Columbia to Launch New Global Center in Tel Aviv

Columbia University has announced that it will launch a new Columbia Global Center in Tel Aviv to build on its existing collaborations in Israel and facilitate further engagement and partnerships.

“The Global Centers program was created 14 years ago to create vibrant hubs of activity in intellectually rich and often challenging locations,” said Columbia President Lee C. Bollinger. “The program has become foundational to Columbia’s mission to engage with the world, offering opportunities for our faculty, students, and alumni to engage fully with colleagues and communities across the globe.”

The new Center will join a network of centers in Amman, Athens, Beijing, Istanbul, Mumbai, Nairobi, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, and Tunis. Similar to other centers, the Tel Aviv Center will be a hub and gathering place, enabling Columbia to connect with individuals and institutions, as well as with the alumni community in Israel, drawing them closer to the ongoing life of the University.

The Center will leverage Columbia’s expertise and experience and link faculty and students to experts and resources in Israel and the wider region. Among others, the Center’s initial priorities will include climate change, technology and entrepreneurship, and aspects of arts and the humanities, as well as biological science, public health, and medicine. An additional priority will be to offer collaborative learning and research opportunities, working with peers, for Columbia undergraduates and graduate students.

“I am deeply proud of how the Columbia Global Centers have evolved and grown, each with its own distinctive features and priorities and together as a vibrant network advancing Columbia’s mission and values,” said Bollinger. “It is more important than ever for Columbia to continue seeking to advance inquiry and learning across borders. I look forward with anticipation as the Tel Aviv Center takes shape in the months and years ahead as part of our broader Columbia Global efforts.”

Learn More

With the Columbia Global Center in Tel Aviv, the University is building on a wide array of existing programs and partnerships in Israel, including:

Programs With Israeli Universities

Dual Degree Program with Tel Aviv University
Columbia General Studies students spend two years in Tel Aviv and two in New York.

Study Abroad at Tel Aviv University
Undergraduates live and study in Tel Aviv.

A Closer Look at the Start Up Nation
Five-day course for Columbia MBA students taking place in Israel, with Reichman University and Arison School of Business students.

Naomi Prawer Kadar Fellowship
A Yiddish summer study abroad program in Israel and Poland for undergraduates.

Hebrew University Semester Exchange
An exchange program in Jerusalem for Columbia Law School students.

Global Opportunities for Columbia Nursing Students
School of Nursing partners with global clinical sites where students can spend six weeks, including in Negev, Israel.

Global Health Education for Medical Students
Global health electives and first year summer rotations with Ben Gurion University.

Columbia-Tel Aviv University Engineering Research Symposium
Conference highlighting faculty research and exploring collaborations.

Columbia Institutes and Centers

Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies
Columbia’s center for the study of Jewish life, history, and culture.

Center for Israeli Legal Studies
Columbia Law School center that hosts visiting Israeli faculty and scholars.

Global Immersion: Culture, Politics and Leading Edge Innovation in Israel
This Columbia Business School course covers the politics, economics, geography, and culture of Israel and includes a one-week visit to the count.