Technion in the World

Technion is a thriving nexus in the global scientific and technological ecosystem. A core team of Technion faculty members is leading the implementation of the university’s globalization strategy. The goal is to expand Technion presence at major research centers, building heterogenic groups of researchers from different countries, establishing joint research groups among the three Technion global campuses, promoting research in fields of global significance, encouraging faculty mobility and developing student exchange programs that will inspire research collaborations. Technion International (TI), in its tenth year, serves as the home of the international student community at Technion. Undergraduate Technion International manages two full degree programs – Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering – as well as summer programs and student-exchange programs. Technion American Medical School Technion’s Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine American Medical Program (TeAMS) prepares students for a professional medical career in the U.S., while exposing them to cutting-edge medical research in Israel. Graduate students Among Technion’s 2,573 MSc students, 185 are considered international students. Of the 1,155 PhD students studying at Technion, 96 are international. In addition, Technion sends graduate students to present their work at international conferences. Postdoctoral fellows There are currently 231 international postdoctoral fellows at Technion. In addition, Technion sends six students each year to participate in the joint MIT-Technion Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. The Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholars Program attracts the finest postdoctoral scholars from leading universities in the U.S. to Technion. International competitions Each year Technion sends teams of undergraduate students to participate in international competitions, such as Formula Student Challenge, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), and the International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition. Research collaboration This year, Technion became the sixth member of the prestigious EuroTech Universities Alliance, a network of top-tier research-based universities known for their scientific excellence and vibrant innovation ecosystems. Close collaboration with the other members of the alliance, an elite group of European universities, will help ensure that Technion remains at the forefront of global scientific research. Technion is part of the European CESAER consortium, and participates in joint programs such as EIT – European Institute of Innovation & Technology. MOOCs This initiative serves to establish a global online presence and as a tool to encourage international collaboration. The total enrollment in Technion MOOCs to date is 81,400.

In 2017, Technion inaugurated two new campuses outside of Israel – Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in China and the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute in the United States. Two years later, both campuses are thriving. At Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) in Shantou, China, plans are already underway to expand the campus, programs and student body. Since the current site, known as North Campus, is being fully utilized, a new South Campus is being built across the road. South Campus will be four times as large as North Campus and, altogether, GTIIT is expected to enroll 2,600 students by 2026. The first stage of this four-year project will be ready by July 2020, and will enable GTIIT to open additional academic tracks, in addition to a large library, more dorms and other advanced facilities. GTIIT currently offers BSc degrees in three tracks: Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Biotechnology Engineering. It has 22 first-rate faculty members from all over the world and 480 students, 28% of whom are women. Admissions requirements are stringent and comparable to those of Technion’s International School. Applicants must have top grades in their high-school matriculation exams; must be proficient in English; and are required to pass an interview. “GTIIT is a university full of possibilities. Even though it is difficult, we love this university and we love to study here.” – Yang Yifan, GTIIT GTIIT is proud of the fact that 100% of its research funding requests have been accepted. Indeed, its scientists have already received prestigious research grants from competitive research foundations. Moreover, Guangdong’s Provincial Government recently approved GTIIT as one of the province’s four leading universities. As a result of this status, GTIIT was able to apply for $10 million grants for teaching and research in each of four disciplines. GTIIT was also granted the right to participate in the founding of key semi-industrial labs in Guangdong Province. Twenty research proposals were submitted, totaling $80 million in grants. “we can learn different cultures from professors from different countries, and discuss different topics with professors, not limited to our studies.” – Yang Yifan

In 2017, Technion inaugurated two new campuses outside of Israel – Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in China and the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute in the United States. Two years later, both campuses are thriving. The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, which was created in 2013 within Cornell Tech as a partnership between Cornell University and Technion, has plans to expand. Located within the new, modern Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City, the Jacobs Institute currently offers two Technion-Cornell dual Masters degrees, in Connective Media and Health Tech. Students receive degrees from both Cornell and Technion. This past academic year, a total of 90 students were enrolled in the two Master’s programs, of which about 75% were in Connective Media and 25% in Health Tech. Demand for the current Master’s programs is growing, and the number of applications continues to rise each year. A new Urban Tech hub/degree is expected to be launched in the fall of 2021 and is likely to attract large interest. The Institute now has seven faculty members, including its director, Ron Brachman, who is a professor of Computer Science at Cornell University. Three of the seven are Technion-appointed faculty. The Jacobs Institute is also home to the Runway Startup Postdoc Program – part business school, part research institution and part start-up incubator. Postdocs arrive with ideas for unproven products and markets that require time and specialized guidance to develop. The program lasts 12–24 months and incorporates academic and business mentorship. So far, it has launched 24 companies. This past year was pivotal in strengthening the ties between the New York and Haifa campuses. Prof. Ariel Orda is Jacobs Program Head at Technion. Technion students intern at the Cornell Tech campus. The Jacobs Institute is formalizing a Technion Visitors Program to support short-term visits, and the Runway program is working to strengthen ties with Technion DRIVE entrepreneurs. “I am most grateful for all of my experiences at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institue as I worked, built and engaged with a group of international students with extraordinarily diverse backgrounds.” – Renee Zacharowicz, Jacobs Institute The Ruch Faculty Exchange Program supports faculty and student collaboration between Cornell Tech and Technion. Over 50 Cornell Tech students took part in the 2019 iTrek trip to Israel, half of whom were Jacobs students.