BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY | THE WAY FORWARD

26 academic year, with the aim of solidifying BGU’s position as a leader in computing, data, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, while meeting industry’s growing demand for skilled experts. With its establishment, BGU has created both the largest AI research center in Israel and a world-class academic environment where students can thrive. The faculty promotes academic excellence in computer science, information processing, and artificial intelligence, integrating basic, theoretical, applied, and interdisciplinary sciences, and our students are already benefiting from the opportunity to take any courses offered by the faculty (rather than being limited to the courses in just one department), as well as instruction and mentorship from faculty members who are among the leading researchers in these domains worldwide; their diverse expertise, along with the varied course offerings, broadens students’ horizons and better equips them for the workplace, where a broad skillset and a solution-oriented approach are required. The faculty’s curriculum and research address the rapid shifts in technology, particularly the fast-paced development of AI-based solutions and information technologies. Research opportunities abound at the faculty’s five research institutes, where students engage in projects spanning the theoretical and applied dimensions of AI, computing, and information systems, contributing to the expansion of knowledge in these evolving domains. The faculty was launched with donor support, and this enduring partnership will support its development in the coming years. Enrollment in graduate studies programs has already grown. The Graduate Fellowship Program in Computer and Information Science has contributed to this. Its support of outstanding master’s and doctoral students is enabling the faculty to attract a growing cadre of dedicated, promising young researchers by providing competitive fellowships. Faculty recruitment is also a top priority, and donor support has strengthened BGU’s ability to compete for top candidates and become a talent magnet; we are pleased to report that the faculty is in the process of hiring two excellent new faculty members.

The faculty is actively cultivating a culture of academic and research excellence and building a vibrant and cohesive scholarly community. Several new seminar series covering both theory and applications have been launched, and they are already developing into active intellectual forums for faculty members, students, and visitors. The Distinguished Dean’s Podium, a new lecture series, has hosted several high profile speakers, and the faculty’s first national conference was held in October 2026, bringing Israel’s research community together at BGU; Prof. Amnon Shashua, one of the founders of Mobileye, gave the keynote address: “On the Development of Machine Intelligence and its Impact on Scientists, Researchers, and Experts.” Such events contribute meaningfully to the faculty’s visibility and academic standing. Other New Academic Programs African Sustainable Communities MA Program Africa is the fastest growing region of the world in terms of both economy and population. By 2050, Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion, representing over 25% of the global population. In recognition of the significance of these figures, BGU established the African Sustainable Communities MA Program in 2021. Since then, the program has been equipping students from around the world with the knowledge and tools to contribute meaningfully to the sustainability, growth, and future of African communities. The program culminates in an immersive hands-on internship in Africa where students spend a minimum of three months working on an applied or in-depth research project and have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in initiating effective and sustainable change in local communities. In just a short time, the program has become an international hub for African studies and sustainable development, attracting students from around the world. The diverse cohorts of around 25 students have included Jewish and Bedouin Israelis and African asylum seekers residing in Israel, as well as students from the US, Brazil, Australia, and 10 African countries. The program’s graduates are already making an impact through positions with NGOs, international development organizations, and

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