Pre-Academic Preparatory Programs
The University runs six pre-academic preparatory programs for more than 1,000 students every year, recognizing the importance of providing an opportunity for people from all parts of society to study at the university: a general pre-university preparatory program, a preparatory program for Arab students from East Jerusalem, a preparatory program for immigrants, a preparatory program for ultra-Orthodox students, a matriculation preparation program, and a preparatory nursing program for students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
Learning Assistance for the Blind and Visually Impaired
The Learning Center for the Blind provides a wide range of services to some 150 blind and visually impaired University students and pre-academic preparatory students, in conjunction with the “Aleh” organization and free of charge. The Center provides support and rehabilitation staff who accompany students as they integrate into the University community.
Support for Students with Disabilities
The University provides unique assistance to some 2,000 students with learning difficulties, autism, and physical and cognitive disabilities, via the Learning Disability Unit at the Dean of Students’ Accessibility Office. Specially trained experts and students provide both educational and emotional mentoring throughout their studies at the University. Students on the autism spectrum receive individual and group support to help improve their social skills, daily functioning and employment orientation, so that they can better integrate into society after graduating from the Hebrew University.
The Center for Diversity and Multiculturalism
The University is making great efforts to increase the number of both students and faculty from minority groups, in particular ultra-Orthodox Jews, Arabs, Ethiopian-Israelis and people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. These efforts include special preparatory programs, as well as academic and social assistance programs. In addition, the University implements affirmative action in its admissions, by easing admission criteria for students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds who are recognized as eligible by the Association for the Advancement of Education.
Steps are also being taken to express the diverse University community within the public sphere of the University. These include a Jewish-Arab leadership group, which runs cultural events on campus, and an interfaith dialogue group, which meets for discussion on topics relating to Jewish, Christian, and Muslim sources.
Building Bridges between Ultra-Orthodox, Religious and Secular Students
The program helps break stigmas and create positive interactions between ultra-Orthodox, religious and secular Jewish students, as well as provide the ultra-Orthodox students with the help they need to succeed in academia. Every week, pairs of ultra-Orthodox and secular or religious students study together. For the first two hours, the secular or religious student tutors his/her ultra-Orthodox peer in the basic academic subjects in which they lack background knowledge, such as Math, Sciences, Computers, and English. In the remaining hour, the pair studies together a Jewish text of their choice, using it as the basis for discussion and mutual understanding.
Neuroscience Studies in the Middle East
A summer school for graduate students brings together students from Israel, Iran, and Arab countries, who study neuroscience together. The project is an initiative of the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, and students have enjoyed summer schools for the past five years.
Entrepreneurship and Leadership for Arab and Druze Students
This initiative fosters entrepreneurship and leadership among the University’s talented Arab and Druze students from the medical and engineering fields. Arab students, who realized that such students were lacking entrepreneurial role models and skills, partnered with the private sector to set up Wamda-Tech. Three start-ups have already been established as a result.
HUJI-Innovate – Business and Social Entrepreneurship Education
The Hebrew University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship helps University students and alumni bring to fruition their ideas for digital and social startups. The programs are free and combine hands-on workshops and lectures, as well as consultations with leading entrepreneurs, investors and experts who help the students develop their ideas.