The Technion Israel Institute of Technology promotes inclusivity and tolerance through teaching and research
Despite being a relatively young country, Israel faces challenges brought about by new and historic geopolitical and religious tensions.
As one of the nation’s top performing universities, the Technion Israel Institute of Technology strives to be a bastion of inclusivity and tolerance, promoting quality collaboration and research that surpasses cultural differences.
In the third episode of the newest season of Beyond Boundaries, an interview series produced by City University of Hong Kong (CityU), university president Way Kuo met with the institute’s leader, Uri Sivan, to learn more.
CityU is an international university that emphasises the integration of research and teaching. Through Beyond Boundaries, Kuo seeks to explore the future of higher education with university leaders from across the globe.
Technion was established in 1912 during the Ottoman Empire, 36 years before Israel declared independence. Consequently, Sivan told Kuo that “to a large extent, [the university] has carried out the burden of establishing this country”.
“Israel’s economy and security is part of our DNA: all the civil infrastructure you see – roads, railroads, water systems, all our industry – either started here, or was started by Technion alumni,” Sivan explained.
In the past century, the university has contributed significantly to Israel’s economic and technological development, producing three Nobel winners to date.
Today, the institute is a world leader in chemistry, nanotechnology, water resources management and renewable energy – and 70 per cent of the founders and managers of high-tech companies in Israel are Technion alumni.
Through a joint initiative with Cornell University in the US, Technion seeks to promote technology transfer and commercialisation through start-ups on campus, generating 40 new companies within the past two years.
Asked how Technion had managed to achieve so much in a short period of time, Sivan pointed to Israel’s rich history and culture of inquisitiveness; “asking good questions”.
The diversity of the institution’s population has also been a key element of its innovative successes, he said, adding that Technion “was built, to a large extent, by refugees from Germany, Austria, Poland, Russia, and so on”.
Technion’s success can be attributed to a “combination of three aspects: necessity, Jewish tradition, and immigrants who helped kick-start scientific activity in in the country”, Sivan said.
Today Technion has about 14,000 students, with 20 per cent of places saved for Arab candidates. “I think that’s admirable,” said Kuo. “You promote justice and peace and use technology to help the world be more harmonious, more peaceful.”
“The [university’s] vision, dictated by the founders more than 100 years ago, [stated] that the university should be open to everybody, regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender,” Sivan explained.
Graduate employability is a key focus within Technion’s curricula – and the graduate employment rate is at 100 per cent, according to Sivan. “Graduates have a wonderful starting point for the rest of their lives…It’s an incredible springboard – their future is secure.”
Concluding the interview, Kuo noted that “Technion has been so successful” not simply on account of its research output, but because of the “community outreach” entrenched in the university’s culture. “They have a good strategic plan and empower minority communities,” he said.
Find out more about CityU’s Beyond Boundaries series.
