A leadership initiative launched by TAU Aurion – A world changing community, Tel Aviv University's global community of young leaders, Tel Aviv University Alumni Organization and Tel Aviv Youth University , is giving outstanding high school students from across Israel the opportunity to combine academic excellence with leadership development.
Devised by the TAU Aurion Young Leadership Working Group, which is chaired by TAU alumnus Ran Fhurer, the initiative is delivered through Tel Aviv University's Youth University, with the generous support of Bezeq, Israel's largest telecommunications group, where Fhurer is a member of the Board of Directors, representing the Israeli controlling shareholder, brings together talented students from diverse social, cultural, and geographic backgrounds, encouraging them to explore leadership not only as a theory, but as a responsibility.
This year, about 90 students took part in the initiative through Tel Aviv Youth University for high school students. Participants came from communities across Israel, including Be'er Sheva, Sderot, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Netivot, Lod, Ramla, Tiberias, Nahariya, Karmiel, Dabburiya, Yanuh-Jat, Migdal HaEmek, Kiryat Malakhi and the Tel Aviv area.
Throughout the year, students studied university-level social science courses, including Political Philosophy, exploring questions of leadership, democracy, responsibility and decision-making. Just as importantly, the program fostered dialogue among students from different communities, encouraging critical thinking, collaboration and a deeper understanding of the diverse realities that shape Israeli society.
The academic year culminated in a joint leadership event bringing together participants from both programs. Students attended a lecture by Prof. Udi Sommer of TAU's School of Political Science, titled "Leadership in the Trump Era," before taking part in interactive workshops led by Hazanek La'Atid (The Future Initiative). Working in teams, they developed practical social initiatives addressing challenges facing young people while strengthening skills in teamwork, creative thinking and public speaking.
Opening the event, Ran Fhurer who is also the VP of Business Development at Neopharm Group, encouraged students to see leadership as an opportunity to create opportunities for others.
"True leadership is not only about personal achievement; it is about investing in others, opening doors, and passing on knowledge, experience, and opportunities. Don't wait for someone to give you permission to lead. Stay curious, keep learning, and believe that you have the ability to make an impact today, not someday."
For many participants, the experience offered not only academic enrichment but also the opportunity to meet peers from communities they might never otherwise have encountered. As one student reflected, "The course exposed me to fields of knowledge I was unfamiliar with and made me think deeply about things."
The initiative reflects TAU Aurion's vision of investing in the young generation by connecting academic excellence with leadership, civic responsibility and meaningful.
Written in collaboration with Tel Aviv University.