By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH from The Jerusalem Post

Although pro-Hamas presidents, professors, and students at universities throughout the US, Europe, and elsewhere are bashing Israel for political reasons, Israeli universities are nevertheless flourishing academically and in their research activities.

Five out of nine Israeli universities have improved in this year’s rankings, while the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) has come out ahead of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot. The rankings were determined in the 2024 edition of the Global 2000 list by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), which is based in the United Arab Emirates.

Harvard University in Boston, which has been – along with Columbia University in New York – the scene of the most vicious antisemitic and anti-Israel demonstrations, leads the list globally, while 95% of Chinese universities have risen on the back of heavy investment in research and development in that country.

The spokespersons of all nine Israeli research universities declined to comment when asked by The Jerusalem Post.

Overall, said CWUR, Israel is increasing its competitiveness in higher education on the global stage, with five institutions moving up from last year, one maintaining its spot, and three falling in the standings. Nevertheless, the threats to boycott Israeli academics have cast a shadow on them because joint research and the granting of funds for research are the lifeblood of academia, and if they follow through on their threats, it will hurt Israeli universities and medical centers.

Students seen at the campus of ''Mount Scopus'' at Hebrew University on the first day of the opening of the university year on October 23, 2022. (credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90)

Hebrew University rises due to faculty quality 

Hebrew University of Jerusalem rose four spots to 66th in the quality of its faculty, but declining in the quality of education and research indicators. The Weizmann Institute of Science has climbed 13 places to 74th, while Tel Aviv University (TAU) maintained its 154th spot – ahead of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa at number 180 and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Beersheba in 352nd position. The remaining Israeli universities in the Global 2000 are Bar-Ilan University (576), University of Haifa (670), Ariel University (1507), and Reichman University (1870).

Commenting on the national picture, CWUR president Dr. Nadim Mahassen, said: “While five out of nine Israeli universities saw improvements in this year’s rankings, what is of concern is Israel’s global share in scientific research, which fell by 9% in the last five years. Without additional government investment in research and development, Israel faces the possibility of declining in the future.”

He added that “while this year’s rankings confirm the world-class standing of the US higher-education sector, the decline of nearly two-thirds of American institutions is concerning, amid stiff competition from Chinese universities. The overall slide of US institutions mirrors those of UK, Russian, and Japanese universities, while France saw improvements as a result of the growing number of mergers between its institutions. China’s remarkable rise is due to heavy investment in research and development, and recruitment of talented researchers in classified areas, such as semiconductors, from the US and elsewhere through the Qiming program. With Chinese universities challenging their Western counterparts, American and European institutions cannot afford to be complacent.”

CWUR analyzed 62 million outcome-based data points to rank universities from around the world according to four factors: quality of education (25%), employability (25%), quality of faculty (10%), and research (40%). This year, 20,966 universities were ranked, and those that placed at the top made the Global 2000 list – which includes institutions from 94 countries.

For the 13th year in a row, Harvard is the top university in the world. It is followed by two other private American institutions, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford, while the UK’s Cambridge and Oxford – ranking fourth and fifth respectively – are the world’s top public higher education institutions. The rest of the global top ten is rounded out by private US universities: Princeton, Columbia, Pennsylvania, Yale, and Caltech.

Despite claiming eight of the top ten places globally, American universities have been struggling to maintain their dominance against rivals worldwide.

Description

The Gaza War Omnibus by Agam Labs at Hebrew University of Jerusalem is a series of surveys. Each survey represents a comprehensive exploration within a diverse cross-section of Israeli society. These successive studies meticulously capture the evolving sentiments and perspectives of the Israeli public, offering frequent snapshots of attitudes and feelings prevalent across various segments of the community. Rooted in a robust and inclusive sampling methodology, these findings showcase the dynamic responses and viewpoints emerging amidst the ongoing conflict. The series of surveys intricately trace the fluid developments and shifting public sentiment throughout the duration of the 2023 Gaza War, providing a detailed and updated understanding of the ever-evolving landscape of attitudes within the Israeli public sphere.

This sample mirrors the demographic makeup of Israeli adult society, encompassing a diverse range of factors including gender, age, levels of religiosity, geographical location, political affiliations, and voter turnout in the recent elections for the 25th Knesset. Notably, all respondents actively participated in multiple prior assessments throughout the campaign's evolution, facilitating a comprehensive exploration of fundamental perspectives and changes within this cohort.

Highlights

Israeli public opinion is split regarding the appropriate response to the Iranian attack – 52% believe Israel shouldn’t respond, aiming to end the current round of the conflict, while 48% argue that Israel should respond even if it means extending the current round of the conflict.

28% support military action even if it leads to a larger overall war, 34% oppose it, and 38% don’t know.

Israel and its Allies (USA, UK and moderate Arab countries)

74% of Israelis oppose counter-attacking Iran if it undermines Israel’s security alliance with its allies. However, 26% think Israel should strike back at Iran even at the cost of harming coordination with its allies.

56% of Israelis believe that Israel should respond positively to political and military demands from its allies to ensure a sustainable defense system over time. 32% are undecided, and 12% disagree.

59% believe that American aid to Israel against the Iranian attack obligates Israel to coordinate security actions down the road with America. 26% are undecided, and 15% disagree.

44% of Israelis support military action in Rafah if at the cost of a crisis in Israel’s foreign relations and damage to its relations with the US, 31% are undecided and 25% disagree.

The day after – 43% of the public believes that Israel should rely on its allies in the future settlement of the issue of the day after in Gaza. 33% are undecided, and 24% oppose this.

Online Link: https://docsend.com/view/2h42u39p22x5b2bx

Researchers:
Nimrod Nir, Ido Seltzer and Nimrod Zeldin – Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Asa Shapira and Roy Schulman – Tel Aviv University

Methodology

The Gaza War Omnibus – April 15, 2024, was prepared by Agam Labs at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The survey was conducted via the internet and by telephone between April 14-15, 2024 with 1,466 men and women consisting of a nationally representative sample of the adult population in Israel aged 18 and over (Jews and Arabs). The margin of sampling error stands at +4.2%, affirming a confidence level of 99%. Field work was carried out by iPanel.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 25,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes and a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 86^th according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en