Two Thousand New Students at Technion

2,000 New Students Commence Studies at Technion

The most sought-after faculties for undergraduate degrees are medicine, electrical engineering, computer science, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering

For the first time at Technion: 40% of undergraduate students are women

The 2017-18 school year began at Technion on Sunday (22.10). This year, 14,000 students will study at 18 faculties on campus in Haifa, of which 9,236 will be undergraduate students and the rest graduate students, of whom 1,142 will be doctoral students. This year, Technion also commenced the academic year at its international branches in New York and China. Last month, the permanent campus of the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute for applied scientific-engineering research in Manhattan was inaugurated.

At the same time, 220 students began their studies at the Guangdong-Technion Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) in China. The Technion-Guangdong Institute, the first Israeli university in China, will be officially inaugurated this December. Established near the Shantou University campus in the Guangdong province of southeastern China, the Institute will be a research university, and teaching and research programs in the initial years will focus on environmental protection.

In the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the percentage of female students who choose to pursue academic studies in the sciences and engineering, and this year the percentage of women among undergraduate students at Technion is 40%. The rate of new female students is particularly high among minorities – 53%.

Karina Pletoshin from Ashkelon begins her studies at the Faculty of Biology this year. “I chose Technion because of its international reputation and the opportunities its degrees provide. I hope to make new friends, earn high grades, and complete my degree successfully. I don’t know what I’ll do as a career but I plan to complete a Master’s degree.”

For Michal Dubzik from Kfar-Saba and Gal Sidi from Modi’in, this is the first day of computer engineering studies at the Faculty of Computer Science. Both are excited about their first day at Technion. Michal said, “I chose Technion because of its prestigious status and top-notch curriculum. I know that it will be difficult but I hope I’ll manage.”

“Today you join the Technion family, a strong family that has thrived for four generations,” said Technion’s Senior Executive Vice President, Prof. Adam Shwartz, at the opening ceremony. “Technion was founded with the goal of training engineers who would build this country, and later expanded its activities based on the realization that basic engineering training is not sufficient and that strong scientific foundations are needed. Thus, Technion became a leading research university both nationally and globally.”

“A new world needs new tools,” added Prof. Shwartz. “This is a digital world in which computers are essential in every field, not only in computer science, and success in the technological world is based not only on talent but also on a wide variety of human capital. The essential resources we will give you are the ability to think, cope with problems, and the drive to spend all night on something you have not yet been able to solve. Technion is home to thinking and curious people who will lead the Israeli economy and the world at large. It is true that you are only at the beginning of your Bachelor’s degree, but I urge you to begin thinking about graduate studies. Each year, about half a million people complete engineering studies in China and India. Many of them are just as smart as you, but our added value is the graduate degrees that provide deeper research and broader comprehension – advantages reflected in the labor market.”

The ceremony was mastered by Prof. Orit Hazzan, Technion’s Dean of Undergraduate Studies, who told the students, “Today an important chapter in your life begins, not only in the academic sense but also in many other ways. You have joined an academic institution which leads the world in engineering and the sciences, and here you will receive the best training. We have found that students prefer to study at Technion for three main reasons: its reputation, level of study, and the atmosphere on campus. It’s important to us that you focus on your studies, but occasionally look away from the computer, enjoy the range of activities offered, and consider where you can contribute.”

The Dean of Students, Prof. Benny Natan, said, “You come to a Technion that is different from what it used to be. Today’s Technion offers a diversity of activities other than the academic ones, and a social life. It is important that you remember that we at the Dean’s office are here for you. True wisdom includes knowing when to ask for help, and if you need help with any issue – dormitories, scholarships and loans, academic support, personal counselling, etc. – you are welcome to come to us.”

Omer Amit, chairman of Technion’s Student Union, said, “Technion is a wonderful place, as shown by a national student survey. Satisfaction at Technion is the highest in Israel, and it is also the institution most Israeli students recommend studying at. Technion’s sports teams come out on top at intervarsity competitions, we have the best gym in academia, and the only Olympic swimming pool in northern Israel. You are invited to enjoy the sports activities, music performances, pub at the Student Center, and the other wonderful things Technion has to offer you. Your studies will not be easy and occasionally you’ll experience failures, but you will learn to overcome them and succeed.