different groups. The students also engage in dialogue on sensitive and complex social issues and receive tools for attentive communication. In the program’s practical component, the students acquire tools and resources for developing fair and beneficial relationships among their peers and use these tools and resources and the skills they’ve acquired in the program to fulfill the role of an ambassador for shared life, leading initiatives that promote a safe and inclusive living environment within their respective faculties.

and get to know one another and, consequently, may also serve as a basis for creating friendships and collaborations outside of academia. The academic sphere holds the potential to promote Arab-Jewish relations, in the broad sense of intergroup relations, and may also facilitate the successful integration of Arab citizens in the workforce and other spheres. Intergroup encounters can establish positive stereotypes to promote friendship and closeness between groups, raise awareness of discrimination, promote positive relationships, and improve attitudes toward other groups. The likelihood of this happening serendipitously is slim, and there is a need to facilitate such encounters and provide opportunities for interaction. Since its establishment, the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion has created several programs aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion and creating shared space on campus. Several of these programs are described below. Laboratory for the Promotion and Research of Shared Space The Laboratory for the Promotion and Research of Shared Space was established with the aim of developing BGU as a shared space for campus communities by realizing the potential inherent in encounters between students from different groups. The lab is envisioned as a hub for researchers and graduate students engaged in the study of shared space and aims to be a driving force behind a new generation of leaders committed to ensuring equality, equity, and diversity in Israel and beyond. The lab has three core dimensions: activities, research, and location. Activities are aimed at fostering connections and building understanding. The lab hosts both formal and informal activities. Formal activities include core in-house programs with proven impact, community initiatives on campus and in the Negev, and training for staff to promote shared space. The lab also offers internships that connect students with businesses and civil society organizations in the Negev, providing practical experience in promoting equality and partnership. Research is aimed at advancing the science of shared spaces and establishing the University as a leading authority in shared space research. The lab fosters and supports research in this field. Knowledge driven initiatives, grounded in research, are crucial for effectively planning and tailoring activities to meet the needs of the University community.

STUDENT ACCESS AND SUPPORT

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DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION