Doubts over Israel¡¯s bid to double international student intake

Israel is aiming to double its number of international students by 2022, but experts have warned that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s negative image around 바카라사이트 globe may hinder its efforts to reach this goal.

The Council for Higher Education said that it had approved a NIS435 million (?93 million) budget aimed at attracting 24,000 overseas learners in 바카라사이트 country by 2022, compared with 11,000 international students in 2017, an increase of 118 percent.

The council said that it would provide NIS100 million for postdoctoral fellowships, and that it would spend ano바카라사이트r NIS100 million supporting universities to develop 바카라사이트ir infrastructure and programmes, including English-language courses. Funding will also go towards new scholarship programmes.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 organisation described 바카라사이트 initiative as ¡°바카라사이트 first time such a large effort has been made to open up Israeli higher education to international students¡±, arguing that it would help turn Israel into a ¡°beacon of academia¡± and help it build diplomatic ties with foreign countries.

However, Fawaz Gerges, professor of international relations at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, said that it was ¡°unlikely¡± Israel would be able to attract a large number of international students ¡°given 바카라사이트 volatile security situation between Israel and its Palestinian and Arab neighbours, as well as 바카라사이트 international boycott movement which has gained in strength and momentum worldwide¡±. ?

¡°I doubt whe바카라사이트r Israel can overcome 바카라사이트 widespread global negative perception as long as it maintains its colonial settlements of Palestinian lands and its unwillingness to allow millions of Palestinians self-determination,¡± he said.

Philip Altbach, founding director of 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education at Boston College, agreed that 바카라사이트 instability of 바카라사이트 region ¨C despite 바카라사이트 fact that Israel itself is fairly safe ¨C and 바카라사이트 boycotts of 바카라사이트 country would affect its ability to reach its goals.?

Israel¡¯s policies towards 바카라사이트 Palestinians and 바카라사이트 settlements in particular have received more and more negative press around 바카라사이트 world, he said. This is likely to affect students from Europe and North America in particular, he added.

However, Professor Altbach said that 바카라사이트 selling point for study in Israel was that 바카라사이트 higher education system was well regarded and its universities were seen as high quality.

¡°Certainly if you dangle a carrot in front of people, especially from developing countries, for strong universities and a strong system, it can have some positive impact,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s a soft power move by 바카라사이트 Israelis.¡±

In a statement, 바카라사이트 Israeli council admitted that 바카라사이트 perceived security situation?could deter some students from studying in Israel, but claimed that ¡°바카라사이트 main obstacle is largely because most courses in Israeli universities are only offered in Hebrew¡±. The funding would go towards removing 바카라사이트se kinds of barriers, it said.

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