New University Opens in Northern Israel, Welcomes 5,000 Students

Approximately 5,000 students began their academic year on Tuesday, October 20, at the newly established Tel-Hai University in Kiryat Shmona, Galilee. The former Tel-Hai College, located near the Lebanese border, has officially been granted university status, 21 years after the government first decided to create a university in the Galilee region, according to Ynet. Among the new students are Ariel Ziegler, Dvir Fisher, and Roni Chechkes, who relocated from central Israel to the north to contribute to the region's development.

Dvir Fisher, a combat engineer who was severely wounded in Gaza in November 2023, has recovered and settled in the Ayalim student village in Metula. During the conflict with Hezbollah in 2026, his apartment, lacking a protected room, became unsafe, forcing him to move between friends' homes while classes shifted online. Fisher noted the significant change in Metula, observing a return of civilian life and activities, transforming it from a "ghost town" to a vibrant community.

Ariel Ziegler, also wounded during service in Gaza in 2025, initially studied bioinformatics at Kibbutz HaGoshrim but took a break to work on a therapeutic farm. She has now re-enrolled to study psychology, inspired by her own rehabilitation experience to pursue a career in mental health. Despite hardships, including sleeping in a shelter and volunteering in kindergartens during the war, Ziegler expressed a strong desire to remain in the region.

Roni Chechkes moved from Pardes Hanna to Kiryat Shmona a year ago for an honors program in psychology. She later moved to the nearby moshav Beit Hillel to be closer to friends. Chechkes finds the university status beneficial for her future career, believing a university degree holds more weight than a college diploma. She expressed a strong attachment to Kiryat Shmona but prioritized being near her social circle.

The Israeli government is investing approximately 600 million shekels in the university's establishment through the "Tnuva" authority, which focuses on northern Israel's recovery. University President Professor Eliezer Shalev described the development as a modern embodiment of pioneering spirit and practical Zionism, aiming to build a strategically important national and societal anchor. A key objective is to increase the retention rate of graduates in the Galilee from the current 8% to 30%. The university anticipates nearly doubling its student body to 8,000 within five years, with over 70% of current students coming from outside Eastern Galilee and residing in Kiryat Shmona and surrounding areas.

However, students like Ziegler, Fisher, and Chechkes face challenges in remaining in the region after graduation, citing expensive housing, a lack of medical services, and limited job opportunities. They highlighted the need for more construction projects for young couples, rehabilitation centers for IDF disabled veterans, and better job prospects beyond service industry roles. The students, while expressing affection for the north, remain uncertain about their long-term future there.