BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY | THE WAY FORWARD

DONOR IMPACT ON ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Academic excellence is the foundation on which growth at BGU is built. The designated strategy for achieving BGU’s goals and fulfilling its strategic plan boils down to becoming a talent magnet, capable of attracting the best and the brightest, and that begins with the education we provide to our students. Fundamentally, a student’s decision on where to pursue an academic degree is based on where they think they can best fulfill their academic aspirations and get the best education – an education that places them on a path for future success by preparing them for the job market, a career, and professional advancement. To become students’ first choice, BGU must stand out among all other Israeli institutions of higher education due to the programs it offers, the educational opportunities available, the quality of teaching, and the student experience. At BGU, educational activities are not restricted to the classroom – education also takes place at Yazamut 360°, in the community, and in other settings where students’ skillsets and horizons are expanded exponentially. With donor support, BGU has expanded its academic offerings and enriched the student experience, creating opportunities that reflect students’ interests, strengthen enrollment, equip graduates to tackle pressing local and global challenges, and contribute to Israel’s need for highly skilled professionals. ACADEMIC PROGRAMS The academic landscape at BGU has changed significantly since the Way Forward Campaign was launched in 2020. For the first time in decades, a new faculty was established – the Stein Faculty of Computer and Information Science, bringing two outstanding departments

(software and information systems engineering and computer science) from two faculties together under one roof. This forward-thinking approach has also led to the creation of many other new academic entities, and some of those supported by donors are introduced below. Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change The Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change, which now unites 190 researchers across the University, has become a powerful engine, fueling research, education, and community initiatives aimed at creating the novel technologies, policies, strategies, and actions that will enable us to adapt to our changing environment and thrive despite the challenges. The school sees the big picture and strategically invests resources to accelerate the development and implementation of these solutions. The impact of this investment, all of which is possible with donor support, is enormous as can be seen in the examples below. Researchers across the University have responded to the school’s calls for multidisciplinary research proposals, with around $1 million in grants awarded. The school has allocated another million dollars to fellowships, awards, and grants for outstanding research students. These efforts fuel a multitude of research projects, building the culture of excellence the school has become known for. Providing support and leadership, the school also anchors several leading research centers and collaborations and promotes applied research in collaboration with civil society organizations, connecting research to

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