University:
Making an Impact

Bortman of Ben-Gurion University’s
Wadi.” A three-way synergy between
Department of Mechanical
the private sector, the university and
Engineering is heading up his insti-
the IDF will presumably put Be’er
tution’s preparations for the IDF’s
Sheva on the map of competitive
new campus.
technological development, the mili-
Bortman, who served for a
tary believes.
ABOVE:
long period in the IAF, joined
“Our people will head
A view of
Ben-Gurion
the academic world nine years
south, some [career soldiers]
University’s
ago.
with families. Their partners
campus in
“The whole senior forum of
will need jobs, and the fami-
Be’er Sheva.
the university understands that
lies will create the need for
the move by military techno-
kindergartens and schools.
logical units southward is also
The IDF supports the idea of
a big opportunity for the university
taking career soldiers and providing
them with homes, jobs and economic and for the south,” he told JNS.
The university has been working
assistance. We are moving a whole
with the defense establishment to
population to the south. All will ben-
prepare for the military’s arrival in
efit,” Sagi said.
Be’er Sheva. Its steps so far include
Enlisted soldiers will serve there,
providing academic accreditation
too, becoming potential future
for military personnel and recogniz-
employees of the nearby high-tech
ing the IDF’s technological courses,
firms. Under this vision, the compa-
nies adjacent to the military campus thereby speeding up their entry into
the university system. Dozens of
can end up hiring expert IDF com-
IDF courses have been accepted by
puter programmers and engineers.
Ben-Gurion University as academic
“These are the brightest minds. The
courses.
companies will want to be close to
A second step involves creating
them,” Sagi said.
personal networking links between
During their military service,
academic experts and their IDF
the personnel will enjoy modern
facilities, complete with smartphone counterparts. They then proceed to
jointly develop technologies such as
applications that direct them to
as electronic warfare systems and
the right locations, compared to
cyber warfare tools.
the aging and somewhat crumbling
“Our aspiration is each of the IDF
British-mandate-era military com-
experts will have their own desk and
plexes they currently work in — like
chair at the university. We will profit
the Tzrifin Base south of Tel Aviv.
because of their expertise, and the
“We haven’t set up bases for
military will have a secure environ-
dozens of years,” Sagi said. “This is
ment for its research,” Bortman said.
something that happens once every
Professors have started meet-
few decades. If I was only moving
ing their counterparts in the C4i
my office south, I wouldn’t accom-
Branch, the Military Intelligence
plish much. We are also changing
Directorate and the IAF.
our approach, our organizational
The university also waived tuition
structure and working practices.”
fees for IDF graduates of elite
As other units take up security
military study programs, creating
and base maintenance duties, the
a significant incentive for them to
technological units will be free to
become students there.
fully focus on their main tasks for
“We want to move ahead with the
the first time.
help of quality people and to con-
tribute to the defense establishment
BEN-GURION U’S ROLE
and the country,” Bortman said. •
Prof. Brig.-Gen. (ret.) Jacob

M eet Prof. Gal Kaminka , head of the

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January 25 • 2018

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