In shadow of war, university focuses on renewal

As threats continue to hang over Israel, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) has played an active role in defending the country and securing the home front. Since 7 October, 7 000 students and faculty have been called up for reserve duty in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Several hundred remain on active duty as I write this. Since 7 October, we have lost 115 members of our community.

We joyfully welcomed home our student, Noa Argamani, from captivity in Gaza and stood beside her sorrowfully as she buried her mother. We have three BGU hostages still in Gaza, and we recently mourned the confirmed loss of Alex Dancyg in Gaza, whose body was returned to Israel by the IDF. We’re helping our students wounded at the Nova massacre and during the war both psychologically, physically, and academically.

We’re also looking ahead. It’s important to realise that although the grievous toll of this war weighs heavily on us all, it hasn’t broken us. We’re determined to build back better, and I believe our new type of university could be a major part of a renewed south.

The traditional concept of universities as detached ivory towers is gradually dissipating, giving way to a more integrated and impactful role in their respective regions. At Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, we’ve always embraced the vision of what Arizona State University President Professor Michael Crow terms a “fifth-wave university”. This positions universities as pivotal in driving sustainable growth and prosperity within their communities.

This ethos was evident in the founding vision for our university. When David Ben-Gurion envisioned a Hebrew Oxford in the Negev, he prophesised back in 1955 that this future university would “play a key role in turning the Negev into a flourishing region through scientific research and technological advancement” while building a more just and inclusive society. This is what we’ve been doing since our founding 54 years ago.

In the challenging context of the ongoing war, we must reinforce our commitment to holistic engagement with our surroundings, guided by the following question: How can we maximise our impact?

While we remain committed to the foundational roles of education and research in transforming society, our focus has expanded towards envisioning and preparing for post-conflict reconstruction in the Negev by embracing all facets of societal development – economic, social, and beyond. BGU stands ready to play a critical role in this process, leveraging its existing partnerships across society, industry, government, and the IDF. Our collaboration with the Tkuma Authority and other initiatives exemplifies our proactive approach.

We must remember that reconstruction encompasses much more than physical rebuilding, it’s an opportunity to elevate the standard of living in the Negev. As a university, we can make significant contributions in four key areas: economic development, innovation, and entrepreneurship; social embeddedness and empowerment; research and global solutions; and education, access, and equity.

In education, access, and equity, our goal is to nurture the untapped potential inherent in the youth of the Negev while attracting top talent. This includes providing additional support for veterans of the Swords of Iron war and influencing education throughout the Negev in partnership with our School of Education’s Child Development and Family Relationships Laboratory and the Jusidman Science Center for Youth.

Economic development, innovation, and entrepreneurship are central to our mission. We aim to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and facilitate the translation of ideas into economic and social opportunities. This includes incentivising company relocations to Beer-Sheva, creating an industry placement centre, and enhancing knowledge exchange between our university and local industries.

Our commitment to social embeddedness and empowerment is reflected in our intention to integrate our resources and expertise more deeply into the fabric of Negev society. This includes the establishment of a social laboratory, a centre for shared society, and a community clinic, all aimed at addressing pressing social needs and enhancing social cohesion.

In the realm of research and global solutions, our interdisciplinary approach is key. Plans to establish a new faculty of computing, an institute of artificial intelligence, and a centre for sea technology at our Eilat Campus, along with strengthening our centre for health promotion and health equity, are pivotal to this effort.

These new initiatives and opportunities will also make BGU an attractive place for international students seeking not just an excellent academic opportunity but also the opportunity to help rebuild the Negev and take part in ushering in a new era of hope and prosperity.

Daniel Chamovitz is the president of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He will be speaking at Limmud in Johannesburg, held 23 from 25 August, on topics such as “What a plant knows”, “Is Ben-Gurion’s dream dead?” and “Conversations about campus”.