Brief History

A world leader in sustainable development long before it became fashionable, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) has been working for a greener planet for almost 40 years. Founded in Beer-Sheva, Israel in 1969, inspired by the vision of Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, today BGU is an internationally recognized institution of higher learning that attracts outstanding faculty and researchers from around the world.

With some 19,000 students studying on campuses in Beer-Sheva, Sede Boqer and Eilat, BGU is the most dynamic university in Israel today, leading projects in the areas of desert agriculture, water purification and management, solar energy, ecology, medicine and global health, engineering, bio and nanotechnologies, Hebrew literature, social outreach and more.

The University builds bridges of peace between Israel and its neighbours through cooperation in science, research and development. BGU is a university with a conscience, where the highest academic standards are integrated with community outreach, providing services to Negev residents and partnering with the developing world.

The Canadian Associates of BGU, with its national headquarters in Toronto and regional offices in Montreal and Winnipeg, plays a vital role in helping BGU develop the bold new vision for the Negev.

“The past prepares us for the present and tomorrow is intertwined in today”

- David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister