Message from Ofer Dahan, Executive Director, International School
The start of a new year is always exciting and fun. New beginnings, new plans, new experiences… all come together as a clean slate, a fresh opportunity to take charge and make a change.
The past eight months have been like a rollercoaster ride for all of us, no matter where in the world we live, work or study. No one has escaped the effects of the global pandemic that is COVID-19. We really are all in the same boat.
And in a corner of this boat, Bar-Ilan University’s International School is preparing for the arrival of our new students. We are all looking forward to the new year with enthusiasm and happiness while simultaneously finding ways to manage the situation we’re in as a result of this virus.
Following hot on the heels of the Jewish New Year and other religious Jewish holidays this September is the opening of the 2020-2021 academic year. On October 18, Bar-Ilan University will open its doors to students new and old, local and international, in a time where innovation has been borne out of necessity – an old adage for a new problem.
Bar-Ilan University has been working day and night to prepare the university facilities in order to meet the government standards for teaching in the current situation. As it stands at the moment, learning will be in a hybrid format: some classes will take place face-to-face with social distancing, while other classes will be on Zoom.
Each department will update its students separately, and the International School will also keep everyone informed of any changes.
We are working hard to ensure that everything runs smoothly so our students don’t have to worry. Our aim is to keep students and faculty safe and healthy, while still providing a university experience that will be valuable, rewarding and enjoyable.
Read about our Blueprint for a Multidimensional Academic Year to find out how creative, innovative and out-of-the-box thinking have enabled Bar-Ilan University to step up to the challenge of COVID-19.
New Student Guide
Last month, Bar-Ilan’s International School published its first comprehensive and beautifully-designed Student Guide, which provides new students with everything they need to know about being a student at Bar-Ilan University – and even includes information on what they need to do before they leave for Israel.
The Student Guide is currently available online so incoming students can find out about visas, campus accommodation, medical insurance, and more beforehand. Printed copies will be provided to students when they arrive at Bar-Ilan.
Final Call for Students
As you will read in the next article, we have extended our application deadline until the end of September 2020 for all undergraduate and some graduate degrees. Other graduate degrees have staggered deadlines going into early next year depending on the degree. You can find out about these by emailing us.
In addition, we are holding two Zoom sessions – one on September 16 for prospective students who still need information on our degrees, and one on September 13 for registered students, which will be a pre-university preparation session. A question-and-answer session will be held during both Zoom events.
You will be able to find out more details about these events in the article. But before you go, take a virtual tour of Bar-Ilan’s campus so you can find out where you’ll be studying in October.
Last, but not least, on behalf of everyone at Bar-Ilan’s International School, I would like to wish all our Jewish readers “Shana Tovah uMetukah” and “G’mar Chatima Tovah”. May you all have a blessed year and a meaningful Fast.
We look forward to welcoming all our incoming and existing students at Bar-Ilan University’s International School next month. L’hitra’ot – See you soon!
All the best
Ofer Dahan
Executive Director, Bar-Ilan International School
