BIU Honored with Minister of Defense Award of Recognition for Outstanding Support of IDF Reservists

Bar-Ilan University has been awarded the 2025 Minister of Defense’s Award of Recognition for its exceptional support of reservist students during a challenging academic year. The prestigious national award was granted by a committee composed of representatives from the IDF, the Ministry of Defense, the business sector, and local government, placing Bar-Ilan among only 20 organizations and employers to receive the award.

The recognition comes in light of the university’s Academic Armor program—an unprecedented initiative designed to support students serving in the reserves. Developed in response to the war, the initiative offers emotional, academic, and financial support tailored to the needs of reservists, security personnel, and students displaced from their homes.

A NIS 50 Million Investment in Support and Solidarity

Ahead of the 2023 academic year, with approximately 30% of its student body called up for reserve duty, Bar-Ilan mobilized its academic and administrative teams to create a comprehensive support framework. The university invested over NIS 50 million in a wide range of services, including:

• Living and tuition scholarships

• Hundreds of laptops for remote learning

• One-on-one tutoring and recorded lectures

• AI-based learning tools

• Emotional and psychological support from professional staff

Academic Excellence Meets National Service

University President Prof. Arie Zaban shared a powerful statistic that reflects the program’s impact: “Half of the students on the Dean’s Honor List are reservists—double their proportion in the student body. This speaks about their dedication and resilience. We remain deeply committed to supporting our students and strengthening Israeli society.”

Prof. Zaban emphasized that the award from the Ministry of Defense is not only a recognition of past efforts, but a call to continue leading the way in combining academic excellence with national service.

Zohar Yinon, CEO and Senior Vice President of Bar-Ilan, added: “This award validates what many in Israel’s defense community already know—Bar-Ilan is the academic home for soldiers.”

Looking Ahead: Continued Support for Reservists

With registration for the 2025–2026 academic year underway, Bar-Ilan has announced that the Academic Armor program will continue into the next year, expanding to include spouses of reservists as well.

Through its investment and unwavering commitment, Bar-Ilan University continues to set the national standard for academic institutions during times of crisis—standing firmly behind its students, and the values they represent.