Visit from TAU President Prof Ariel Porat
June 2022
“Visit from TAU President Prof Ariel Porat a huge success”
Professor Ariel Porat, recently visited Australia with Amos Elad, Vice President for Resource Development at Tel Aviv University.
The visit was a real morale booster for The Australian Friends of Tel Aviv University and highlighted just how important TAU regards the work that we do.
Prof Porat was accompanied by Clive Donner, AFTAU Federal President, Jenny Hillman, AFTAU NSW President and David Solomon, AFTAU Federal CEO on their visit to Melbourne. They utilised the opportunity to catch up with both existing and potentially new supporters and also met with several next-generation members of supporter families.
Cocktail party in honour of Prof Ariel Porat
At a cocktail party held in Dov and Rosie Potaznik’s home, Prof Porat spoke about how the Periphery Scholarship Fund has boosted accessibility to higher education among Israelis from disadvantaged backgrounds and outlying communities.
The Periphery Program recruits high school students based on their achievements relative to their classmates, rather than on standardised admissions tests that pitch them against privileged peers from the country’s wealthier central region. It provides financial, academic, emotional and social support alongside career and employment guidance.A third year PPE Honours student at TAU’s Faculty of Humanities and a participant of the Periphery Program shared her experiences on a live stream from Israel, which was a highlight!
Collaborations – AFTAU at Monash University
TAU’s emphasis is on building relationships with Australian institutions. To this end, a wonderful event was held at Monash University Law Faculty Moot Court in honour of the late Emeritus Professor Louis Waller AO.
The Fireside Chat in support of the clinical law programs at Monash University and Buchmann Faculty of Law, Tel Aviv University featured lecturers and students from both universities sharing ideas on how they can improve their programs to help disadvantaged people who need legal support.
At a time when university students in Australia are passing motions supporting BDS and demonising Israel, this was a great opportunity to build trust and respect.
