New Article: Zhadovets, Problems and Prospects of Internationalization of Israeli Higher Education (in Russian)

Zhadovets, N.V. “Problems and Prospects of Internationalization of Israeli Higher Education.” Journal of Tomsk State University. History 35.3 (2015): 79-85.

 

URL: http://journals.tsu.ru/engine/download.php?id=50192&area=files#page=84

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Abstract
One of the consequences of globalization is the internationalization of higher education. This process takes various forms in different countries. Israeli academic sector, as well as other areas influenced by globalization, is gradually opening to the world: Israel gained access to the cooperation with scientific institutions and universities in Europe and the United States, and participates in a variety of new research programs abroad. 96% of the scientific and technical articles written by the Israelis are published in foreign journals. The best known form of internationalization of higher education is the mobility of students. The number of Israeli students studying abroad increases steadily. Many Israelis prefer to get higher education in American universities. The advantage of Israeli education system is that Israel has sought to extend the knowledge of English among the population, which largely helped to internationalize its higher education. Israel is also seeking to attract foreign students. Israeli universities are regularly visited by many students from abroad; these students can be engaged in research and scholarly activities in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral academic programs. The universities have agreements with many foreign higher education institutions, these agreements define the terms of cooperation, exchange of students and/or faculty members; every Israeli university has programs in English available for overseas students, and can offer foreign students one-semester or one-year programs. Programs designed specifically for foreign students who have Jewish ancestry set a special bloc of courses in many Israeli higher education institutions. But in the process of internationalization the Israeli system of higher education faces certain difficulties: brain drain, competition, the constant need to improve the quality of education, etc. The most acute problem in Israeli system of higher education is the outflow of skilled professionals and faculty members, and even talented students. This problem was primarily caused by the inability of Israeli universities to provide employment of many graduates who wish to pursue research activities and are interested in science career. In addition, the young Israeli scientists often find working conditions and salaries in foreign research institutions more attractive. Difficult moment for Israel is the presence of foreign universities and their affiliations in the country, the implementation of educational activities and the recognition of diplomas issued by them.

 

 

New Article: Gechtman, Zionist Historiography and the Jewish Labour Movement

Gechtman, Roni. “Nationalising the Bund? Zionist Historiography and the Jewish Labour Movement.” East European Jewish Affairs 43.3 (2013): 249-264.

 

URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13501674.2013.852802

 

Abstract

This article examines the academic historiography on the Jewish Workers’ Bund produced by Israeli and Zionist scholars. While the contribution of Israeli scholars to the historiography on the Bund has been significant in both quantity and quality, their works have had to grapple with the tension between the goals of Zionist historiography and the Bund’s political and ideological commitments, namely the party’s radical opposition to nationalism in general and to Zionism in particular. To various degrees, Israeli scholars sought to “nationalise” the Yiddish-speaking labour movement in Eastern Europe and incorporate it into a coherent narrative of the Jews’ past as an “organic” nation. As a result of their authors’ ideological and methodological preconceptions, and by portraying it as a nationalist movement, these works often misrepresent the Bund’s ideas, policies and activities.