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IDCHERZLIYAN 2020
IDC HERZLIYA RISES TO THE CHALLENGE
IDC HERZLIYA NAVIGATES THROUGH THE CORONAVIRUS WITH INNOVATION AND INGENUITY
As soon as the coronavirus pandemic hit Israel, IDC Herzliya went into emergency mode. Senior management meetings were held daily to deal with the new reality. Initially, these crisis meetings took place in person, but once social distancing regulations came into force, they were held via Zoom video conferencing.
The crisis management talks revolved primarily around how to keep students and staff safe, while continuing to offer the high level of teaching and learning that IDC is known for. In addition, discussions were held on ensuring IDC’s ongoing financial viability during these unprecedented times.
– Prof. Uriel Reichman,
President and Founder of IDC Herzliya
As in much of the world, the way IDC worked changed overnight. Adhering to the new and regularly changing recommendations from the Health Ministry, IDC moved classes online. At the same time, it maintained open, clear channels of communication with students, parents, faculty and administrative staff, contacting students and parents daily via email, phone and social media, as well as adding updates on the IDC website. Prof. Uriel Reichman, President and Founder of IDC Herzliya, issued a special reassuring announcement.
“I strongly believe that in every crisis there is also hidden opportunity. I have no doubt that if we are adaptable and demonstrate creativity, we will also learn and grow from the current predicament,” he said. “IDC Herzliya has done everything possible to maintain the safety of our students, while continuing to prepare for continued academic excellence and ensure the viability of our institution.”
RRIS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL OUTREACH
From the onset of the coronavirus crisis, the Raphael Recanati International School immediately increased communication with students and parents, and began publishing regular status updates and tips for coping with the coronavirus crisis to assist students. RRIS counselors and staff made themselves even more available than usual for support.
Jonathan Davis, Head of the RRIS and IDC’s Vice President for External Relations, also released notices during March and April to inform IDC friends and supporters on the steps being taken to cope with the evolving situation.
“We are doing all in our power to assist our international students to navigate the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. We invite you to join us in preparing for a happy post-coronavirus era, but until then, we will do all in our power to continue to achieve our common goals, in the Herzliyan spirit in which we believe,” Davis said.
RRIS staff put together a Facebook video welcoming students to the spring semester.
–Jonathan Davis,
INFORMATION SESSIONS GO ONLINE
Information Sessions for prospective undergraduate and graduate degree students interested in the 2020-2021 academic year were moved online. An impressive 131 prospective students attended the first session, and 30 of them immediately signed up for the year.
RRIS CAMPUS LIFE BRINGS STUDENTS TOGETHER
The RRIS Campus Life Department set up Zoom sessions to connect with international students and enable them to share stories of life in lockdown. In the first session, students joined in from around the world, including from the United States, Spain, Russia, Sudan, Kazakhstan, Zambia and Taiwan.
An online event was held for Memorial Day with a panel of lone soldier IDC students together with Jonathan Davis.
A special RRIS Independence Day Mix Tape put together by staff and students was released to entertain students spending Independence Day in lockdown.
PASSOVER WISHES FROM AFAR
Wishes for a happy and safe Passover were offered via a Facebook video by Jonathan Davis and by the RRIS staff.
RRIS staff members also distributed 120 hot meals for international students in the IDC dormitories and around Herzliya.
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RRIS staff prepare meals for distribution to international students. From left: RRIS staff Sylvia Kassoff, Karen Yoseph, Sarit Ben-Or, Shelly Levy with Carine Katz, Director of the RRIS
FROM CHINA TO IDC WITH LOVE IN OPERATION SHALOM
Chinese businessman Benjamin Peng, who graduated with a Global MBA in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from IDC in 2019, works to promote and support Israel in his home country. With the onset of the coronavirus crisis, he launched a special operation, Operation Shalom, to arrange for a donation of 2,000 face masks to be sent to Israel directly for IDC Herzliya students. Second-year Business and Economics student Farrah Zhao was instrumental in helping to bring the masks to campus.
Peng also helped arrange a substantial donation to establish two new RRIS scholarships at IDC, which will be awarded annually in the fields of Counter-Terrorism or Computer Science, with preference to be given to commanders from Unit 669, the Israel Defense Forces’ elite airborne search-andrescue force, or to officers from other elite combat units. The candidates will be selected based on their needs, merits, values, and contributions to Israel. The scholarships will be run out of a fund named the ShaRon Scholarship Fund in honor of donor Shan Sha and the late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, whom the donor admired.
