Ben-Shashon will replace Prof. Rivka Karmi, president of Ben Gurion University, who is finishing her post
Prof. Menachem Ben-Shashon, the president of the Hebrew University, was appointed by the presidents of the research universities as the chairman of the RA - the committee of the heads of the universities. Prof. Rivka Karmi, president of Ben Gurion University, has finished her position after two years.
According to Prof. Menachem Ben-Shashon, "There are several important goals before the RA:
- Strengthening the position of research universities, both in the minds of the public and in the minds of decision-makers, as bodies bearing the burden of strategic responsibility for the status of society and the state.
- The cooperation between the research universities is essential because as a united joint force we can promote important interests for the benefit of academic research in Israel.
- Preparing for the expected changes in the composition of students studying in research universities on the occasion of opening their doors to diverse population groups as part of the accessibility programs.
- Stabilizing the financial position of the research universities after the years of the "lost budget decade". And RA will focus on realizing the promises to balance the situation in the "losing five-year budget". The State of Israel should make a lasting and significant commitment to the promotion of higher education in general and scientific research in universities in particular and prioritize the issue accordingly. A one-time injection of budgets, even if it arrives, is not sufficient and will not bring substantial change.
- Increasing the academic freedom of universities. Vara rejects and denounces the pressures and interference of political bodies in academic institutions that are intended to harm academic freedom and introduce politicization into these institutions. The academic institutions are conducted based on criteria of academic excellence, and aspiration for scientific achievements, and they must continue to conduct themselves this way."
At the same time, the CEO of the VA will change: Moti Cohen, CEO of Tel Aviv University, will finish his position and David Barkat, CEO of Ben Gurion University, will take over.
Prof. Karmi: "The achievement of a long-term, excellence-oriented budgeting plan should not be underestimated, but this plan does not involve a basic restoration of a system that has experienced a "lost decade."
"There are important tasks ahead of the next RW chairman. I wish Prof. Menachem Ben-Shashon and the new Chairman of the CEO Forum, Mr. David Barkat, great success in their positions. I thank Moti Cohen, Chairman of the Forum of CEOs and CEO of Tel Aviv University, who was an exceptional partner and right-hand man for the tasks of managing the RA.
