Universities push back start of academic year – again

The beginning of the academic year for Israel’s universities will be delayed until at least 24 December, the Association of University Heads says in a statement, contingent on a demobilisation of the massive Israel Defense Forces reserve force called up for the Israel-Hamas war, writes Gavriel Fiske for The Times of Israel.

Due to the conflict, the academic year, originally slated to begin on 15 October, had already been pushed off until 3 December, depending on the release of the reservists. Around 30% of all university students are currently serving in the Israel Defense Forces, along with thousands of university teachers and staff. “Our goal is for the school year to take place in its entirety and to include two full semesters. If the need arises, the academic year will also slide into the summer period. Individual decisions regarding the structure of the year will be made at each university,” the university heads say.

The announcement applies to seven of Israel’s research universities: the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, Bar Ilan University, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, The Technion, the University of Haifa and Ariel University.
Full report on The Times of Israel site