About Gisha in Academia

The Program for the Advancement of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in Academia is an integrative inter-institutional program, operating in more than thirty universities and colleges across Israel.

It focuses on developing infrastructure for addressing and promoting DEI-related issues in academic institutions funded by the Council for Higher Education’s Planning and Budgeting Committee. The program provides a supporting framework, including a range of counseling and guidance services and collaboration opportunities.

The program has five main channels of activity: Guidance for the development of institutional infrastructure, ongoing work with academic institutions’ leaderships, a forum for vice presidents for diversity and inclusion, a DEI officers’ forum, and the development of unique knowledge in the field of diversity, drawing on existing global knowledge.

A continuation of the Israeli Hope in Academia program, DEI in Academia is conducted as a unique cross-sectoral partnership under the auspices of the Office of the President of the State of Israel. It is led by First Lady Ms. Michal Herzog, and is a partnership between the Council for Higher Education, the Planning and Budgeting Committee, the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation (Israel), the Jewish Federation of San Francisco, and the Blaustein Foundation. The program is operated by the Edmond de Rothschild Partnerships.

The main channels of activity

It currently operates on several tracks to create impact

1. Promoting inter-sector partnership: The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Academia program (and previously Israeli Hope in Academia) demonstrates the importance of inter-sector cooperation for the advancement of the issue. The unique model led by the President’s House, and Council for Higher Education, the Planning and Budgeting Committee in collaboration with philanthropic foundations, including The Rothschild Foundation, and civil society organizations – created a flexible set of activities fostering cooperation between academic institutions; established a professional network of officers and vice presidents, influencing the Israeli academia’s perception of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and facilitating the institutions’ links and ties to the field as well as adaptation to evolving realities, demonstrating creativity and a spectrum of perspectives. By so doing it has strategically positioned the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the academic arena.

2. Working with senior management of academic institutions: positioning the field of DEI among the senior levels of institutions, translating diversity, equity, and inclusion activities into a participatory policy.

3.Development of senior leadership: work with a forum of vice presidents for diversity that also includes holders of senior positions in the field. The forum was developed to induce mutual learning, knowledge sharing, and formulation of relevant inter-institutional policies.

4. Professional training of DEI Officers in academia: deepening existing knowledge,creating and acquiring new tools through facilitation of study days, workshops andprofessional courses, providing organizational guidance in work-plan development, building a peer learning network, and positioning the role of the Officers in theacademic arena.

5.Developing Israeli knowledge while interacting with global knowledge, through participation in study tours and presentations at international conferences.