Association of University Heads

Ben Gurion University of the Negev students work at a logistic center set up on campus, in an undated photo during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. (Courtesy)

November 7, 2023, 6:13 pm

Israeli universities step up to support students in reserves, war effort

Aside from grants and other aid, institutes of higher education open campuses for assistance efforts, evacuee lodging

Students at Hebrew University on the first day of the academic year on October 23, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

October 25, 2023, 2:16 am

Waiting for reservists to be released, university classes delayed until at least Dec 3

Using remote learning, some programs for foreign students have already begun school year; Ben Gurion University serving as war-time logistics center

By Gavriel Fiske

Students at Hebrew University's Mount Scopus campus on the first day of the school year, October 23, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

June 5, 2023, 9:11 am

University staff end 2-week strike after wage deal reached with Finance Ministry

New collective deal, achieved after 18 months of talks, includes salary hike, ‘promotion of excellence in research,’ and consensus to keep system ‘stable’ until at least 2027

By ToI Staff

Students walk around the campus at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba, on May 8, 2013. (Dudu Greenspan/ Flash90)

March 20, 2023, 12:26 pm

Ben-Gurion University Senate encourages students to protest judicial overhaul

Staff forum warns government’s plans will stifle academic freedom, urges other institutes of higher education to threaten open-ended strike if legislation is not halted

By ToI Staff

Prof. Arie Zaban, chair of the Committee of University Heads and president of Bar-Ilan University. (Bar-Ilan University)

January 23, 2023, 6:56 pm

University chiefs warn judicial reform will spark global academic boycott

Top academics say coalition’s overhaul plans will cause ‘fatal damage’ to country’s education, urge informed public dialogue on proposals

By ToI Staff

Ariel University in the West Bank (CC-BY Michael Jacobson/Wikipedia)

June 20, 2022, 3:38 pm

After decade of refusal, Ariel University accepted into key education organization

Bennett welcomes move, says educational institute no longer a ‘stepchild’; other lawmakers see move as a refusal to bow to boycotts of the West Bank

By Tobias Siegal

Then-environment protection minister Zeev Elkin attends the Likud Party's election campaign opening event in Jerusalem, on January 21, 2020. (Gili Yaari/Flash90)

July 14, 2020, 10:30 pm

Top higher education official quits, compares minister’s policies to Turkey

Slamming Ze’ev Elkin’s decision not to keep on director of Higher Education Council, the chair of the Committee of University Heads warns of danger to Israeli democracy

By ToI Staff

University of Toronto (Nat/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 via JTA)

November 19, 2019, 11:51 pm

Israeli university heads call U of Toronto kosher scandal ‘theater of absurd’

Chairman of the Committee of University Heads says branding kosher food on campus ‘pro-Israel’ reveals that BDS is actually about suppressing freedoms of religious Jews

By Marcy Oster

Im Tirzu movement activists demonstrate near to Arab Israeli and Israeli left wing activist students during a rally marking the Nakba anniversary day at Tel Aviv University on May 14, 2018. (Flash90)

May 14, 2019, 2:22 pm

Israeli ‘Canary Mission’: New website fingers ‘anti-Zionist’ academics

Right-wing Im Tirzu group invites users to call out allegedly unpatriotic lecturers; university heads slam ‘intimidation’ campaign

By ToI Staff

Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis addresses the Knesset plenum, April 26, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 9, 2018, 4:15 pm

Science minister blocks academic from panel over her views on army service

Ofir Akunis nixes Yael Amitai’s appointment to board of Israel-German grant body due to a 2005 petition she signed calling on soldiers to refuse to serve in the West Bank

By Stuart Winer

IDF reservist soldiers guard a community near the Israeli-Gaza border on August 14, 2014. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

April 30, 2018, 2:19 pm

Extended army reserve service to count toward college credit

Students who serve in military more than 18 days in a year, or who are involved in ‘significant social activities,’ to earn 2 credits

By ToI Staff

Illustration. Israeli students participate in a mass chemistry experiment at Tel Aviv University on Sep 22, 2011. (Gili Yaari/Flash90)

March 25, 2018, 9:22 am

Universities urged to enforce code banning politics in lectures

Contentious rules, which go into effect in 2019 and were pushed by education minister, also include prohibition of calls for boycott of Israel

By Michael Bachner

Asa Kasher attends a conference at the Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv, June 11, 2017. (Flash90)

June 12, 2017, 9:27 am

Bennett may not have backing to ban politics in universities

Education minister reportedly lacking support from Council for Higher Education to bar professors from expressing political opinions on campus

By Stuart Winer

President Reuven Rivlin speaks at the Knesset in Jerusalem, April 24, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 11, 2017, 10:34 pm

Rivlin rejects curbs on political speech by university lecturers

President stresses importance of freedom of expression, says Israel must ‘develop a system that encourages controversy’

By ToI Staff

June 11, 2017, 5:30 pm

Education minister defends bid to ban politics in universities

Ethicist Asa Kasher, author of controversial code, says it will prevent ‘political adulteration’ of academia, blasts critics as ‘conservative’

By Stuart Winer