Highlights of International Partners’ Week

Recently, about 40 academics and staff members from 11 universities in 10 European countries visited Israel for Bar-Ilan University’s annual International Partners’ Week. The six-day week was packed with interesting and innovative presentations and discussions as well as a variety of social events for everyone involved.

Delegates were welcomed by BIU’s president, Prof Arie Zaban, and heard opening remarks from Prof Amnon Albeck, BIU’s rector, and Zohar Yinon, BIU’s CEO. Heads of faculties and departments presented some of the research centers (see links below) and the cutting-edge research taking place, and gave tours of the facilities.

These included the Multidisciplinary School for Environment and Sustainability; the Faculty of Education and its Teaching Simulation Center; the Multi-Disciplinary Brain Research Center; the Smart Cities Research Center; the Nanotechnology Museum; the BIU Library, Archives, and Information Science Center; and more.

Colleagues from the University of Strasbourg, Ms. Agnieszka Kopczynska (left) and Ms. Céline Kleinclaus, and the other delegates were shown a precious, old Torah (Bible) scroll in Bar-Ilan University’s main library

BIU’s International School, which organized and hosted the International Partners’ Week, presented its Student Exchange program and the variety of degrees offered in English; arranged an expo to showcase student exchange, traineeships, degree programs, and fellowships, and meet the students involved; and also held an opening lunch and a reception to connect with BIU faculty and staff.

“The conference provided an exceptional platform for establishing academic collaborations with an institution as esteemed as BIU, renowned for its research and academic excellence,” said Dr. Stephanie Nestawal from the University for Continuing Education Krems in Austria.

“Throughout the conference, I had the privilege of engaging with faculty members, researchers, and administrators from various departments within BIU. These interactions have sparked the potential for joint research projects, faculty exchanges, and collaborative programs, all of which hold immense promise for fostering international partnerships and elevating the academic reputation of my own university,” she said.

“The sessions, workshops, and discussions proved to be invaluable in terms of professional growth and inspiration. The explorative sessions delved into the latest research trends, innovative teaching methodologies, and academic practices, offering fresh perspectives and insights. The knowledge shared by colleagues from BIU and the expertise of esteemed experts not only broadened my horizons, but also provided me with new approaches and strategies that I am excited to apply within my own institution.

“I firmly believe that the exchange of ideas and experiences among academics from different institutions has a transformative impact on the academic environment as a whole. The insights gained and the connections made at the conference will undoubtedly contribute to enhancing the academic atmosphere at my home university,” Dr. Nestawal said.

Ms. Ayelet Sapir presented an overview of the Bar-Ilan Center for Smart Cities

Agnieszka Kopczynska from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Strasbourg in France participated in the conference with her colleague, Céline Kleinclaus, Assistant to the Dean and the Administrative Officer as well as the Head of the International Relations Office.

“This staff mobility was an inspiring experience for both of us,” Ms Kopczynska said. “The commitment and the effort of the organizing team were really extraordinary! Daniel* created a great atmosphere and provided a varied program with the perfect mix of discovery of BIU, networking opportunities, and cultural activities.

“For me, however, the highlight was meeting with the representative of the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine and the visit to the hospital and research center,” she said. “Our medical faculty doesn’t have any active partnerships with BIU yet, so the staff week was, for us, a chance to discover collaboration opportunities. We are looking forward to potential collaboration within the medical faculty and medical facilities that could be beneficial both for our respective students and researchers.”

* Daniel Schuval is the Director of Academic Partnerships and Projects and the Erasmus+ ICM Coordinator at BIU’s International School.

Off-campus tours were also a high point of the week and visits included an exciting experience to the Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology Department’s Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project, a tour of Old City of Jerusalem, a visit to the Israel Museum and Shrine of the Book, and an excursion to the Dead Sea.

A highlight of the week was a tour of Tell es-Safi/Gath with Prof. Aren Maeir of BIU’s Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology Department

“It was a privilege to gain insight into such a vast array of research activities at Bar-Ilan and to be able to meet so many members of staff,” said Maria Elisabeth Höwer, Doctoral Researcher at the Bavarian Research Center for Interreligious Discourses at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.

“One of my personal highlights was the field trip to Tell es-Safi/Gath under the highly informative guidance of Prof Aren Maeir. Overall, it was a very fruitful week. Thank you very much indeed for the outstandingly friendly welcome and the well-organized, insightful program,” she said.

Connecting to BIU’s Research Centers and Projects

Delegates were given access to many of Bar-Ilan University’s impact centers, many of which are mentioned here for those who are interested in discovering more about Bar-Ilan.

If you’re interested in visiting Bar-Ilan University and any of the abovementioned centers or projects, please email [email protected] or call +972-3-738-4245. If you would like to find out more about our faculty or student mobility program, please email [email protected] or call +972-3-738-4721.

You can also click the links below to find out more about the various centers and startup incubators.