In response to increasing global antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment, particularly in light of the recent Hamas attacks impacting Israeli civilians, the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology has opened its doors to the international academic community. Recognizing the escalating threats faced by Jewish and Israeli students and researchers worldwide, Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan announced a program to rapidly integrate students and faculty members from around the world seeking academic refuge.
The Technion, one of the world's elite institutions, invites undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and post-doctorate researchers from diaspora universities to engage in research, teaching, and learning at its Haifa campus. This initiative is part of the university's response to the hostility experienced by Jewish and Israeli scholars globally, which has been further exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Het Technion in Haifa – Israel Institute of Technology, geeft een algemene uitnodiging aan studenten, onderzoekers en docenten die over de hele wereld die antisemitisme ondervinden, om hun werk in Israël voort te zetten https://t.co/Ybq1BtQOIU
— Joop Soesan 🇮🇱🇳🇱 (@JoopSoesan) November 20, 2023
This announcement follows a U.S. government probe into antisemitism in educational institutions. Recently, the U.S. Department of Education launched investigations into several prominent universities, including Cornell University, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania, following reports of anti-Jewish discrimination. These are the first such investigations since the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona anticipates more investigations, with a regularly updated list of schools under scrutiny now available on the Department of Education’s website.
The start of the academic year at the Technion and other Israeli research universities has been postponed to December 24 due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. This move by the Technion aims to provide a safe and supportive environment for those facing challenges in their home institutions, reinforcing Israel's commitment to academic freedom and the protection of its global academic community.
In a statement from Technion officials, the university stated: “Following the surge of antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric around the world, the Technion invites undergraduate and graduate students and academic faculty residing abroad to come to our campuses in Haifa to carry out their research, teaching and learning.”
Cornell and Columbia universities under DoE probe for antisemitism and Islamophobia https://t.co/9X0h844yWX
— Independent US (@IndyUSA) November 18, 2023
According to the Times of Israel, Technion President, Sivan added: "Many Jewish and Israeli students and researchers currently face physical and verbal threats that cause them to think twice about everything they do and prevent them from participating in academic activities in those institutions… we have announced a program for the rapid integration of students and faculty members from around the world looking for an academic refuge during these difficult times.”
Due to the war in Gaza, universities in Israel, including the Technion, have postoned the start of their fall semester to December 24th, 2023.
