BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY | THE WAY FORWARD

problem-solving, and decision-making in Israeli society, and translate what they gain from their humanities courses into active social leadership. The school will open its doors in 2026-27 after extensive planning this past year. Sagol Medical School for International Health The Sagol Medical School for International Health was launched in 2025, based on a partnership between BGU and the Sagol Network, and a shared vision to build a global academic and medical infrastructure that sees health as a dynamic and evolving field – a field that requires innovation; a holistic outlook; cutting-edge technologies; the integration of AI; and commitment to research, preventive medicine, personalized healthcare, and the training of a new generation of globally minded, socially conscious medical professionals. The school’s forward-looking curriculum reflects these values. Alongside the standard medical curriculum, students explore how AI is transforming medical practice, with all students completing a course on the use of AI in medicine. Preventive healthcare is emphasized throughout the curriculum, recognizing that preventing disease is better than treating it. The school also places a strong emphasis on cross-cultural medicine. In their final year, students complete a two-month clerkship in an unfamiliar cultural setting, caring for diverse patient populations. Some remain in Israel, working with Druze patients in the Golan Heights, while others train at partner sites in Ghana, Sri Lanka, Peru, and Nepal. For many, this is a transformative experience that shapes their careers. Open to all Israeli citizens, the school is currently training more than 120 future physicians for Israel, with a focus on addressing the critical shortage of doctors in the Negev, where the lack of physicians has become a significant national challenge. Koum School of Electrical and Computer Engineering The Koum School of Electrical and Computer Engineering is educating the next generation of engineers, researchers, and technology leaders while advancing innovations that address some of the world’s most pressing technological challenges. As part of the Faculty of Engineering

Sciences,theschoolcombinesrigorouseducation with pioneering research, preparing graduates to shape the future of technology in Israel and around the world. Its degree programs span electrical engineering, computer engineering, communication systems engineering, and electro-optics. Students build a strong foundation in mathematics and engineering principles before pursuing advanced study in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, communications, signal processing, microelectronics, photonics, and quantum engineering. Committed to excellence in teaching and discovery, the school shares the faculty’s mission to advance knowledge, develop technological leaders, and harness engineering for the benefit of the Negev, Israel, and the global community. Led by internationally recognized faculty, the school fosters an environment where education, research, and innovation reinforce one another. Through collaborations with industry, government, and academic partners, researchers develop new technologies and methodologies while providing students with opportunities to tackle real-world challenges. One of the faculty’s rising stars is Prof. Nir Shlezinger who in recent years has been awarded the Wolf Foundation’s Krill Prize for Excellence in Scientific Research for his groundbreaking work in machine learning, signal processing, communications, and information theory, as well as an ERC Proof of Concept grant which will advance REALCOM, real-time embedded adaptive learning for wireless communications. School of Prosthetics and Orthotics In response to the unprecedented number of wounded since October 2023, a growing rehabilitation crisis, and an urgent demand for knowledgeable professionals, Israel’s first School of Prosthetics and Orthotics was launched in 2025 with BGU at its helm. The school, which is a collaboration between the University and ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran, provides advanced academic training recognized by the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics, the world’s leader in prosthetics, orthotics, education, clinical care, and research, and graduates earn both a master’s degree

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