BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY | THE WAY FORWARD

ventures and possible investor opportunities, all competition participants benefit from expert feedback on their projects and the chance to learn from others in their field. The award competition creates a buzz on campus that encourages entrepreneurial activity and affirms entrepreneurship as a University value. BGU Radio Since its founding in 2017, BGU Radio has become a thriving operation with four studios, a full broadcasting team, and a network of collaborators. It has a weekly programming schedule, a growing repertoire of podcasts produced by students, faculty members, and staff, thousands of listeners, and a new video division for social media. In 2022, BGU Radio was integrated into Yazamut 360°, a partnership that has provided new professional tools and expanded its strategic scope. BGU Radio’s growth has rested on the passion and energy of the involved students, as well as the financial support of BGU donors committed to expanding its reach and impact. The partnership between the students and donors is embodied in the Adam Korbin Award for Outstanding Media Entrepreneurship, which is presented annually to the student or team whose work best exemplifies excellence, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit in media. Through the medium of radio and the exploration of new

media, BGU Radio is equipping both students and the broader Negev population with 21st century skills that offer untold opportunities. The training received at BGU Radio is outstanding, preparing students for success in the job market. Many have obtained top-tier roles in the Israeli media industry. In the community, BGU Radio serves as a vital social anchor, using broadcasting, podcast production, and storytelling to strengthen communities, promote inclusion, and expand educational opportunities. In its popular school based podcast production program, children and teenagers gain digital literacy, communication, and public speaking skills while discovering the creative potential of audio storytelling; the program brings BGU students into schools serving low socio-economic populations, where they mentor elementary, middle, and high school students, building participants’ skillsets and putting higher education on their radar. BGU Radio’s RadioActive program empowers hundreds of middle and high school students each year by gradually connecting them with BGU’s researchers and giving them hands on experience in science communication through podcast production, interviews, radio broadcasting, and University visits, encouraging them to explore STEM fields while engaging with cutting-edge research.

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