August 4, 2021

Dear Colleagues,

This update includes, among other things, data on student satisfaction with teaching, the success of faculty members in securing research grants from the Israel Science Foundation, and an update on our intention to change the way credits are calculated for university courses.

1. Israel Science Foundation. Last week, the results of applications for research grants from the Israel Science Foundation were published for all types of grants. Thanks to the excellence of the University’s faculty, we lead in the volume of grants received. This is an opportunity to thank the Israel Section of the R&D Authority, led by Daniela Pascal, who despite the heavy workload succeed in providing excellent service to our outstanding researchers. Congratulations to the faculty members who won research grants. The names of the grant recipients are listed here.

Table 1 presents our achievements in the last three years in the area of personal research grants:

בתחום מענקי מחקר אישיים, טבלה 1 מתארת את ההישגים שלנו בשלוש השנים האחרונות:

Our achievement in personal research grants is excellent also compared to the other institutions in Israel. Table 2 presents the number of grant proposals attained in each field and at each institution:

Finally, below are the data in terms of percentages of the total personal grants (amounts), compared over the past few years, at the various institutions in Israel (Table 3):

In the field of mid-career equipment grants, four out of 11 grants were awarded to our researchers. In the field of equipment grants for new staff, after mediocre achievements in 2018 and 2019 (9 and 8 wins, respectively), last year and this year we achieved an excellent result (21 and 19 grants, respectively).  Below are our achievements during the last two years, compared to other institutions (Table 4):

The total amount of grants this year from the Israel Science Foundation so far is about 46 million Shekels (pending a decision in two areas, grants in personalized medicine and quantum research). In percentages, our total number of ISF grants this year, out of the 7 universities, is about 26% (Table 5): 

As part of the preparations for submitting applications for the next grant submission cycle, it is strongly recommended to hold workshops in which researchers planning to submit a grant application meets to advice each other and review the drafts.

2.  Student Satisfaction with Teaching: Students report their level of satisfaction with teaching activity in two ways: First, in an annual survey, in which they report their opinion about studies at the university. The results of this survey are published around October. Second, in a survey at the end of each course, students report on their satisfaction with teaching in the specific courses. We recently published the results for courses taught in the second semester of the 2020/21 academic year. Scores range from 1 to 9 (with adjustments for large courses, the score can reach up to 10). Below is a summary of the average scores of student satisfaction for all courses taught at the Hebrew University (Table 6):

In the course satisfaction index, the trend of increasing satisfaction scores has halted, but we remain at a reasonably high level. In the area of ​​satisfaction with the instructors, we were able to maintain the high score we attained during the first semester.  It is possible that the decrease in the trend of improvement is a result, at least in part, of the exceptional conditions of hybrid teaching this past semester.  This is an opportunity to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of the Teaching and Learning Unit who made an important contribution to our success this semester, to the staff at the secretariats for teaching in the departments and faculties, and of course, to all our teachers, for the exceptional investment in teaching.

As detailed in the attached table, there are units in which student satisfaction with instruction is particularly high or reflects an excellent improvement trend. The School of Social Work, the Faculty of Agriculture, the Faculty of Dentistry, the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing are noteworthy in this regard.

In accordance with the prevailing policy, the deans would meet with teachers (both senior and junior faculty), whose score is below 6, to discuss possible causes for the low scores and ways to improve. Deans are encouraged to send a letter of appreciation to teachers who earned high satisfaction scores .

3.  Calculation of credit points for the course according to the scope of learning. The University’s administration is initiating a move to adjust the credit points assigned to each course to the scope of learning in the course. The issue will be discussed at the next meeting of the University’s Standing Committee, after which a detailed proposal will be published, and faculty members will be invited to submit their comments on the document. The move does not involve changing the teaching load for teachers.

4. Knowledge Journeys Program. A few weeks ago, the first cohort of the Knowledge Journeys Fellows Program began, in collaboration with the Van Leer Institute. In this program, a group of  20 students who are about to begin their studies at the Hebrew University, participate in an intensive study program during the summer. The program’s goal is to train these students to be intellectual leaders, to provide them with opportunities to broaden their horizons, and to create a bond among the group members, who will continue to maintain contact during the course of their studies at the Hebrew University. The program participants are diverse in terms of the department fields in which the participants will study and in terms of the students’ cultural identity.

5. Covid-19 update. We will soon send the students a note stating that as of October 10, 2021, when the academic year begins, entry to the campus (and thus to classrooms) will be limited to "Green Pass" holders. We expect that this move will encourage all HUJI community members to get vaccinated.

I welcome your comments and suggestions. Wishing you a pleasant summer and good health.

Best regards, Barak