Universities set to begin delayed academic year, vow reservist students won’t be left behind

Israel’s major universities are set to begin the delayed academic year today, vowing that reservist students won’t be at a disadvantage.

According to the Ynet news site, some 55,000 students are currently serving in the Israel Defense Forces reserves.

The IDF had requested a further delay last week so that students still serving in the reserves amid the war could begin the year along with the rest of their peers.

In a compromise solution, IDF reservists will begin their studies “a few weeks later” and will have a condensed week of intensive classes upon their return to get them up to speed on missed material, after which they will be integrated into regular classes, the Association of University Heads has said.

The president of Ariel University, Prof. Ehud Grossman, tells Ynet that his institution, like the others, “is committed to the reservists and to them finishing the academic year on time.”

"שמור למשרתי המילואים. מחכים לכם בקמפוס": הנהלת אוניברסיטת בר אילן במחווה לסטודנטים ואנשי הסגל שמגויסים ולא יוכלו להגיע ללימודים. הסטודנטים עצמם ביקשו מראש מכולם להגיע לבושים בחולצות כחול לבן עם דגלי ישראל, עבור המילואימניקים.
בהצלחה לכל הסטודנטים שחוזרים מחר לקמפוסים✨ pic.twitter.com/bBiRcjB9WG

— Yuval Miller || יובל מילר (@milleryuval_) December 30, 2023