90% of Israeli War-Injured Students Do Not Return to Their Original Academic Tracks
A recent conference titled "Horizon for Academia," held at Beit HaLochem in Tel Aviv and led by the Disabled IDF Veterans Organization, the Rehabilitation Department, and the IDF, revealed a troubling statistic: 90% of students injured in recent conflicts have not returned to their original fields of study. Many have either dropped out, changed their academic paths, or never resumed studies after their injuries. This highlights a complex reality beyond the common narrative of "returning to normal life." For wounded IDF soldiers and security personnel, academia is not just about education but a critical bridge to independence, career, and renewed self-efficacy. However, this bridge remains fraught with obstacles.
The conference gathered over 150 officials from around 50 Israeli academic institutions, including Reichman University, Tel Aviv University, Ono Academic College, and Achva College. Discussions focused on identifying barriers and proposing solutions such as quiet rooms, mentoring, personal support, exam accommodations, and dedicated integration programs for wounded students. According to the Rehabilitation Department, over 2,000 wounded IDF veterans studied in higher education last year, nearly tripling since the start of the recent war, with around 800 injured in Operation Iron Swords. More than 1,100 face mental health challenges, and over 1,000 have physical or other injuries. Popular fields include law, business administration, economics, and computer science, with Ono Academic College and Reichman University hosting particularly high numbers of wounded students.
Despite increased enrollment, many wounded students struggle with ongoing rehabilitation, pain, post-traumatic stress, sleep deprivation, bureaucratic hurdles, social difficulties, and lack of awareness from their academic environment. These challenges make attendance, exams, and deadlines far more difficult than for typical students. Personal testimonies from wounded students like Noam Kider, Roni Braz, Moshe Shtrit, and Aviv Shochat illustrate the invisible nature of many disabilities and the need for tailored academic support starting even before admission. For example, Shochat emphasized the importance of preparatory programs and flexible admissions processes, citing his acceptance to Ruppin Academic College through a special track.
Rotem Philips, head of Employment and Education at the Disabled IDF Veterans Organization, stressed the need for close cooperation between the organization, academic institutions, and the Council for Higher Education to develop dedicated frameworks for wounded veterans. A pilot program launching next academic year will appoint wounded student coordinators at five institutions to provide social support and advocacy. Additionally, study fairs are planned at Beit HaLochem in 2027.
Ultimately, the issue extends beyond exam accommodations to a broader question of how Israel supports wounded veterans’ rehabilitation into independent, productive lives. The 90% figure serves as a warning that academia and the labor market must stop treating wounded veterans as exceptions and instead build inclusive pathways that recognize their unique realities as an investment in their futures and the Israeli economy.
