BGU | PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2025

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BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV

Welcome Center activities for international students, Oct. 2024 Visit of H.E. Ezra Cohen, Ambassador of Panama to the State of Israel, Dec. 2024

Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Prof. Rab. Ariel Stofenmacher, rector of the Instituto Universitario Abarbanel, Argentina, Jan. 2025

and enhance global academic engagement. We regularly appear in print and television media to discuss these issues and have presented our efforts in this field at several forums, including a keynote address to the gathering of the international Young Academies of Sciences in Berlin. Through these engagements, we have positioned BGU as a leader in addressing these challenges. To support faculty members facing boycott-related incidents abroad, we launched a dedicated website, which collects information about incidents and also offers essential information on international security protocols, workshops, and resources for navigating academic boycotts and hostile environments. A THRIVING GLOBAL NETWORK Despite the above challenges, international engagement with BGU is growing and thriving. True academic partners around the world continue to stand by us, demonstrating their commitment to maintaining strong ties with Israeli institutions and fostering international collaboration. These strategic partnerships reaffirm the importance of academic cooperation and reflect a shared dedication to advancing global education and research.

ENHANCING SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS The University Welcome Center continues to expand its support services for international students, including assistance with visas, health insurance, bank account setup, and general administrative support; cultural and social programs, including trips around Israel, communal dinners, movie nights, and social events; and family friendly activities for students with children. A significant achievement this year is the expansion of health insurance coverage for international students, which now includes pregnancy and childbirth coverage, psychological counseling, and physiotherapy. OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AMIDST THE CONFLICT The ongoing war presents significant challenges, including calls for academic boycotts and the suspension of collaborations with Israeli institutions. Nevertheless, the Office of the VP for Global Engagement remains committed to fostering global partnerships, strengthening academic ties and promoting open dialogue. We collaborate with our counterparts at other Israeli universities to address the challenges of the moment