The University of Haifa has retained its top spot among Israeli universities and ascended to the top 100 globally in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, moving up 100 places since 2023. Notably, it ranks #95 worldwide in sustainability out of 2,000 universities, reflecting its commitment to excellence and impactful global contributions.


Over the past three years, the University of Haifa has embarked on a transformative journey, marked by strategic initiatives and an unwavering commitment to driving tangible change. The University's enhanced ranking on the Impact Rankings underscores our dedication to a more sustainable future and to addressing pressing 21st-century challenges.

– Prof. Gur Alroey, Rector and President-Elect

READ MORE: i24News; Times of Israel; NoCamels 

The German Friends of the University of Haifa, led by Chair Sonja Lahnstein-Kandel, recently held a number of high-profile events in Hamburg, Germany, attended by President Ron Robin, Rector and President-Elect Gur Alroey, and Prof. Tally Katz-Gerro, incoming Vice-President for Global Engagement. During their visit they met with University of Hamburg President Prof. Hauke ​​Heekeren to discuss new academic partnerships. 

E V E N T   H I G H L I G H T S

Schües Art Prize: Since 2022, the Christa and Nikolaus Schües Art Foundation has awarded the Schües Art Prize to promising artists from the University of Haifa's Fine Arts program. The 2023 and 2024 winners, Julia Aranson and Maia Shiran, each received €5,000. Their artworks will join the Schües collection in Hamburg. Other student artists also received support.

Zeit Stiftung Bucerius Lecture: President Ron Robin delivered the annual lecture at Bucerius Law School to a packed audience, following an exclusive roundtable discussion with German university presidents, rectors and foundation chairmen. In his lecture, he reaffirmed the University of Haifa's unwavering commitment to equal academic opportunities for all, regardless of gender or ethnicity, and despite the tragic events of October 7th and the ensuing ongoing conflict. The event was attended by Bundestag Vice-President and former Minister of State Aydan Özoğuz, State Councillor Dr. Eva Gümbel, Prof. Manfred Lahnstein, former Finance Minister (also former Chairman of the University of Haifa's Board of Governors and longtime Board of Trustees member for the ZEIT-Stiftung Fund), Bucerius Law School President Dr. Michael Grünberger, ZEIT-Stiftung Fund Chairman Manuel Hartung, board members of the German Friends of the University of Haifa, and students.

(l-r): Eliana Korn, President Ron Robin, Sonja Lahnstein-Kandel and Meron Mendel via zoom.

Festive Reception: The lecture was followed by a reception opened by a panel discussion with Prof. Meron Mendel (Anne Frank Education Center) and Eliana Korn (Association of Jewish Students North), moderated by Sonja Lahnstein-Kandel. Prof. Natan Sznaider, author of the book: “ISRAEL: A Correspondence”, was also in attendance.

General Meeting and Haifa Dinner: The German Friends General Meeting, annual fundraising event, was a tremendous success, securing funding for the 2025/2026 academic year for our two major programs – the Werner Otto Arab Israeli Women Graduate Program and the Jewish-Arab Community Leadership Program. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Joschka Fischer delivered a captivating keynote speech titled "What Matters Now" to a select group of high-profile guests from business, politics, and culture, board members and major sponsors. The German Friends have proudly funded these programs with at least €100,000 annually for over 20 years. We are immensely grateful for the generous support and the funds raised.The event received extensive nationwide media coverage, including major news outlets such as The Hamburger Abendblatt, Frankfurter Allgemeine, Zeit Online, NDR, Hamburg Journal, and others.

Partnering to Secure the Jeckes Museum on the Mt. Carmel Campus: The German Friends have been instrumental in establishing the new German-Speaking Jewry Heritage Wing (Jeckes Museum) at the Hecht Museum. In 2022, they secured funding from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), now in its second consecutive year of support, as well as from the Hapag Lloyd Foundation and other private sponsors. These funds will be allocated for multimedia displays and the enhancement of the new entrance hall and documents room.

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