Message from Ofer Dahan, Executive Director, International School
March was a busy month for Bar-Ilan University faculty and staff as we prepared for the next phase of learning on campus that will take place this month.
On Monday, April 5, after the Passover holidays, we will welcome students once again for face-to-face, in-person learning in classrooms and laboratories combined with virtual lectures for those who can’t return to the university.
Attendance on campus will now be possible for students with a Green Pass, which shows proof of vaccination, or a certificate proving recovery from the virus. You can read more about this here.
In addition to this exciting news, the International School and the Multidisciplinary Department of Jewish Studies have introduced a new Bachelor of Art’s degree, which will be taught entirely in English – a Multidisciplinary BA in Jewish Studies. You will be able to read all about it below.
Bar-Ilan’s International School doesn’t focus only on the degrees and programs offered to international students. We collaborate with other universities all over the world, develop strategic partnerships to enhance our research capabilities, and connect with diplomats in Israel and internationally.
In this month’s newsletter, you will find articles about these collaborations and partnerships, and you’ll also be able to listen to a recording of our second annual Attaches’ Conference, entitled, “Israel: From Innovation Nation to VacciNATION”. This conference enabled diplomats in various fields to listen to our president, Prof. Arie Zaban, talk about Bar-Ilan University, and a panel of experts discuss Israel’s vaccination campaign, the rolling back of restrictions, the promise of a Green Pass scheme for those vaccinated, and the future of the virus.
We, at BIU’s International School, are constantly trying to find ways to enhance our students’ experience, whether potential or current students. With this in mind, we have launched a new option for you to communicate with us via private online Zoom sessions – and you can choose when to meet via our online booking service.
In addition, we are creating new social groups to support our doctoral and postdoctoral students before arriving in Israel and while studying with us. Please email our student representative, Zvi Swisa, to be added to the relevant groups.
Finally, there are many holidays happening in April, some of which will have passed by the time you receive this newsletter… So, we hope our Jewish friends enjoyed their Pesach and Mimouna celebrations and we wish our Christian friends a happy Easter, our Muslim friends, Ramadan Mubarak, our Hindu friends happy Rama Navami and happy New Year, and our Buddhist friends happy Theravada New Year. May you and your families all have peaceful, healthy, and relaxing holidays.
We hope you enjoy this issue of our latest newsletter.
All the best
Ofer Dahan
Executive Director
International School
Bar-Ilan University
Email: [email protected]
