President Lavie to head VERA
Technion President Professor Peretz Lavie, to serve as the Chairperson of the Association of University Heads, Israel. President Lavie replaces the outgoing Chairperson, Hebrew University of Jerusalem President, Professor Menahem Ben-Sasson
Prof. Lavie: “Scientific research at universities is a key growth engine for furthering development and strengthening the strategic status of the country. Our position among the world’s top research universities has been achieved through hard work in severely underfunded conditions. The task of the Committee of University Heads is to ensure that the Government of Israel will work towards enabling the continued functioning of universities at the highest levels.”
Prof. Ben-Sasson: “Quality of research, which is the core activity of the universities, will facilitate the future development of the State of Israel. It is therefore the obligation of the Government of Israel to place the issue of higher education as a top priority.”
Technion President Prof. Peretz Lavie
The presidents of Israel’s research universities have appointed Prof. Peretz Lavie, President of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, as chairperson of the Association of University Heads of Israel. Peretz replaces the outgoing chairperson, Prof. Menachem Ben-Sasson, the President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who served for a two and a half year term.
VERA – the Hebrew acronym for The Association of University Heads, Israel, is a voluntary body founded by the heads of Israel’s research universities. The objective of the association is to promote and improve the management of aspects of common interest to all the universities and present their common interest in the most efficient manner to decision-making bodies in the field of higher education. All this in order to promote, improve and develop scientific research and standards of academic teaching for the good of the state of Israel and its citizen.
Prof. Menachem Ben-Sasson: “Over the past two years, the Association of University Heads of Israel faced tasks and challenges both at home and abroad that threatened to damage the future and the status of higher education and research in Israel. Among the challenges were attempts to impose academic boycotts on Israeli university researchers; this alongside trends at home opposing participation in budgeting programs and scientific cooperation with the European Union. This in addition to attempts by political bodies to interfere and place political pressure on Israeli academia and its operational conduct. Academic institutions operate based on criteria of academic excellence and a desire for scientific achievement approaching international standards, and the role of Government and society in Israel must allow them to continue to conduct themselves in the way that has led us to excellence.”
“The incoming chairperson will face important responsibilities. My colleagues and I are grateful to Prof. Lavie for agreeing to carry the burden of leadership of the Association of University Heads, and wish him great success in his new role. I would like to thank David Bareket, Head of the Director General Forum and VP and Director-General of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, for being an outstanding partner and my right-hand in managing the Association, and Prof. Aron Shai, Rector of Tel Aviv University and Chairperson of the Forum of Rectors.”
Prof. Peretz Lavie: “Scientific research at universities is a key growth engine for furthering development and strengthening the strategic status of the country. Our position among the world’s top research universities has been achieved through hard work in severely underfunded conditions. The task of the Association of University Heads is to ensure that the Government of Israel will work towards enabling the continued functioning of universities at the highest levels.”
“Another key issue on the agenda is the subject of academic freedom at universities. This freedom is a fundamental principle and the sine qua non for free inquiry, which has helped foster the high academic levels reached by Israeli universities. Ensuring it will be possible only if we continue to implement zero interference by political bodies attempting to violate these freedoms and impose a political agenda that is not conducted on the basis of academic and scientific standards of excellence.”
For further details: Gil Lainer – 058-688-2208, Doron Shaham – 050-310-9088