President of Ariel University: 'The State doesn't recognize us'

According to Orgad, Ariel University is not yet recognized as an Israeli university in Israel, "although all of our degrees are recognized by the Council for Higher Education in Israel, and by the academic and non-academic institutions in Israel. On the other hand, we are not recognized as an Israeli university, but rather as a university recognized by the Council of Higher Education of Judea and Samaria. This recently hindered the opening of medical studies because a regulation was issued that states that clinical studies at the bedside of the patient can only be held in Israeli universities. There is currently a legislative initiative by the Chairman of the Education Committee to also apply the law of the Council for Higher Education in Israel to institutions of higher education in Judea and Samaria, these three being Ariel University, Herzog College, and Orot College. The promotion of the law that will turn Ariel into an Israeli university for this purpose and will remove the last bottleneck that prevents the opening of the Faculty of Medicine is currently being delayed in the House Committee."

Orgad hopes that after all the obstacles are removed, the Faculty of Medicine will be opened. "The subject of the Faculty of Medicine is currently being worked on vigorously, and an academic committee has been established here which received the approval of the Planning and Budgeting Committee of the Council for Higher Education. We will make every effort so that in October 2018, at most in March 2019, the regular four-year course of medicine for the MD degree will begin. "

The university's president told Arutz Sheva that despite the Horizon 2020 agreement that discriminates academically beyond the Green Line, the university has fruitful cooperation with European countries as well. "There is no doubt that this undermines our ability to compete and, to great misfortune, European governments are acting against European interests and contrary to the interests of advancing science. We have collaborations with dozens of universities in Europe, scientific collaborations with sensitive security systems in Europe in the fields of satellites. The contribution of Ariel University and others beyond the Green Line to the promotion of science and the economic wellbeing of Israeli residents and the world is very significant. Am I happy with the current situation? Not at all. Is it possible to live with it? Unfortunately, yes. We overcome the obstacles.”

Benny Tocker