BGU | PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2024

STUDENT DIVERSITY

ARAB STUDENTS COMPRISE 8.4% (1,507) OF ALL BACHELOR’S DEGREE STUDENTS 9.1% (303) OF ALL MASTER’S DEGREE STUDENTS 7.9% (126) OF ALL DOCTORAL STUDENTS

2,459 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES 28 ULTRA-ORTHODOX STUDENTS 113 ETHIOPIAN STUDENTS 2,202 ARAB STUDENTS TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 18,553

during the second semester this year in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, funded by the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation Israel.

and Arab students in open, safe spaces to address their feelings and concerns. We developed training programs for academic and adminstrative staff to map hidden biases and racism. In addition, we published a document outlining principles of freedom of expression on campus during times of conflict. A delegation from the Office for Diversity and Inclusion visited the University of Rochester in the US to share knowledge and learn about training programs on cultural competence, mitigating racism, inclusivity, and cultural and religious sensitivity, as well as practices for teaching in a diverse classroom during emergencies. The Vice President also participated in an event addressing Jewish-Arab relation in academia, held at the residence of the President of the State of Israel in partnership with the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation Israel and led by GISHA, where she presented the efforts of BGU in the field of diversity, inclusion, and shared society, in opening for the reopening of the academic year. The Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, in partnership with the Community Action Department, led a solidarity visit with the Bedouin population that has been negatively impacted by the ongoing war. BGU staff members visited the Arab–Jewish Emergency Center in Rahat, where they met with the mayor and social activists and helped to prepare food aid packages. The group also visited the home of one of the hostages from Rahat, met with a former hostage, and heard about challenges faced by his family. D. FOSTERING AND DEEPENING UNDERSTANDINGS OF DIVERSITY

BGU staff members visited Bedouin schools to learn about new initiatives

We are building a database to track Jewish-Arab relations on campus and support decision-making and policy development. This database will be updated through ongoing surveys to understand the prevailing sentiments, identify key challenges, and monitor changes over time. C. REDUCING DISCRIMINATION, HIDDEN BIASES AND RACISM In preparation for our students’ return to campus at the end of 2023, we held resilience meetings with Jewish

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Ben-Gurion University of the Negev