PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
policy solutions to corona damage. Hundreds of students volunteered in labs, hospitals, and community projects such as keeping the elderly company or tutoring schoolchildren. In short, despite the crisis’ deepening and lengthening, TAU has succeeded in both maintaining operations and contributing to Israel’s ongoing struggle with the virus – medically, scientifically and socially. We continue to do so, and to stay agile and responsive, with the hope that normalcy will return soon to Israel and the world.
Connections: International Reach Dear Friends, When I assumed the presidency of Tel Aviv University in May 2019, I could not have imagined in my wildest scenarios that, only 10 months later, TAU would have to deal with a major disease crisis. I had entered my new role with energy and a detailed game plan. I was sure I was ready for the complex tasks ahead. But a global pandemic? Who could have anticipated that? Yet, the measure of an organization and its people is precisely in how they handle a crisis. I wish to stress first off that the entire TAU community worked together to overcome both urgent and longer-term hurdles. Overnight, professors switched to online teaching, aided by our outstanding technical personnel. Libraries continued their services virtually. Students found ways to adapt and, when they needed financial support, they turned to emergency funds set up for them with the assistance of generous donors. The University’s management instigated rigorous campus safety and hygiene measures that enabled our researchers to continue their lab work and maintain the pace of scientific breakthroughs. We even found ways to hold exams virtually that adhered to high standards of reliability and fairness. Equally important, TAU staff and students immediately rallied to the cause of beating COVID-19. We set up a testing lab; fast-tracked research on coronavirus treatments and vaccines; and initiated countrywide studies on identifying, tracing and preventing the spread of infection. We launched the Center for Combating Pandemics and a national online forum for creative
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Te l Av i v U n i ve r si t y
Annual Report 2020
Before the pandemic broke, TAU had just finalized a 10-year strategic plan for substantially increasing campus globalization. Obviously, with many countries just then grounding flights and shutting down, the timing was dismal. However, we decided to use this time constructively and prepare for a global reboot when it comes. Key goals for extending TAU’s reach are as follows: •
Recruiting more top post-docs and doctoral students from abroad
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Introducing more international undergraduate programs in fields such as Management and the Environment
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Cementing additional long-term, strategic relationships with top universities abroad for joint research and teaching, such as existing ones with Columbia, Stanford, UC Berkeley and Northwestern
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Hosting more international conferences, workshops and visiting professors
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Coordinating all global activities under one roof – TAU International – and with an expanded professional team
TAU is also deep in negotiations with the UAE on a number of potential collaborations and looks forward to the many new opportunities for Middle East regional cooperation that will surely arise.
