Various higher education organizations, along with the IDF, agreed on outlines for university students who are serving in the IDF, either as career soldiers, reservists, or wounded soldiers, for the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year.
The IDF's Manpower Directorate, the Council for Higher Education, the Planning and Budgeting Committee, The Committee of Heads of Public Academic Colleges, the Committee of University Heads, and the National Union of Israeli Students announced the outlines on Sunday morning.
The agreements reached are intended to provide soldiers with designated accommodations to their university studies which will allow them to close the gaps caused by increased military service during the Israel-Hamas War.
Special considerations will also be given to those who served on the front lines in combat, as well as spouses of soldiers who have young children, the organizations announced.
The agreed upon outlines will include continuing to implement the outlines for the previous academic year, which included a "broad basket of accommodations for those serving."
Another outline agreed upon is that all lectures will be recorded and made accessible to students who are serving in the military. In the event that recording lectures is not possible, faculty will proactively strive to complete study materials, the organizations noted.
In addition, eligible students will have access to the "300 Plus" track, which includes comprehensive and designated support for soldiers who have served for over 300 days since October 7, 2023.
Further benefits will be given to students of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees that are serving in front-line military roles, including an alternative assessment or an adapted exam in at least two courses per semester, of which the higher grade will be taken as the final result.
Eligible STEM students will also have an option for a third exam date in all other examinations, and greater flexibility and availability of exams being scheduled.
'Duty to support soldiers in academia,' Katz says
"Our soldiers carry a heavy burden, and it is important that they know they can continue their studies without worrying that military service will harm their personal progress," Defense Minister Israel Katz said.
"It is the duty of all of us to stand by them and support them, even off the battlefield," he added.
The outline "expresses a deep commitment to care for soldiers, to honor their contribution, and to ensure that their academic and professional future will not be harmed," he concluded.
IDF Manpower Directorate head Maj.-Gen. Dado Bar Khalifa added that the outline was achieved after listening to students serving as career soldiers and reservists.
"The IDF’s serving personnel prove day after day exceptional commitment and dedication both in the demanding service and in their studies," he said.
"It is the duty of the army and the duty of society to stand by the serving personnel, to enable them to succeed, and to ensure that the degree they are studying for will have value despite the challenges of the period. I am proud of IDF personnel and commit that we will continue to do everything for them. There is no challenge we cannot solve together and no one can defeat us when we are united," he added.