University Of Maryland And Tel-Aviv University Establish Academic Partnership

UMD President Wallace Loh and GIIS Director Yoram Peri joined Governor O'Malley on a trade mission to the Middle East.

In April 2013, UMD President Wallace Loh and GIIS Director Yoram Peri joined Governor O’Malley on a trade mission to the Middle East. The delegation established a new academic partnership with Tel Aviv University, forging ties based on a shared dedication to international engagement. The agreement paves the way for a wide variety of cooperative efforts, including: exchange of faculty and students for research, teaching, and study; jointly taught courses utilizing online technologies; joint research activities; exchange of scholars for seminars, conferences and other academic meetings; and exchange of scholarly publications and other information, including library collections and services. One of the foremost priorities of the new partnership is the development of Israel Studies programs, and the two universities are formulating a joint online course, or “global classroom,” to allow students both in Israel and College Park to participate in the same course simultaneously.

In foreground, signing: University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh, left, and Rector of Tel Aviv University, Professor Aron Shai, right. In background, left-right: Michele Eastman, Assistant President and Chief of Staff (UMD); Dr. Ross Lewin, Associate Vice President for International Affairs (UMD); Dr. Charles Caramello, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School (UMD); Dr. Raanan Rein, Sourasky Professor of Latin American and Spanish History and Vice President of Tel Aviv University; and Professor Yoram Peri, the Abraham S. and Jack Kay Chair in Israel Studies and Director of the Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies (UMD).