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.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
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.
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.
In the News The University of Haifa proudly celebrates Prof. Israel (Issy) Doron (Dean, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences) on receiving the Lifetime
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