Prof. Barkan currently serves as Vice President for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Internationalization. He steps into his new role with many years of academic and managerial experience, along with a deep familiarity with the worlds of medicine, technology, research and higher education. As President, he will lead the Institute in the coming years, emphasizing its core academic and technological fields, expanding research and innovation, and deepening the ties between academia and industry.
Prof. Eduard Yakubov, the outgoing president, has served as President of HIT since 2013 and led significant initiatives to advance the Institute and to expand its research and applied activity, both nationally and internationally. During his tenure, he worked extensively to strengthen the connection between the Institute, industry and society in Israel. He will remain an integral part of the Institute and continue to contribute from his experience.
Prof. Refael Barkan, the incoming President of HIT, congratulated the outgoing President and said: “I thank Prof. Yakubov for many years of dedicated work, leadership and commitment to HIT, and for his significant contribution to the Institute’s development and standing. “I enter this role with a great sense of responsibility and with deep appreciation for the achievements built over the years. My guiding principle as President of HIT will be to continue and strengthen the Institute’s ties with industry, to preserve the Institute’s achievements of the past decade and build on them, so that it becomes the leading academic institution in Israel across all of its fields of activity.” Pinhas (Pini) Cohen, Chairman of HIT’s Board of Trustees, warmly thanked Prof. Yakubov and said: “I thank Prof. Yakubov for leading Holon Institute of Technology and turning it into a leading academic institution whose graduates take up key roles in industry. I am confident that Prof. Barkan will continue the momentum of the Institute’s activity and development, strengthen the connection between academia and industry, and lead HIT to new achievements, development of new fields and meeting of new challenges, while continuing to promote academic excellence, research and innovation.”
Prof. Adir Pridor, Chairman of HIT’s Executive Committee, congratulated the new appointee and said he was confident the appointment would contribute to the Institute’s advancement.
Prof. Eduard Yakubov said: “I am proud of where HIT Holon Institute of Technology stands and of its achievements. I thank the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee, the academic and administrative staff, the students and alumni, our partners in industry and the public sector, and everyone who was a partner on this journey. I wish Prof. Refael Barkan great success and continued meaningful work.”
HIT’s management emphasized that the change in roles reflects the Institute’s commitment to continue developing as a leading academic-technological institution.
The Institute intends to uphold its values of academic excellence and applied research, and to prepare for the evolving challenges and opportunities in the world of technology and industry.
