Helping Students Cope With Wartime Challenges

As Israel's premier institution of science and technology, the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology has trained generations of first-rate scientists, engineers, architects, physicians, and educators since it was founded over 100 years ago. Technion alumni have repeatedly excelled not only as highly respected scientists and educators, but also as pioneers in a wide variety of technological fields, making a significant impact on Israel and humanity.

With this legacy in mind, and despite the enormous challenges, the Technion's administration made a brave decision when war broke out on October 7, 2023: to do everything possible to keep the university open and to encourage its students to complete their degrees.

Since that horrible day, more than 4,000 Technion students have been called up for active reserve duty, of whom over 1,400 served more than 150 days, including 700 who served more than 250 days. Some were wounded. Throughout the long war, the Technion has embraced its student reservists, doing everything possible to support them in every way, including through substantial financial, mental, and academic support.

"We remained in close contact with all our students serving in the reserves to ensure that they receive the help necessary to continue studying," says Prof. Uri Sivan, President of the Technion. "I am very proud of the fact that the dropout rate among our reservists wasn't higher than in other years, and we are determined to continue proactively helping them until they graduate."

Indeed, a major concern has been that student-reservists would drop out due to the extraordinary demands of their army service, which often takes an enormous toll both physically and mentally. The Technion's administration was resolute to prevent reservists from abandoning their studies, as this would not only be a loss for the students themselves, but it also would be a loss for Israel, which relies on Technion graduates to power the Startup Nation. Thus, every effort was made to help keep students on track to graduate.

$12 million raised
Shortly after the horrific events of October 7, the Technion launched the Technion Urgent Campus Security and Student Support Fund. To date, $12 million (NIS 40 million) has been raised for this Fund from generous supporters and friends around the world. This money is earmarked for two very clear and urgent purposes: equipping the campus with everything necessary to continue functioning during an active war and providing support to student reservists called to active military duty.

Determined to keep the university open and to continue to both teach students and engage in research despite the very difficult circumstances, including while the campus was under direct missile fire for several months, the Technion had to be set up to protect its people. The university had to be equipped with an emergency communications system that could operate if cellular networks fail, and the campus' bomb shelters had to be strengthened, better secured and stocked with emergency provisions. Moreover, additional security personnel had to be hired, as many of the Technion's professional security staff had been called to active military duty.

"The war required that we turn the campus from just a normal university campus to a place where faculty, staff, and students can function safely – because our decision on October 7, 2023, was that no matter what happens, we are going to continue to operate as close to normal as possible," says Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan.

The Technion succeeded in keeping its promise, remaining open even during times when missile attacks on Haifa were frequent.

"Although the last two years have been challenging, with an active missile threat that has interfered with my life and the lives of those closest to me, my studies have been my rock," confides one Technion undergraduate. "With the Technion providing safe spaces for students and researchers, my academic research was a stable constant. Through a challenging period for Israel, the wonders of science have helped me stay positive."

Financial, mental, and academic support
As for supporting student-reservists, the Emergency Fund has been a veritable lifeline for the university, making it possible to ensure a smooth transition back to academic life for students returning from military service – providing financial, mental, and academic support. This multifaceted aid has enabled student-reservists to continue pursuing their academic goals even as they serve in the IDF.

The Technion has supported its student-reservists financially by waiving tuition and dormitory fees, offering tuition relief for summer courses or extra semesters beyond the typical time-to-degree, and extending fellowships for graduate students. Tuition or dormitory fees were waived for one semester for all students who were mobilized for military service, and more than 3,000 student-reservists took advantage of this benefit. The Fund also supported fellowship extensions of at least four years (2025 through 2028) for graduate students in the reserves, enabling students to lengthen their time-to-degree.

"The financial aid is very helpful, and the greatest benefit is the peace of mind it gives. It's a relief from a major burden," said one Technion student-reservist.

Thanks to the Emergency Fund, the Technion has been able to offer much-needed psychological support to its students returning from reserve duty. The Beatrice Weston Unit for Student Advancement has so far provided emotional support to more than 1,600 students. Clinical psychologists are available through the Phillip and Francis Fried Counseling Center, offering students 10 to 12 sessions of individual therapy; 297 student-reservists received more than 4,500 hours of therapy, and 25 student-reservists received individual crisis intervention services.

Money raised through the Emergency Fund made it possible for the Technion, with the help of the IDF, to train 26 counselors to identify and work through trauma and post-traumatic stress.

The Technion also put in place a series of special measures aimed at helping student-reservists cope with their academic challenges. Among them: individualized, customized academic workplans and mentors who help with missed coursework; academic credit for reserve service that counts towards elective degree requirements; the opportunity to repeat courses without a penalty to academic records; and special accommodations for completing exams, such as extra time and flexible scheduling. Additionally, student-reservists are assigned a personal tutor to help them catch up, and they enjoy free access to high-quality online course resources. They also have exclusive access to the Fischer Center for Reservists and Students with Learning Disabilities.

To date, more than 480 student-reservists have participated in at least one supplementary in-person course, and the Technion has provided more than 7,900 hours of private tutoring to students in the reserves. Moreover, hundreds of alumni volunteered to mentor and tutor students, and they are still actively doing so.

"I was evaluated differently in terms of grades, which was a huge relief since I wasn't present for most of the semester. I felt my professors were very forgiving during a challenging time," shares one student, who fought in the Swords of Iron War. "There was this understanding that students' attention was pulled in multiple directions, and students were busy confronting life-and-death challenges. Without this support, it would have been impossible to remain in school while fulfilling my reserve duties," agrees another student.

National award for commitment to reservists
Remarkably, the Technion's dropout rate during the 2023–24 academic year was no different than in a typical year, and the same was true for 2024–25. The administration has no doubt that this success is largely due to the comprehensive support that the university was able to provide its students throughout the war, and especially to those whose studies were repeatedly disrupted because of serving in the reserves. It is also a testament to the character of Technion students, that overcome such tremendous challenges and seek to succeed no matter what.

The support system established by the Technion was the basis for the national academic accommodations framework for student-reservists, which was adopted by all public universities and colleges in Israel.

In recognition of its outstanding support for military reservists, the Technion was awarded the Defense Minister's Shield for 2025. The Shield is granted to organizations and institutions that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to reservists and aims to honor their support for employees and students serving in the reserves. It also raises awareness of their contributions to society and the security of the State.

"We are proud and honored to receive this award," says Prof. Sivan. "The Technion bears a historic responsibility toward Israeli society, its security, and its economy, along with a deep commitment to the Technion family. The Defense Minister's Shield is a recognition of the tremendous effort the Technion invests in supporting its reservists. Above all, it expresses our gratitude to the academic and administrative staff and to the thousands of students who leave everything behind to report for reserve duty."

"We decided on October 7 that we would not leave any student behind. Thanks to the dedication of our faculty, staff, alumni and supporters, we have stayed true to that commitment," the President concludes.

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