Ben-Gurion University and southern colleges to create haredi campus

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​​​​A consortium led by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and comprised of several academic colleges has won the government tender to create a separate ultra-Orthodox (haredi) higher education campus in the South. The campus is set to open as soon as possible with a goal of studies beginning October 2024.

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, Sapir Academic College, Kaye College of Education, Hemdat Academic College, and Ashkelon Academic College will offer independent degrees at a separate location that has yet to be determined.

According to Central Bureau of Statistics data from 2020, 30% of the haredi population of the country lives in the South.

The consortium will offer degrees in nursing, accounting, applied economics and management, technological marketing, education (including a teaching certificate), special education, industrial engineering and management, visual communications, software engineering, Talmud studies, computer science and social work.

Ben-Gurion University will offer pre-academic programs to help those who do not meet admissions requirements.

The plan is to open the degree programs to women first and offer pre-academic programs to men to help them meet the acceptance thresholds.

"Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has offered underserved populations access to higher education since its founding and we are eager to extend the same opportunities to the haredi community," BGU President Prof. Daniel Chamovitz said, "Creating a haredi campus will not only contribute to the haredi communities who are thirsting for academia but will also contribute significantly to society at large."

​Prof. Daniel Chamovitz​

President of the Kaye Academic College of Education, Prof. Arye Rattner: "As a college that has made it its mission to promote a pedagogy of diversity, justice and inclusion, and even implements these principles on a daily basis in academic studies and teacher training processes, I am happy to be a partner in the project of establishing a campus for haredi society, which is a clear expression of these values. Imparting academic knowledge is a significant step towards integrating haredi society into the larger Israeli public, and we will continue to act and strengthen the project as necessary."Prof. Arye Rattner

Prof. Jehuda Haddad, Rector and Founder of SCE, Shamoon College of Engineering: "Diversity in the employment market is a national mission that must be realized. We are happy to contribute from the knowledge and experience we have accumulated over the years with the establishment of an ultra-Orthodox campus in the city of Ashdod to integrate and advance ultra-Orthodox society in the Israeli labor market. Once again, the college will contribute from its experience and the resources and knowledge it has accumulated in training Haredi graduates in engineering professions. The common challenge of academic institutions in the south is important to society as a whole. I am confident that the joint move will reduce gaps in society, expand the employment opportunities of the haredi sector and contribute to increasing the productivity of the Israeli economy."

President of Hemdat Academic College, College of Education in Sdot Negev, and Chairman of the Forum of Presidents of Colleges of Education (RAMA), Prof. Haim Shaked: "The integration of the haredim in higher education is very important and vital for Israeli society, its economy and its future. To this end, frameworks must be established that will enable men and women from the Haredi sector to study higher education at an appropriate academic level and in accordance with their lifestyle. For this reason, together with other academic institutions in the Negev, we are establishing the campus, which will offer the haredi population a variety of academic degrees in an atmosphere based on the values of Haredi society. We are pleased to expand our academic work to additional sectors and develop in new directions."

Prof. Haim Shaked

Dr. Pinhas Haliwa, CEO of Ashkelon Academic College: "Ashkelon Academic College comes to Beer-Sheva with extensive experience in training haredim in social work and computer science."

Dr. Pinhas Haliwa

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