TAU and Jewish women’s group launched first B.A. program of its type in the Middle East.
Tel Aviv University this week alongside the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) are marking 20 years of partnership and the co-founding of the first-ever gender studies program in the Middle East.
Established in 2001, the NCJW Women and Gender Studies Program at The Shirley and Leslie Porter School of Cultural Studies, at the Entin Faculty of Humanities was the first – and remains the only – B.A. degree program on gender studies in Israel. The Program has since expanded to offer M.A. and Ph.D. tracks. To date, it boasts approximately 600 alumni.
Changing Society, Changing Lives
In light of its two-decade anniversary, the Program’s head Prof. Daphna Hacker, from the Buchmann Faculty of Law, explains: “It’s a degree but it’s not only about intellectual theories, it’s about our own lives – our private most intimate relations, our political choices, our engagement in social activism. Once you’re exposed to feminist theories and gender studies, most likely your perspective will change not only on society, but on your own life.”
Addressing the 20-year milestone, TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat lauded the Program and its founders, thanking NCJW for the endowment that made the Program possible. Additionally, he hailed the Program for its role in producing agents for social change, including graduates who have become educators, journalists, scholars, entrepreneurs and social activists.
“We can see the important impact of the Program not just on its graduates and teachers, but also on the wider Tel Aviv University community,” he said in recorded remarks. “We’re seeing more women professors in the top management, as vice presidents, deans and heads of schools – and also a greater representation of women scientists and students in STEM fields.”
Prof. Hacker sees the Program’s classrooms as microcosms of the type of pluralistic setting needed to further swing the pendulum toward gender equity in Israel. “Gender studies teach us how to open our eyes to reality,” she says. “Feminism, since it was established, has been about the connection between academic knowledge and activism for social change.”
A conference hosted by the NCJW Women and Gender Studies Program (Photo: Tanya Gurov)
The Program’s influence is evident in its impact on the lives of its students. For instance, it has provided Ph.D. researcher and lecturer Estee Rieder-Indursky an inroad to academia she wouldn’t have thought possible 20 years ago. As a Haredi social activist, Rider-Indursky is making strides giving voice to women previously unheard from in academic research. In 2020, she won the Dan David Prize for Doctoral Students for her research on discourses of Haredi women who study the Talmud.
Going forward, Hacker’s hopes to broaden awareness of the gender studies Program to draw new students and future social leaders. This includes adding to its ranks more men, LGBTQ students, students with disabilities, ultra-Orthodox women, and Arab Israeli students.
“Everyone should be included in the conversation and the research. Since we are shaping our research through our experiences and personal backgrounds, it’s crucial we have diversity among our students and faculty,” Hacker stresses.
Extending Academic Knowledge Beyond Campus
In addition to the gender studies Program at TAU, the partnership between the University and NCJW has borne additional projects. Now hosting its 2nd cohort, “Connecting for Impact: Strengthening the Feminist Ecosystem in Israel” is one of the partnership’s most recent achievements extending academic knowledge beyond the walls of traditional university campus settings.
Hacker hails the University’s partnership with NCJW – the oldest Jewish women’s volunteer organization in the U.S. – as a fruitful collaboration that facilitates valuable knowledge sharing between scholars, lobbyists, activist and community leaders from both the U.S. and Israel.
An online event Thursday (June 17) celebrating the 20-year anniversary of the NCJW Women and Gender Studies Program at TAU will feature a panel of leaders exploring the state of gender equity in Israel. Along with NCJW President Dana Gershon and Prof. Hacker, guest speakers include Israeli Cabinet Minister Merav Michaeli, Director of Arab Community program at Yad Hanadiv Foundation Dr. Safa Abu-Rabia, and Ridur-Indursky. Former NCJW president, Florida State Senator Nan Rich, will moderate the event.
To register for the panel, please visit here. Featured image: NCJW Women and Gender Studies Program at TAU (Photo: Jonathan Mizrahi)
Maximizing the potential of TAU students on the autism spectrum.
Giving a presentation in front of a class can be daunting for any university student. For someone with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it can be terrifying.
Routine study tasks like this can make higher education an unattainable dream for most people with ASD, which reduces the ability to connect with people. To help, TAU established Yahalom (“Diamond”), a comprehensive program that supports high-functioning ASD students from the moment they enroll at TAU through to graduation.
“Today we know that ASD does not necessarily affect a person’s academic abilities,” says Alberto Meschiany, Head of the Psychological Services Unit at the Dean of Students Office, which runs the Yahalom program. “We support ASD students in whatever they need help with—primarily enhancing their interpersonal communication skills and ability to independently navigate the complexities of campus life.”
Yahalom was launched in October 2017 with 10 students. Today it has 46—an almost fivefold increase in three years.
“Ultimately, we aim to substantially boost these students’ independence and self-confidence, ensure they complete their degree, and broaden the range of options open to them once they enter the employment market,” explains Meschiany.
Mentors: Heart of the program
Yahalom is run by a dedicated coordinator who gets to know each of the ASD students and also recruits and trains volunteer TAU students as mentors. The goal is to ensure that the mentors know what to expect and how to communicate with ASD people, reduce their anxiety, help with their dealings vis-à-vis the staff and lecturers, accompany them to classes, and meet whatever other day-to-day needs may arise during the academic year.
Demand among students wishing to be mentors is high, says Meschiany. “Right now, we can only give the mentors token scholarships, but we would love to give them larger ones. This is our biggest funding need,” he adds.
Mentors help in myriad ways. For example, Yahalom heard about an ASD student who had been unnecessarily buying expensive textbooks for almost two years because he didn’t know how to make photocopies at the library and was too embarrassed to ask for help. He was immediately assigned a mentor who now helps him with these types of issues. Many ASD students have asked their mentors for advice on how to tell their classmates about their condition and the difficulties they face.
Personal ties reduce stress
Efrat Gilboa, a third-year student of Psychology and Law at TAU, mentors two ASD students.
“I’ve always enjoyed volunteering and helping others, and used to work with special needs children. I thought that Yahalom could be an amazing opportunity for me not only to help autistic people integrate into the University, but to try to see the world through their eyes,” she says.
“As a Yahalom mentor, my main job is to help the students cope with their study load, better manage their time, and help them flourish,” she explains. “But now we have a real friendship. My students can—and do—contact me whenever they feel like it, whether it’s to ask me a question or show me something interesting that they saw on their way to the campus.”
“It’s a real privilege and fantastic experience to be able to mentor these students. They are among some of the best people I’ve had the opportunity to meet,” says Gilboa. “Since I began mentoring them half a year ago, I can see that my students are now less stressed and anxious and are better at managing their time.”
An interdisciplinary approach
Along with providing opportunities for ASD students, TAU is pursuing autism research from diverse perspectives.
“Together with other neurodevelopmental disorders, autism needs to be addressed by academics from multiple areas—neuroscientists, geneticists, psychologists, cell biologists, speech therapists and social workers—alongside practicing pediatricians, neurologists and psychiatrists,” says Prof. Karen Avraham, Vice Dean at TAU’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine. “This is why TAU, with its inherently interdisciplinary research culture and strong ties with hospitals, is ideally positioned to bring about influential discoveries in the field—and why it has made autism research a strategic priority.”
One such researcher is cognitive neuropsychologist Prof. Lilach Shalev of the Jaime and Joan Constantiner School of Education who heads the Attention Lab, affiliated with the Sagol School of Neuroscience. She develops novel training programs aimed at improving academic performance of learners from kindergarten to university students, and assesses their outcomes using neuropsychological, eye-tracking, brain-imaging and psychological measures. Her main work centers on the Computerized Progressive Attention Training Program (CPAT) that she pioneered for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 2007; it is now implemented in several countries.
Several years ago, Prof. Shalev expanded her research focus to include autism. “Our system was shown to work with great results among autistic people, also for their behavioral and communication difficulties, and we were very surprised,” she explains. These findings might also be relevant for university students on the autistic spectrum.
Read about how TAU alumna, Noga Keinan, promotes the integration of ASD students in higher education.
Meschiany concludes: “The tailored support we offer Yahalom participants helps to level the playing field relative to their peers. These are very intelligent students with a high capacity to learn. Our job is to help them overcome their social difficulties and fulfill their potential.”
By Ruti ZivFeatured image: Efrat Gilboa mentors two ASD students
Joint Israeli-Emirati Water Research Institute to Open in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
A first of its kind agreement was signed this Tuesday in Abu Dhabi to launch a joint Israeli-Emirati Water Research Institute. It is the first official agreement of its kind when a Water Research Institute is being established as part of a strategic commercial collaboration between Watergen, an Israeli water from air technology company, and Baynunah, a sister company of Al Dahra Group, an Emirati agriculture group that specializes in food security, and will be working in close collaboration with the Moshe Mirilashvili Institute for Applied Water Studies at Tel Aviv University’s Water Research Center.
From Scientific Knowledge to Cutting Edge Possibilities
In attendance at the signing ceremony were: Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, Owner and President of Watergen; Prof. Ariel Porat, President of the Tel Aviv University; Prof. Milette Shamir, Vice President of Tel Aviv University; Amos Elad, Vice President for Resource Development and Public Affairs Division at Tel Aviv University, Prof. Dror Avisar, Head of Moshe Mirilashvili Institute for Applied Water Studies at Tel Aviv University; H.E. Khedaim Abdulla Al Derei, Vice Chairman and Co-Founder of Al Dahra Group; Mr. Eitan Na’eh, the Israeli Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, and other senior officials and members of the parties.
Prof. Shamir stated: “Tel Aviv University has a strong commitment to excellence in research and to extensive international collaboration. Research at the joint water institute will build on our special academic strengths, and will open a path for collaboration with the U.A.E. in other mutual areas of research, as well as to student and faculty exchange programs.”
Tel Aviv University: A powerhouse in innovative water R&D
Producing Drinking Water from Air
Besides academic cooperation, Watergen and Baynunah laid the cornerstone for a Watergen production facility in the UAE. This joint venture will commercialize Watergen products in the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf States, and Africa. This joint venture has already been collaborating with the Abu Dhabi municipality, leading to dozens of Watergen devices being already deployed around the city for the benefit of its residents, forming the initial stage of one of this joint venture missions, namely to deploy thousands of Watergen devices all across the UAE.
Watergen’s innovative technology enables to produce top quality pure and fresh drinking water solely from the air. Watergen devices use a standard connection to electricity or other alternative energy sources such as solar panels, and can produce up to 6,000 liters of top-quality pure drinking water per day. Today, Watergen’s devices are deployed in more than 80 countries around the world, and are located in remote villages, hospitals, city centers, public parks, schools, office buildings, and even in disaster struck areas. The partnership between Watergen and Baynunah expands the commercial footprint of Watergen in the region, while serving as a catalyst in strengthening the ties between the two nations.
“The Abraham Accords has given countries in the Middle East the opportunity to improve and advance relations in various fields,” says Watergen’s President and CEO, Dr. Michael Mirilashvili. “Thanks to the agreements, we – an Israeli company – are able to cooperate with our Middle East neighbors to solve one the region’s difficult problems – water scarcity. Throughout history, conflicts have often been centered around controlling water sources. Today we are doing the opposite: building peace and a common future around a groundbreaking Israeli technology that will provide a plug-and-play solution which allows all residents of the UAE and the world an unlimited access to off grid, top quality and pure drinking water.”
Featured image: From the signing ceremony in Abu Dhabi this week (Photo: Tel Aviv University)
Two Universities, Four years, Endless opportunities
In a first-of-its-kind partnership between an Ivy League university and an Israeli institution of higher learning, the multidisciplinary program enables students to simultaneously earn two bachelor’s degrees—one from each institution.
Asher Dayanim, a first-year student from Philadelphia, chose the Dual Degree Program because it “fit all of my goals: to spend time in another country and learn a new language.”
Although he studied remotely from his TAU dorm room until April, Dayanim says he loved the content of his classes. He was able to become acquainted with fellow students at the dorms through regulated social activities in-person as well as online.
Now, upon his return to the classroom, he says, “Meeting my classmates after only seeing them on a zoom screen for a whole semester is a profound experience. I have already started to bounce around ideas about philosophy, history, politics and economics and to learn from their experiences.”
Dual-degree students study in TAU’s International Liberal Arts Program at the Lester and Sally Entin Faculty of Humanities for their first two years and spend their last two years at Columbia University in New York City.
“The results of our partnership with Columbia have even exceeded our expectations,” says Prof. Bruce Maddy-Weitzman, Head of the TAU side of the program. “Our students bring enormous energy, intelligence, and curiosity to the classroom, and the resulting synergy with their fellow students and their professors is palpable. The high level of our incoming cohort guarantees that the coming academic year will be even more exciting and productive.”
Featured image: Students in the Columbia-TAU Dual Degree program on the TAU campus. From left: Lemony David, Ann Mizrahi, Katie Friedman, Asher Dayanim and Kristupas Packauskas
TAU professor and early childhood expert on how to help children feel secure in times of unrest.
During difficult and stressful times, children are particularly reliant on adult presence and support. They need our help to make sense of everything, and to restore their sense of security. In light of the current unrest here in Israel, we asked Prof. Dorit Aram, from TAU’s The Jaime and Joan Constantiner School of Education and whose area of expertise is adult-child interactions and their implications for early development, what we can do to be there for our children in the best way possible during these testing times. She had several practical tips to share with us all:
How do we explain the current crisis to our children?
Prof. Aram: “With children that are younger than 3 years old, there’s no need to explain the overall security situation. It is better to focus on what is going on right here, in the moment. With children aged 3-5, you can start to explain that we are engaged in a fight with a country called Gaza. That’s enough. If your child asks why, you can say that we and the Gazans do not agree on where the boarders of our countries should be. They would like to get more of our country and we do not want that to happen. It is like when you want something from your friend and she doesn’t want to give it to you. So you argue.”
“For children aged 5-7, you can add in some historical context and explain that there’s a conflict going on between two peoples about territory. Both those peoples want the same thing, and they need to reach a conclusion, but right now they are stuck and they deal by shooting at each other. For the Hebrew readers among you, there’s a book called “אוזו ומוזו מכפר קאקארוזו” which can be read for the child, but really any good children’s book on conflict between neighbors can be read for the child.”
“In my experience, many parents shy away from talking about the political conflict with their children, but with children from age 5 it is actually good idea to discuss the topic. Because the children observe what’s going on, they are aware. Getting answers can ease their minds. If their parents won’t discuss it, the children will fill the gap with fear and erroneous ideas based on things they overhear. Just be careful not to monsterfy the other side. And do not let them watch the scary news on TV.”
What do we tell our children when they ask why they cannot be in kindergarten during the days?
“Explain that there may be missiles, and that right now the kindergarten teachers are not prepared or able to bring all the children to the shelter. So the children need to stay home for now. But let them know that you hope that it will end soon, so they can return to kindergarten and their friends. Tell them the truth! It is also very important to reassure them that we have the defense forces to protect us. And to remind them that when they are in the shelter, they are safe. And we, the parents, are here for them.”
How do we explain the sirens?
“You can tell children above 3 that, just like there’s Fireman Sam, we also have the defense forces to protect us. And there’s the Iron Dome. Explain to them that the sirens let us know that a missile has now left Gaza and is headed our way, so we need to quickly go to the shelter. The Iron Dome is there to stop the missiles, but we still make sure to go to the shelters where we are completely safe. “
How do we calm our children down if they are anxious?
“Parents as partners need to agree on the logistics of things and stay united and calm in front of the children. Stay close to them, but avoid clinging to them. You need to be calming them down and not the other way around. But be nice to yourself and conscious of your own needs. Speak with other adults if you are feeling anxious and need to talk. These are difficult times for everyone, so make sure that you take care of yourself. Hug your children and spend time with them. Think of things to do that tend to make them calmer – you can read to them, distract them somehow, practice some breathing techniques together (just counting breaths can be powerful), tickle them a bit or crack some jokes (laughter is very soothing), and make the shelter a nice place to hang out in – keep their favorite toys, dolls or teddy bears there. Give them responsibilities, tasks they can take care of, and let them feel in control. Try to maintain your routines as a family, to the extent possible.”
Any questions we should ask our children?
“Some parents hear other parents speak of their children’s questions, and worry because their own children don’t ask questions and that maybe something could be wrong. That’s not a reason to ask, and you should rest assured that your child might, in fact, feel fine. No need to panic.”
How will this situation affect our children in the long run?
“If this situation lasts for only a few days and the parents, meanwhile, manage to ensure that their children have routines in place, then it should be fine. However, we do not know what will be. So, I would say that it depends on the children and their sensitivity and the actions of the parents.”
Message from the President of Tel Aviv University, Prof. Ariel Porat –
Dear Tel Aviv University Community,
These are difficult times for all of us, Jews and Arabs alike. The riots in Israel – in Jerusalem, Lod, Acco, and numerous other locations – are terrifying, alongside the incidents of warfare, and indicative of an unprecedented crisis in relations between Jews and Arabs in the State of Israel, while the outcome remains to be seen.
Tel Aviv University has always been proud of being pluralist and liberal. There is no more important foundation to the liberal character of the University than the tolerance to which we are all committed, towards every individual, regardless of religion, nationality, ethnic affiliation, or opinion. This pluralism is not merely passive, but active: The University will act in every way possible in order that all members of the campus community will feel safe, and will enjoy the freedom to express their opinions without fear or concern.
A society, not infrequently, is tested in times of crisis. Let us, the University community, offer an example to Israeli society of fitting ways to discuss, and to dissent, one from the opinion of another, in an atmosphere of tolerance and camaraderie, pleasantly and in the ways of peace.
Please, take care of yourselves, your friends and your associates.
Sincerely yours,
Prof. Ariel Porat
President, Tel Aviv University
Could you be inadvertently channeling your inner Beyonce or Eminem?
A new study shows that three songs from a playlist are enough to identify the person who chose the songs. Hence, companies like YouTube and Spotify can accumulate a great deal of information about their users based only on their musical preferences. The study was led by Dr. Ori Leshman of The Jaime and Joan Constantiner School of Education at Tel Aviv University and Dr. Ron Hirschprung of the Department of Management and Industrial Engineering at Ariel University. The study was published in the journal Telematics and Informatics.
The study included about 150 young people (all undergraduate students), in 4 groups of about 35 people each. Participants were asked to identify group members based on only three songs from their favorite playlist. The variety of the students’ musical preferences was wide and very diverse, including, for example, both old and new Israeli music (from Sasha Argov to Kaveret, Zohar Argov, Omer Adam and Hanan Ben Ari), classic rock and pop (from the Beatles and Pink Floyd to Beyonce and Ariana Grande), Israeli and international hip hop (from Kendrick Lamar and Eminem to Hadag Nahash and Tuna) and more. The song choices were then analyzed according to a mathematical model developed by the scholars.
The findings surprised even the researchers. The analysis of the data showed that the group members were able to identify the study participants according to their musical taste at a very high level of between 80-100%, even though the group members did not know each other well and had no prior knowledge of each other’s musical preferences.
Dr. Leshman and Dr. Hirschprung explain: “Music can become a form of characterization, and even an identifier. It provides commercial companies like Google and Spotify with additional and more in-depth information about us as users of these platforms. In the digital world we live in today, these findings have far-reaching implications on privacy violations, especially since information about people can be inferred from a completely unexpected source, which is therefore lacking in protection against such violations. Visiting YouTube is perceived by the ordinary person as an innocuous act, but this study shows that it can reveal a lot about that person. On the other hand, this knowledge can be used as a bridge between people and perhaps in the future lead to the creation of new diagnostic methods and fascinating intervention programs that will make use of people’s favorite music.”
Tel Aviv University has announced the formation of a new unit – the Equality and Diversity Commission – to be led by Prof. Neta Ziv from The Buchmann Faculty of Law. The new Commission, which will report directly to the University President, will deal with all aspects of equality and diversity on campus, including gender, Arabs, first-generation university students, people with disabilities, the LGBT community, members of the Ethiopian community, and the ultra-Orthodox. The Commission will act to promote equality and diversity in the faculty, the administration, and the student body. Prof. Ziv will start her new role in July 2021.
Striving for a Diverse & Equal Campus
Tel Aviv University has thus adopted in practice the recommendations of the Diversity Committee appointed by Prof. Ariel Porat, President of TAU, to examine the issue. The Committee, headed by Prof. Sigal Alon, recommended, inter alia, that the new unit outline a comprehensive university policy, set goals, and help senior TAU office holders promote equality and diversity in the areas under their responsibility.
The Committee report states: “To solve complex social problems, discover the next scientific breakthrough, and reach new heights of artistic expression, we must allow diverse ideas, approaches, perspectives, and experiences. Such diversity stimulates new research POVs, analytical methods, discoveries, and solutions.” Similarly, campus diversity creates opportunities for interactions among students and faculty members coming from different backgrounds and expands tolerance towards a broad range of perspectives. A diverse campus is itself an edifying model as it prepares students for better citizenship and leadership in a democracy striving for an ideal society free of racism, fear of the other, and stereotyping.
TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat: “To strive for equality and diversity on the campus is not only a social objective of the highest importance. A diverse academic faculty ensures a higher academic level for the university and its units; a diverse student body makes the experience of studying at the campus more meaningful; and a diverse administration provides the campus community with the sense that the university belongs to everyone regardless of gender, ethnicity, or nationality. I’m proud that Prof. Neta Ziv responded favorably to my request to assume the position of establishing the new Commission. Anyone who knows Neta knows that she is both a fully ethical individual and someone who gets things done, a rare combination of traits. For many years, she headed the Law Faculty’s legal clinics and made them a source of pride for the Faculty and University as a whole, nationally and internationally.”
Prof. Neta Ziv notes that the Commission she will lead will operate jointly with existing units to expand programs that have been implemented in recent years, particularly for first-generation university students and students with disabilities, the integration of Arabs and other groups in the administrative staff, and increasing the number of women and Arabs on the academic faculty at all levels.
Prof. Ziv: “I’m greatly honored to have been asked to head the formation of the new unit and work on issues I have studied, taught, and been active in for more than thirty years. I believe that a diverse, equal campus is critical for achieving the academic excellence we strive for. But this is also an ethical matter. As a body that relies on public and community resources, the University is obligated to reflect the diversity of the Israeli public at large and become a sphere where every group enjoys a sense of belonging in an equal and respectful manner.”
Two and a half hours was the time it took for a sizeable number of people – as many as 907 – to enroll in TAU’s “Arabic for Beginners” course, from the moment its registration opened. Hundreds more asked to be added to the waiting list.
Huge Demand
“Arabic for Beginners” has been offered by the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies for many years. Each year, several dozen students interested in the Arabic language and Islamic culture have enrolled. An online version of the course has now been developed and TAU’s President, Prof. Ariel Porat, made the decision to open the course, free of charge for every employee and student at the University. The decision reflects a conviction that every citizen in Israel should have a basic command of the Arabic language, and recognizing the special status of the Arabic language on campus.
Of the enrollees, 60% are students, 20% members of the university’s administrative staff and 20% are from the academic faculty. The demand for the course is university wide, with enrollees belonging to all faculties and fields, inluding: chemistry, medicine, theater, computer science, literature, biology, and more.
Due to the high demand, TAU’s management and the Humanities Faculty Management made the decision to expand the project and open up additional groups.
The course comprises the Arabic alphabet, a vocabulary of about 200 words, declensions, and expressions in spoken Arabic, and an introductory lecture on the foundations of Islam and religious holidays.
Prof. Uriya Shavit, Head of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies and the initiator of the course, comments that, “There is an across-the-board agreement in Israeli society that Arabic studies should be promoted. The huge demand is a pleasant surprise indicating a welcomed and in-depth change in the attitude to the language.”
TAU students welcome to join week of activities and getting to know our friends at UD.
Israel and the UAE have been inching toward normalization in recent years. The historic, US-brokered peace deal that was reached between the countries in September 2020 leads the way for our countries to establish normal relations, including academic exchange. TAU quickly recognized this as a window of opportunity and we are excited to share that the very first “University of Dubai and Tel Aviv University Collaboration Week” is about to take place, and welcome all TAU students to join the event.
By Students & For Students
When Ido Montaniez, Head of Culture, Sports and Foreign Affairs at the TAU Student Union heard that fellow student, Oleg Ben-Avi, was in Dubai, he swiftly coordinated for Oleg to meet with the President of Dubai University’s student union, their student council advisor, as well as the head of Dubai University’s gaming club. Oleg became the first student from TAU to meet with students from the University of Dubai.
Since that momentous meeting, a new and exciting relationship has evolved between students from both universities. Ido kept in touch with his contacts at UD, and already during their first meeting the idea was brought up: to organize a full week of virtual activities for students of the University of Dubai and TAU to celebrate the newfound connection between our universities, building on the relationship formed and to exchange knowledge.
Subsequently, on the TAU side, Ido and Orit Coty, Marketing Director of TAU International, have been preparing the first initiative ever to be organized between TAU and an academic institution in Dubai, by students and for students.
UD President Eesa Mohammed Bastaki, Ph.D is expected to make a statement at the event, as will our own TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat.
The event has also opened for engagement between researchers from both universities, as some of the sessions will be co-presented by scholars from both sides. Prof. Hayit Greenspan from TAU’s Department of Biomedical Engineering will be presenting in a session on Artificial Intelligence and its Applications: Space and Medical Fields and Prof. Danny Ben-Shahar from the Coller school of Management will be giving an overview of the Israeli economy.
What’s Planned?
The sessions have been curated to offer something to students of all fields:
March 21, – An Overview of the UAE and Israel Economies (14:00-15:00) – Dr. Genewew Bekele from the University of Dubai and Prof. Danny Ben-Shahar from Tel Aviv University give an overview of our countries’ economies. More details here and register on Zoom here.
March 21 – Israelis Meet Emirates (19:00) – A stimulating cultural exchange activity including a joint panel discussing the Emirati and Israeli character; fun facts about UAE and Israel; “a day in the life” with videos, and an open discussion. More details here and register on Zoom here.
March 22 – Artificial Intelligence and its Applications: Space and Medical Fields (16:00-17:00) – Dr. Alavikunhu Panthakkan from the University of Dubai and Prof. Hayit Greenspan from Tel Aviv University will lead this super interesting IT-Engineering session. More details here and register on Zoom here.
March 24 – Environmental Day (19:00) – Fair trade and fashion, the animal industry and tree planting benefits and more will be discussed during this session. More details here and register on Zoom here.
March 25 – FIFA Competition (19:00) – What better way to end our collaboration week than a FIFA match on PlayStation, Tel Aviv against Dubai? Click here to learn more and register.
What’s Next?
According to Ido, this will be the first time that UD cooperates with an Israeli institution, and they are now looking into sending a delegation to visit TAU campus this summer. Who knows, perhaps we will soon be able to welcome our first UAE exchange students here on TAU campus as well? The ‘University of Dubai and Tel Aviv University Collaboration Week’ is beyond doubt a brilliant way to embark on what we hope will be the beginning of a productive and lasting relationship between our universities.
Israel and the UAE have been inching toward normalization in recent years. The historic, US-brokered peace deal that was reached between the countries in September 2020 leads the way for our countries to establish normal relations, including academic exchange. TAU quickly recognized this as a window of opportunity and we are excited to share that the very first “University of Dubai and Tel Aviv University Collaboration Week” is about to take place, and welcome all TAU students to join the event.
By Students & For Students
When Ido Montaniez, Head of Culture, Sports and Foreign Affairs at the TAU Student Union heard that fellow student, Oleg Ben-Avi, was in Dubai, he swiftly coordinated for Oleg to meet with the President of Dubai University’s student union, their student council advisor, as well as the head of Dubai University’s gaming club. Oleg became the first student from TAU to meet with students from the University of Dubai.
Since that momentous meeting, a new and exciting relationship has evolved between students from both universities. Ido kept in touch with his contacts at UD, and already during their first meeting the idea was brought up: to organize a full week of virtual activities for students of the University of Dubai and TAU to celebrate the newfound connection between our universities, building on the relationship formed and to exchange knowledge.
Subsequently, on the TAU side, Ido and Orit Coty, Marketing Director of TAU International, have been preparing the first initiative ever to be organized between TAU and an academic institution in Dubai, by students and for students.
UD President Eesa Mohammed Bastaki, Ph.D is expected to make a statement at the event, as will our own TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat.
The event has also opened for engagement between researchers from both universities, as some of the sessions will be co-presented by scholars from both sides. Prof. Hayit Greenspan from TAU’s Department of Biomedical Engineering will be presenting in a session on Artificial Intelligence and its Applications: Space and Medical Fields and Prof. Danny Ben-Shahar from the Coller school of Management will be giving an overview of the Israeli economy.
What’s Planned?
The sessions have been curated to offer something to students of all fields:
March 21, – An Overview of the UAE and Israel Economies (14:00-15:00) – Dr. Genewew Bekele from the University of Dubai and Prof. Danny Ben-Shahar from Tel Aviv University give an overview of our countries’ economies. More details here and register on Zoom here.
March 21 – Israelis Meet Emirates (19:00) – A stimulating cultural exchange activity including a joint panel discussing the Emirati and Israeli character; fun facts about UAE and Israel; “a day in the life” with videos, and an open discussion. More details here and register on Zoom here.
March 22 – Artificial Intelligence and its Applications: Space and Medical Fields (16:00-17:00) – Dr. Alavikunhu Panthakkan from the University of Dubai and Prof. Hayit Greenspan from Tel Aviv University will lead this super interesting IT-Engineering session. More details here and register on Zoom here.
March 24 – Environmental Day (19:00) – Fair trade and fashion, the animal industry and tree planting benefits and more will be discussed during this session. More details here and register on Zoom here.
March 25 – FIFA Competition (19:00) – What better way to end our collaboration week than a FIFA match on PlayStation, Tel Aviv against Dubai? Click here to learn more and register.
What’s Next?
According to Ido, this will be the first time that UD cooperates with an Israeli institution, and they are now looking into sending a delegation to visit TAU campus this summer. Who knows, perhaps we will soon be able to welcome our first UAE exchange students here on TAU campus as well? The ‘University of Dubai and Tel Aviv University Collaboration Week’ is beyond doubt a brilliant way to embark on what we hope will be the beginning of a productive and lasting relationship between our universities.
A conference hosted by the NCJW Women and Gender Studies Program (Photo: Tanya Gurov)
The Program’s influence is evident in its impact on the lives of its students. For instance, it has provided Ph.D. researcher and lecturer Estee Rieder-Indursky an inroad to academia she wouldn’t have thought possible 20 years ago. As a Haredi social activist, Rider-Indursky is making strides giving voice to women previously unheard from in academic research. In 2020, she won the Dan David Prize for Doctoral Students for her research on discourses of Haredi women who study the Talmud.
Going forward, Hacker’s hopes to broaden awareness of the gender studies Program to draw new students and future social leaders. This includes adding to its ranks more men, LGBTQ students, students with disabilities, ultra-Orthodox women, and Arab Israeli students.
“Everyone should be included in the conversation and the research. Since we are shaping our research through our experiences and personal backgrounds, it’s crucial we have diversity among our students and faculty,” Hacker stresses.
Tel Aviv University: A powerhouse in innovative water R&D
