BGU&U | SPRING 2026

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Halutz and Zin Connect a New Generation of Global Leaders to BGU

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On a spring morning in the Negev, a group of young leaders looks out over the Zin Valley, where David Ben-Gurion found inspiration in the desert landscape. For many, it is their first meaningful encounter with Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. For all of them, it marks a turning point. Participants in the Halutz Initiative for Global Leadership and the Zin Fellows Leadership personal backgrounds. Over the course of an intensive week, they are immersed in BGU, its people, its ideas, and its role at the forefront of research, innovation, and social impact. From early-morning briefings in Jerusalem to in-depth visits across BGU’s campuses, participants experience the University not as observers, but Program hail from different countries, professions, and

as partners in ongoing dialogue. They meet researchers tackling global challenges in fields such as climate science, cybersecurity, and public health; engage with BGU’s entrepreneurship ecosystem; and connect with students navigating academic life alongside national service. The experience is immersive, but its impact lasts longer. For Halutz fellow Alessio Pellegrino (cohort IV) from Rome, Italy, the encounter with BGU offered a new perspective. As someone without a “What begins as a visit to BGU often becomes a lasting commitment.”