Leebron reflects on trip to Israel

Leebron reflects on trip to Israel

BY B.J. ALMOND
Rice News Staff   
 
In this question-and-answer column with Rice News, Rice President David Leebron talks about his recent trip to Israel. Leebron was one of nine U.S. university presidents who met with educational leaders and researchers in Israel July 1-8 on a trip organized by the American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange.  

LAURIE WEXLER/PROJECT INTERCHANGE

President David Leebron visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Israel.

Q: Why is Rice making an effort to broaden its engagement in education and research in the Middle East?

A: The Middle East remains one of the most important and troubled regions of the world. It has many talented people, and we’re interested in connecting to that talent. The Middle East is the birthplace of the three major western religions, and of cultures that exerted influence throughout the world.

We need to learn more about these cultures and religions as we seek to better understand the world today. Through the Baker Institute and our various academic departments, perhaps Rice can play a role in addressing the complex issues that challenge the Middle East.

Q: The language barrier has been cited as an obstacle to American students who are interested in exchange programs with Israeli universities. The State Department’s travel advisory against visiting Israel has also been singled out as an obstacle. What was the delegation’s outlook on these problems?

A: The language issue will be a challenge, whether students are studying in Israel or other countries.  For the most part, students seeking to participate in overseas study in the region will need to speak Hebrew or Arabic. However, some institutions in Israel and elsewhere are offering a range of classes in English. For students interested in the Middle East, studying the language there would be a great opportunity.

LAURIE WEXLER/PROJECT INTERCHANGE

Ping Sun and President David Leebron listen to author and journalist Yossi Klein Halevi at a hotel in Tel Aviv.

Regarding the State Department advisory, students and faculty will need to make an individual decision about traveling to Israel for study and take into account the risks as they assess them. A number of us in the delegation would like to see the government reexamine whether the travel advisory is really necessary at this point in time. We certainly did not feel in any danger.

Q: Did the delegation discuss recent attempts to impose an academic boycott of Israel?

A: The delegation was uniformly opposed to an academic boycott. The whole idea is regarded as being inconsistent with and counterproductive to the mission and values of academic institutions. It’s ironic that academics in some countries have been talking about boycotting universities in Israel while Israeli institutions themselves are engaged in relations with Palestinian universities.

Q: Within the past year you have joined sponsored delegations of university presidents on visits to East Asia and Israel, and you also visited educational and research institutions in India.  How can Rice benefit from this expansion of its international outreach?

A: We must maximize the opportunities that our students and professors have to learn from and work with people throughout the world. Great research is being conducted in places around the globe, and breakthroughs often occur across disciplines and across oceans. It is essential that students graduate from Rice with a very broad perspective and the ability to deal with people from different cultures. Our collaborations and exchange programs offer critical opportunities for them.

It is also important that Rice gets due recognition internationally for the quality of its educational program and research. Participating in these academic delegations and establishing relationships with institutions abroad helps increase Rice’s visibility in other countries, which also helps us attract very talented students and faculty from these regions.

Q: Did the trip facilitate Rice’s research collaborations in Israel?

A: It was a good first step. Provost Gene Levy will be visiting universities and research institutions in Israel later this summer to follow up on the preliminary conversations I was able to have while visiting with the joint delegation.

Q: Were you and your wife, Ping Sun, surprised by anything you observed during this trip?

A: Having been to Israel about 20 years ago, I found the development since then amazing. I was also struck by the sophistication and accomplishments of the institutions of higher education. Regarding the overall region, it was apparent that problems run very deep. So I was somewhat surprised by the confidence and optimism shared by the people we met.  If the parties can find a way to bridge the very difficult political, religious and historical issues that beset the region, there is enormous potential.

Learn more about David Leebron and Rice’s Vision for the Second Century.