Outstanding students, ready for a ChallENG?

As part of SMART, Bar-Ilan University's excellence tracks hub, the Faculty of Engineering is launching a new track tailored to real-world industry demands. True to its name, ChallENG is intended for outstanding students and combines academic knowledge, engineering thinking, research, and hands-on experience, providing them with significant engineering experience during their studies.

Meet your new ChallENG

The core of the track is a multi-year engineering project carried out over the four years of study. Each cohort focuses on a significant challenge with technological, social, or environmental impact, examined from various engineering angles. "The idea is to take outstanding students and let them experience practical work from day one," explains Dr. Rotem Efrony, Head of Research Advancement . "The project is the challenge, which the group will research, develop, and execute over four years."

Students will meet biweekly to work on the project in the setting of a dedicated academic course. Working in teams, they will acquire project-management skills and collaborate with research groups and industry figures, guided by leading experts. The cohort will be accompanied by a mentor, a faculty member who will supervise and advise them on the project throughout their degree. This year, it will be Prof. Leonid Yavits.

Admission requirements

Eligible candidates are first-year students from all programs in the Faculty of Engineering. Candidates must have a psychometric score of 700 or higher and a matriculation average of 110 or higher. A personal interview is also part of the acceptance process, examining the candidates' ability to work in teams and their desire to take on a challenge in addition to lectures, labs, and coursework. "The idea is to create a high-quality group of 15-20 students who will work together, just like teams in companies do," says Dr. Efrony. "We want the best of the best, people who are not afraid of challenges and can engage with things that interest them beyond the regular framework of their studies."

Why is it worth it?

Those accepted into the program will receive all the benefits available to outstanding students at Bar-Ilan, including partial tuition exemption, subscriptions to AI engines, and an Apple tablet. In addition, they will enjoy greater flexibility in course choices, as well as regular exposure to the industry, complete with tours of high-tech companies and meetings with key figures. "Our goal is to build a high-quality community of outstanding students that will enjoy professional guidance from academia and industry figures, training them to lead and to integrate into the engineering and technological world," concludes Dr. Efrony.